THEORACLE HAS SPOKEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3825, 2 June 1891, Page 2

THEORACLE HAS SPOKEN.

By Ithuriel,

"The vulgar did about him flocke, And aluster thioke unto his leadings vaine, (Like foDlish flies about auhoney-erocke), In hope by him great benefit to gaine." Spencer.

One does not know which to pity most, Sir George Grey, or those who so loudly applauded him the other day at the Melbourne Trades Hall. Be congratulated the Trades' Hall Uonnci on their management and wisdom, (applause for the latter). It was time an advance was made in some direction, and that must be in the direction of "one man, one vote" (cheer), for all men were equal. It was a disgraceful thing that every man in that Hall had not a handle to their names like the speaker. It was their due, nay more, it was the birthright of every loafer, as much a right as that the loafer and thief should have equal voting power with Sir William Clarke or Sir James M'Baia (thunders of applause). The time had arrived when the poor vagrants and persecuted prisoners should have an equal right with those of fame and who administer the laws, for God kEOws the poor fellows have suffered enough through breaking them. (Here the whole assembly burst into the loudest applause.) He assured them that Jack-the-Rippers hud an equal right with Peabodys, hags from the vilest slums bad also the same rights as women like Baroness Coutts. Plural voting was indefensible, either for parliaments, borough or shire councils. (Hear, hear.) It was an absurdity to think because a man had expended hundreds of thousands of , pounds in Ballarat, Sandhurst, i Geelong and Melbourne that he should have more than one vote in either of the above cases; why should he have 1 mDre power in that direotion than the loafer who sleeps on the banks of the Yarra, or than the poor unfortunate , rogue who lives at the expense of the , state ten months out of the twelve in gaol (wild and rapturous cheering). The speaker said this marked sign of their approbation did honor to their intelligence. (Renewed applause). He assured them that no action of , theirs was liable to injure the colonies or themselves, over-protection would . never do it, exclusion of all those who might take a shilling out of their pockets would not do it, everything they did was right (loud cheers.) He . was in a position to tell them, that their noble actions had not in any way shaken the faich of foreign capitalists who lent the country money. The wisest course they could pursue would be to take all the power into their own hands, and whenever necessary disregard law and order, (Here the whole assembly rose and cheered.) No, there was no danger from that direction, but they would be espoused to ruin, starvation and utter annihilation if they,failed to secure the "one man, one vote." (Rapturous cheers greeted the gifted orator.) Without that desideratum the country would become cursed with barrenness, commerce would be depressed, and a general blight would settle over the land. The franchise must be taken out of the bands of the capitalists and given wholly to the labor classes. (The cheering at this was so enthusiastic that a prominent member of the Trades' Hall got so excited that he was carried out in fit, and taken to the pump). When I the "one man, one vote" had been obtained, the Trade's Hall Council must get days appointed when an election took place for candidates to visit the various gaols and address their constituents, for they must remember these men in prison (no doubt unjustly) had an equal right to exercise their /vote. (Applause). A man was not to lose his vote because a hard-hearted judge or a blind jury thought fit to confine him within four walls. (At this the emotion and enthusiasm of the audience baffles all description.) When be saw that noble and highly gifted assembly of Trades delegates the other day at Ballarat, he knew that Federation was an accomplished fact, it hud been brought about by the disinterested labours of the Trades' agitators (hear hear). He would advocate a bill, compelling a judge to oommit anyone guilty of contempt for trial, never mind the expense. Judges should not be allowed so great a power as that of dealing with an offender themselves. No ! Let his case be tried by a jury, a Trades' Hall jury. (Long and loud applause). Yes, then he would have a good chance of getting off. (Cries of right you are old boy). He hoped the Trades' Hall had taken steps to see that the eight hours' system was adhered to in their gaols. It would be a terrible hardship if their brethren were got at in these Government workshops. (Cries of Trenwith and Hancock are going to look after that). The Federation Bill must be submitted to the whole population, the voting should be open, and the names, of all persons voting should, be recorded in a great book, a copy of which should be. given to each person signing, to be placed in a conspicuous part of their homes, so that " their descendants would in time look back upon with greater pride than that of the nobility of England whose fathers were mentioned in the roll of the Battle Abbey." (Here the applause burst forth with a vehemence that fairly shook the building). Sir George is not conversant with the writing of Langstaff or he would know that equality is one of the most consummate scoundrels that ever crept from the brain of a political juggler—a fellow who thrusts his hand into the pocket of honest Industry or enterprising talent, and squanders their hard-earned profits on profligate idleness or indolent stupidity. It is to be regretted that men like Sir Grey should pander to those windbags, who, as Byron says

" Ease their hearts with prate Of equal rights, which man ne'er knew."