Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1889.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 11502, 5 October 1889, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1889.

As a specimen of tho ideas entertained by some people on the subjects of freedom and toleration, tho leading article which appeared iv tho Herald of Wednesday night is worth preserving. Freedom, according to tho writer of the article in question, consists in the right of those with whom for the time being he is in accord to ride roughshod over everybody else. Toleration, according to the same | authority, is the privilege of denouncing as intolerant everybody who dares to publicly disagree with him, or with any particular section of the community with which for the thno boing it may suit him to a<?roe. " We," says this intolerant preacher, in tho fulness of an overweening conceit, " have been trying to teach every section of the community of Wanganui I for well nigh a quarter of a century the beauty of toleration." The arrogant, canting, boastfulnoss of the phraseology is enough to make one explode with laughter ; while the absolute inability of the writer to grasp the meaning of toleration affords cause for both surprise and regret. But in order that our readers may have something, more before them than our mere expression of opinion, we will give the salient points of the Herald's sonnon in its own words. As wo have said, tho text upon which the editor sermonises, and upon which he says ho has been preaching for well-nigh a quarter of a century, is '• Toleration," and to illustrate his subject lie points to this journal as representing the intolerant spirit of the community. Now, curiously enough, we prido ourselves upon being a model of tolerance. Let us see, then, wherein consists tho intolerance of which our contemporary charges us. The Herald begins -.—"Mr Dillon, one of the chiefs of the Irish Parliamentary party, a trusted leader of the Irish people, is coming to Wanganui to plead the cause with which ho and his father before him havo beon identified. The cause and the man are likely to bo honoured by a very considerable section of this community, but no one is asked to do anything, unless he likos at his own free will and accord to couiq forward and associate himself with tho movement." We stop hero just to sa y that nobody proposes to interfere with Mr Dillon or his friends. His life is perfectly safe ; his liberty will not be infringed ; ho need have no fear about opening his mouth wide, and speaking out as fully and plainly as ho pleases. And his friends may applaud him to the echo, and subscribe to the utmost extent of their means to support the cause he advocates. Where, then, does the intolerant spirit come in ? Tho Irish Nationalists can say what they like, and do what they like — so long as they do not interfere .vith other people. What more do they want — or dops tho Herald's preacher of toleration want ■ for them. Tho other side — for thero is another side, and it also represents ." a very considerable section of this community "—have acted upon the principle of toleration to a remarkable dogroo. Their opinions are as strong, and their feelings as keen, as aro those of tho Nationalists— but, with the exception of an occasional letter at long intervals, nothing is heard from thorn. For peace sake, they have pushed tho principle of toleration to its utmost limit — -with the result that their toleration has been mistaken for pussillanimity, and they are now being abused if they daro to open their mouths or to have an opinion of their own. But wo will now proceed with a continuing extract from the Herald's articlo : — " A meeting had to bo held to arrange the preliminaries for the public meeting when Mr Dillon will deliver an address, and tho Mayor at once placed tho Municipal Chambers at the disposal of those who had charged themselves with the duty of arranging tho programme. For doing this his Worship has been censured, on tho plea that the hall should not bo at the disposal of ono section of the people when another section disapproves of the object. It is said by the paper that represents this intolerant spirit that it would bo equally objectionable and improper to give the hall to a political meeting! It would be equally unobjectionable. The Mayor acted with perfect impartiality. He did no inoro for the promoters of Mr Dillon's meeting than he would do for any other cause which enlisted the sympathies of a large section, of the community." As it is as well to bo accurate, it may bo stated that the Mayor pleaded not guilty to having " at oneo," or at all', placed tl\e Municipal Chambers at tho disposal of those who desirod it for the purpose above-mentioned. It was the Town Clork who lent the Chambers, and ho did it at the solicitation of a Borough Councillor, who is at the same time a promiuont member of the Irish National League. Now, what is tho position a3 botwecn our lino of advocacy and argument and that adopted by the Herald ? In brief, wo said, in effect, that it was as wrong to grant the Chambers to the Nationalists as it would have boon to grant it to their opponents. To this tho Herald replies that it would be equally unobjectionable. Our contemporary says that the Borough, Chambers should be granted to both. We say that it should be granted to neither. It will thus be seen that there is no question of intolerance in tho matter. Any child would undwstaud that there is no violation of the principle! of fair play in treating two opponents, or two opposing suctions of the community, exactly alike. Yot, because we objosfc to the Nationalists, or any other political body, having the use of the Borough Chambers froo of chargo, while there aro plonty of other places of mooting to be had by paying for them, thu Herald bursts out with an hysterical shriek about " Bigotry and Ignorance." Hero is a übote specimen of editorial pathos -. — " Wo do not claim much in this matter. Wo ask that in tha year of our Lord, 1889, thero shall bo in this parfe of Hor Majesty's dominions a free platform." Oroodneie gracious ! What is the matter •with this ranting political preacher? So far as we know, all tho platforms in tho place aro free to him if he likos to pay for them. All tho fuss ho is. making is because objections havo been urged to the use, for jmlitical purposes, of tho ono building in tho town belonging to the whole body of ratepayers, for which no charge has been made. The writer of Hie iirfcielo from which we havo inn.de the ahovo quotations goes on to talk like sonic groat blubbering baby about tho rights'of people to express their opinions, and tho "ignowuieo and intolerance" that would prevent them fw?m doing sound so on, and so on. Surely Hi* man liiuat havo gone off his head— or olso ho must havfe hivjun to boliovo in tho oW Wellington ji.'st about tho number of lunatics in Wanganui.