PROGRESSIVE LIBERALS.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 122, 20 April 1897, Page 2

PROGRESSIVE LIBERALS.

TO THIS KliiTon, Sin,---I was much interested in the record of the proceedings of the I'rogrcs ivc Liberals printed in your issue of Thursday last. The party from Hamilton had practical experience of the danger r.f travelling down hill with the brake off, and very nearly had their precious necks broken. The word " precious " is here used looking at the matter entirely from a Progressive Liberal p hit of view ; from any other standpoint the adjective would convey quite an erroneous estimate of value, which really would cot be worth mentioning. The "Progressive" Liberals, as distinguished from the very maiij other breeds of Liberals now extant, are noted for a penchant for quick methods, ami their rapid descent of the Tamahere hill may be taken as illustration cf the means by which they seek to disorganise the body social ; with th's difference, however, tint it was their own necks they were risking—perhaps all in the wide world they had got, of their own to hazard too —whereas to make the illustiation complete it should have been their brothers' necks ami not their own that were in jeopardy. At the meeting 111 Cambiidge Mr Forrest appears to have cnterta'noil .some doubt of the practicability of Socialism, and is reported to have expressed a hope that Mr Castlcton would confine himself to " Fraet'eal " Socialism. Really, Mr Forrest, did you ever know of any thing to emanate from that source that Mas not eminently practical '.' The practicability of Socialism forsooth ! in this year of our Lord tool Brotherly love (that is for all who happen to be no I elter off than oniselves, tinged with a most pronounced hatred for ail who arc ill wcilthier circumstances) is the very foundation of Socialism. Of the brotherly affection and consideration fcr the interests of others that so completely blinds us to the interests of oui selves, and which makes us so self sacrificing when our neighbours;' interests conflict with our own, which is so notoriously rampant in the world to day, Mr Forrest must be cognisant. No doubt he hiinse'f feels an almost irresistible longing to throw his possessions into the general pool, although from the lemaiks he made, re land nationalisation, he seems to strain a bit at the idea of pooling his land. But he may sell out at Eome future time and then became as enthusiastic over this great measure as some of his fellow-Progiessivists who at present hold none. Mr Forrest's remarks were p'opcrly challenged, and Mir Bradley informed him that whatever was imptac ticablc was not Socialism. No doubt he is thoroughly convinced of its practicability now—l'm sure I am. It only remains for the fellow with the. sovereigns to chuck them into the hat, we'll sling in our llir'pPiiny bits make a general division, and the thing is tnifiiit aivompli. I like Mr Peck's method of getting ovir the lawyer and doctor difficulty much better—infinitely so—than that of Mr Eettley. i.'he latter gentleman seeks to put Ilia learned professions under State control, like our gaol-birds and lunatics ; but if we are all made lawyers and doctors—at the expense of the State of course—-it will make us independent of those gentleman, and we can then go in for home-made law and prescribe our own pills ami poultices. 1 await the next meeting of the Progressive Liberals with expectancy—Yours, etc , Go Slow