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Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4057, 30 December 1881, Page 2

(To the Editor of the Evening otab.)

Sib, —I am requested by the members of the Union C.C. to contradict the statement made by yesterday morning's Advertiser. It said that some of the larrikins of the Union C.C. helped themselves to the good things which were provided. Now, Ido not think there is a larrikin in the Union Club, but it says as much as if we were all.thieves. I think that the person who wrote it must have thought we had no feelings; and I am prepared to prove the statement, is utterly false. I hope the members of the, Union C.C. are all aiming to be young gentlemen, and' not larrikins, like the writer of the letter tried to make us.—l am, &c, Sec U.C.C. December 30th, 1881.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sib,—Political chicane is, ia modern times, very frequently confounded with, or mistaken for political economy. Comprehensire and minute knowledge of the true scientific principles of good government does not distinguish the old members of our House of .Representatives, or the new aspirants for senatorial honors. The fact is that our Legislators require to be educated in those fundamental doctrines and constitutional maxims which constitute the basis and foundation of all just government. To judge by the mental and moral character of some-persons re turned to Parliament it would appear that any man is considered good enouJY for a member of the Legislature. „ He. may even be ignorant of all secular knowledge, his mind may be an entire ..blank upon ancient or modern constitutional law, and without the remotest conception of the measures, principles, and practice of just government, yet be thought good enough for a political representative. A conspicuous instance of this Legislative incapacity may be found verified in the. attempts made to answer questions put by some politically skilled electors to the. candidates at the last elections. Most of such questions though dealing only with rudimentary scientific principles of government were not only not understood but from very ignorance treated absolutely as absurd, impracticable, or irrevalent. Some of them, although bearing upon the same subject, but expressed in less scientific terms, were supposed to contain some occult meaning, and treated therefore, I presume, with a little more respect, but not being understood, were evaded not answered.; others, as I shall more particularly show hereafter, were dismissed with flippant and disdainful remarks, with attempted satire, vulgar ridicule, while mob prejudice greeted others, and served to extricate the pliant speaker from his

dilemma of political ignorance and gratify his hearers by personal'invective and low breathed vituperation. Some were replied to with bold untruth, which the wicked, for the sake of mischief, applauded, and the envious approved, loving a strain of defamation which brings down to their own level the most worthy person and exalted purpose. Depravity of heart and unsoundness of head are not impediments to Parliamentary honors. Specious conversation and impudent flattering are used to gain the confidence of the vain and win the favor of the proud by mean unmanly sycophancy. Instead of profound political knowledge, and the dignity of mind which should distinguish those wbo aspire to the high and sacred trust of Legislation, we find entire ignorance of political science/an absence of all sense of shame and weakness of purpose, amounting almost to vilany. The conduct of a member of Parliament attracts attention because it is highly interesting to the welfare of the public. I, as a private man, only express what thousands think, and cannot be well accused of flattery or detraction 1. The constituent parts of a private member should be essentially the same as a constitutionally learned Minister, excepting the honor of distributing the emoluments and receiving the public money. 'I hese in the contemplation of the last, and I fear will be in the nexL^> Ministry the most essential ornatnentriw • office. They are the de cits et tuiamenoi % respectable administration, and the last , that a prudent administration willrelin- "" quish. As for the authority, the credit, or the business of their office they will >be ready to resign them' without reluctance to the men of understanding, and in doing sjp find a relief from the burthen of think* ing, and, in wise direction, from the labor of acting.—lam, &c, , , , . ! , Refobhbb. •'■■'■ Thames, 23rd December, 1881.