TOPICAL READING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8246, 26 September 1906, Page 4

TOPICAL READING.

Let ; us be thankful for small mercies, remarks a Cbristchurch paper. There was an earthquake at Valparaiso recently; New Zealand did not offer to lend the relief fund forty-seven pounds on approved security. An English prinoesa was afflicted with measles; yet the Governor was not instructed to convoy long-winded sympathy, taking precedence of private wires. They bad a revolution to deal with in Cuba; but no offer of troopa was made from this colony. It would almost seem as if we were returning to those bad old days when New Zealand minded its own business, and our rulers avoided making fooEs of' ttiemselves. Truly the now Ministry is treading in perilous places; it has promised tariffreform (Shame!); it almost thinks of'begiiining to try to save money (Order, order!); and now it neglects to advertise the oolony ia the approved modern style of a fifthclass melodrama, and what will become of the tourist traffic? Thank goodness there is still the Land Bill.

That it is not good for nations, any more than for individuals, to live alone, is a truth which can hardly receive a better illustration than is afforded by the history of Chiua. Nearly three thousand years ago the great empire of the Mongolian race was among the most prosperous and its people among the most oiviiised and progressive of the races of the world. Ita industries were far iu advance of those of any European natiou at that time; its people were better governed; it possessed a litorature probably unequalled by thrt of any natiun outside thb confines of India, and a philusophy more practical, if leas elaborate, than that for which Greece beoame celebrated hundreds of years later. The question has often been asked: How was it that having advauced so far, Ohioa and her people seemed incapable of goitig further in n career of progress? How is it that the institutions of two thousand five hundred years ago remain practically in force throughout China to-day? that her arts and sciences x have remained stagnant and petrified in the condition they were in when the Grecian tribes besieged Troy and the Israelites were earned captives to Babylon? / 'lhere would seem to be only one possible answer to these questions which meets the uase and oonforms to the teachings of human experience. National isolation has been the cause of national stagnation in Ghina on the great eoalti, as it has proved itself elsewhere many times eiuoe on a smaller one.

The Cape Parliament has been discussing in a most friendly spirit the possibilty of exchanging with Aucaland certain of the Grey papers, says the Auckland Herald, the idea being that those referring to the Maoris might be transferred to Auckland in exchange for tha transference to Capetown of papers referring to JSouth Africa. The Government was finally authorised to make the transfer at its discretion. The references to New Zealand were of such a generally complimentary character, and there was each an evident deaire displayed to oordialiy acquiesce in what it was assumed, was our conception of a, friendly solution of the. question, that we should be reluctant to oppose it were not that tbe Cape Times takes a stand on which we can most

heartly concur, The Cape Times says that the collections should remain in the possession of those tb whom Sir Genrge Grey left them, but that the Cape icanusoripts "might either be lent to New Zealand on the definite condition that they should still remain the property of the Cape, to be returned after use or when required, or copies of them mi«bt be made and sent instead."

Tfce rebellion that has been raging in Cuba for some time past brings out in bold relief the heavy responsibilities assumed by the United States whe'i they undertook to set the Cubans free, and .to uonfer on them the doubtful blessing of autonomy. President Palma has epidently found it practically im possible to keep the discontented elements of his people order, and the so-callßd Liberal Opposition is really an organised body of rebels carrying out a policy of insurrection under the thiu disguise of Parliamentary procedure. Apparently the passion for rebellion that seems inherent in the SpanishAmerican populace has not disappeared with the dawn of liberty in Cuba. The difficulties whioh the Uaited States now have to faoe may help to convince ua that in the trouble that led to the war between America and Spain, the blame was not due solely to the Spaniards There is no doubt that General Weyler and other military Governors had treated the Cubans shamefully. But it is beooming evident !;o President Roosevelt and to most of his people that to keep order in Cuba is no easy matter; and it must have been far beyond the strength of Spain to achieve such a task successfully.

For some inscrutable reason Parliamentary select committees always sit in camera, and it is a breach of the privileges of the Bouse for a newspaper tu refer to the deliberations of any committee, it is not often a caper is particularly concerned about the doings of these committees, but now and then, when some unusually important matter is being dealt with, the Press finds ihe restriction irksome, and the irrepressible correspondent tries to •find ways round and under the obstacles which fence him off a likely patoh of news. There is no earthly reason why, in the majority of cases, reporters should not be allowed the freedom of the committee room, and the Premier seems to view the idea with favour. Sinoe the Land Bill has b?en before the Waste Lands Committee a number of papers have apparently seen fit to take the risk of being called before the House to explain the liberties they have taken with the privileges of that august assembly. Similar instances have occurred before, says a contemporary, and in each uase Parliament has only suoceected in advertising the delinquent without adding to Us dignity in the process. The sooner it throws open its committee rooms the better.