TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1884.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1873, 8 July 1884, Page 2

TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1884.

The essence of true Liberalism is truth. It is quite patent therefore that much of that which goes by the name is only poor, spurious stuff, fit for nothing but ttje fire. Liberalism, so called, does not aim at the elevation of those who are lowly, but at the destruction of those whom fortune has set in high places ; it does not seek to provide "the people" with the means for their advancement, but to put crowbars in their hands whereby they may break open the coffers of tho rich and make merry on their gains. This is really the case, stated fairly and impartially ; and no sentimental glittering rhetoric can blind us to it. False Liberalism flourishes because its advocacy pays, and for no other reason in the world. The instructed, who know the thing is pure humbug are divided into two classes, — that which is honest and that which is not. The latter tells the poor man that he is much worse off than nature ever intended him to be ; the former that, he is much better off than he might be, though his state is surely improving and riiuVt improve, Need vfc pause to enquire vhtoK of lib© tyo the poor mv> (wlivyfi ?

We need not wonder why the typical poor man does not seek by informing himself to decide which of the two is the better guide. The one promises him ease and comfort for the taking, the other only holds out these blessings as a reward for industry, sobriety and thrift Philosophise as we may it is, however, very bard to believe that there ia not in the world a large amount of what we may call avoidable poverty. We have all, doubtless, known worthy people, who somehow or other seem to be, in spite of c very earnest effort, alM'ays in the quagm ire But is such an effect traceable to the circumstance of some other man having gathered the world's goods about him until he has become what we call rich ? This is the question the demagogue is perpetually asking, and answering for his hearers in the affirmative. "The poor are getting poorer, because the rich are getting richer."' This is the shibboleth of popular " Liberal " Creed, the gospel of the apostles of Confiscation. But are the poor getting poorer ? It matters not whether the rich are growing richer— but are the poor sinking deeper in the slough or poverty ? The fiery tongucd orator thunders out that they are — the cool calculating statistician tells us they are not. The ditference between them is not one of manner only — the one asserts, the other proves ! Since the time when we became old enough to appreciate the literatnre of "The Boya' Own Magazine," we have never ceased to read that England was an infinitely better place to live in in the "good old days " than it is now ; that j in that halcyon time the shepherds piped j on the upland lawns, the reaper made j love under the scented hawthorn, and that the bulk of the labourer's time was occupied in swinging on a gate and drinking flagons of cider. There wa? no want, no misery, no sickness hi those days. England was Merrie England then, and the only men who were poor were thoae who had small stomachs, and they were poor indeed. It ia sad to think that this pretty picture, which closes in the vista lying behind us, is not real sky and land, but only a tawdry theatrical contrivance of sticks and canvas ! The stern historian is impelled to tell us that there never was a " Merrie England." We .vie drawing nearer the realisation of the dream of national happiness —it is closer now than it was in the Augustan age, much closer than it was in the age of Elizabeth, infinitely closer than it was in the reign of the Good King Alfred. Now let us listen to the logic of figures, to the testimony of Mr Giffen, President of the Statistical Society. "Staiting from -a -period (we aie quoting from a contemporary) 30 years ago, he contrasts the wages earned by the different classes of work people at that time with the wages now earned by the same classes. The result is more striking, showing, as it does, the marked increase in wages all along the line. Fifty years ago carpenters in Manchester got 24s per week : to-day the receive 34s ; whilst in Glasgow they now get 26s instead of 14s. In Huddersfield, wcaveis' wages hate risen from 12s to26;s per week, an increase of 115 per cent. ; whilst at Bradford wea\ers now get 20s 0d instead of 8s 3d, a use of 150 percent. The poor spinning children of the latter place, by dint of long, weaiy hours of toil, and at the cost of strength and health, with difficulty pot 4s 3d a week, whereas they now earn in shorter houis Us Gd weeklj, Glasgow brickLiycis got 15s, and now receive 27s per week ; masons got 14s, and now have 23s 8d for their weekly earnings In many other classes an equal, and in some cases a still gi cater improvement is noticeable. Sailors have largely benefit ted by the general rise. Taking a moie recent date, viz., ISSO, Bristol sailors got 45s snd now receive 75s a month. In Liverpool the rise has been 80 per cent, in one class of sailors. In London the average rise in the monthly salaries of the seamen is about 63 per tent. Every bit as gratifying is the impiovement shown in the wages of the agricultural labouicrs, which is certainly not less than 60 per cent. In many trades the advances have been larger still, because the growth of manufacturing industiies has created a demand for a vast army of skilled and highly-tiained workmen, who have demanded and have obtained higher wages." Against testimony such as this it has been urged that, though wages were lower fifty years ago, the cost of living was much less, and that, therefore, a man with two shillings a day then fared better than his son, who gets four, does to-day. But this reasoning is disingenuous. Clothing is admittedly much cheaper now than it has ever been, even allowing for the shocking deterioration in quality, and bread — well let see how the prices of wheat have ruled during the century. In 1810 wh:at was 106s per quarter, two years later it stood at 1265, in 1820 it was 67s lOd, in 1834, 64s 3d, in 1840, 66s 4d, in 1850, 40a 3d, in 1860, 53s 3d, in 1870, 46s] Id, and in 1882, 43a Id. There is no getting over such reasoning as this, though it is worth thinking over by those who have heretofore lent a willing ear to they who clamour for the restitution of rights which " the people " never, so far as history shows, enjoyed, but which they may yet attain to by their own strong right arm when they have learned how to use aright the talents with which a beneficent Providence has endowed them.

Messrs Russell and Campbell, barristers and solicitors, announce by circular to the profession that they have admitted Mr J. P. Campbell, late of Waikato, into the partnership.

In answer to enauiries, we take this opportunity to state that the time for registering voters has expired and no more names can be put on. The Registration officer, Mr Kirk, has been subjected to a great amount of unnecessary trouble, by people who have persistently sought to place unqualified persons on the roll.

We understand that. Mr H. W. Moore of Cambridge has taken a lease of the Royal Hotel at Oxford, and will preside as host of that establishment in the course of a few weeks. All who know Mr Moore will have every confidence in hit success as a host.

Our readers will observe a material alteration in the programme of Mr Lake's meetings. Tha meeting at Churchill is cancelled, aud Mr Lake will address the electors of Hamilton on Friday next^ and Obaupo on Saturday.

Messrs Clark and (Jane notify in our advertising column that they have dispose of their, business tio the North! Now Zealand FarmeVs'Co-dperktive Association, and as ; the association have also opened an office *t Hamiltoni'shkrehblders^in the district will be ; gr»tifie<3 at tjre dffered for tr*hmcting their b^siuess with; the oaSOQlftti^O,- '

Some few months ago the Cambridge Highway Board conceived the idea of constructing a, new concrete drinking trough in Leslie's gully, the ancient convenience not only being considered inconvenient but unsightly. They evidently wanted to invest some of Iheir Biiperflous capital, and so set about the construction of the trough referred to. It is one of the most extraordinary monuments of the folly or thoughtlessness of a public body we have ever seen. It seldom or never fails to excite the mirth of the passer-by, and execreation of every thirsty animal that attempts to extract refreshment from its unfathonable depths

The following appeared! in the Dover Telegraph of May 14th, "under the heading " Cheap Mutton. 5 ' Dover for the past few weeks has been inundated with cheap mutton, sheep as big as bullocks from New Zealand. First the grocers took up the enterprise, and succeeded so well that the master butchers had great rivalry against their fourteenpenny mutton chops ; now several Dover butchers ha\ c supplies, and selling mutton as cheap as tallow, whilst others have been compelled to reduce their former prices. The fear is that the supply will not meet the increasing demand, and then home grown mutton will advance at famine prices

Tiie following is taken from an article on " Preachers of the Day " in Temple Bar for April :— The Bishop of Peterborough once said that "he would lather see England fiee than sober," which amounted to declaring that he would rather men conquered temptation for themselves than have it removed from their way by legislation, which might bo oppressive to sober people. His words, of course, drew a howl from the Temperance Associations, but the inculcation of manliness is the head and front of Dr. Magee's preaching, and he has never swerved from the position that if men cannot be made sober by their own efforts and "the encouragements of their friends the policeman will not make them so. "Don't let us create artificial sins," he once said. " There are plenty of things against winch my cook and housemaid tnust pr.\y to be guarded ; don't try to make the poor souls feel wicked because they enjoy a glass of beer." A young curate, not very long ago, called on the Bishop with a veiy broad piece of blue ribbon in his button hole. His Lordship took no notice of the ornament, and this evidently disappointed the curate, who kept turning his lappt\t to the light till the Bishop opened a New Testament at the passage where the Pharisees aie condemned for wearing broad phylacteries "Let men speak of you as sober,'' he said, when the curate had digested this little morsel. " You will not need then to adverti.se yourself as such." It was in the same spirit I that he answered a lady who asked him ' ! whether she ought to wear the blue ribbon. " Put it on by all means, but remember to how much it will pledge yon. If men go wrong from drink, girls are more liable to be led astiay thiough love of finery ; and if you want to set a good example, give up jewelry, feathers, furs, and silks. Diess in unconspicuous .stuffs; buy a plain, serviceable bonnet meant for use — not show ; and mind y«u keep always tho same fashions, tor, I <is;nire you, a great deal of foolish e\tiavagance aiihes oirt of changing fashions." The lady winced at this, bo the Bishop broke oil abruptly: "Then what is the sense of youi blue nbbon.' I suppose it cost you no effort to give up wine and beer — then why make a \iitue of renouncing them ?"

Concerning Miss Carry Nelson, who is adveifcibed to appeal in Hamilton on Wednesday and Thuisday the KJth and 17th, the Melbourne Aigus writes of the above lady, that on her fii^t appearance at the Bijou Theatie more than oidinary eclat wab attached to the re-mtioduction to the Australian stage of the fay ourite acti ess, MibS Carry Nelson. The Ucaity reception which gieeted her appeal ance upon the stage must have com inced her, if she ever doubted it, that theinterval which had taken place since her last appeaiance on the Melbourne boards she was not by any means forgotten. Miss Cairy Nelson left the Colonies a blight, clever girl, full of promise, but with undeveloped powoi.s. She returned to it with that promise moie than fulfilled, and with her splendid gift of voice, personal attractions, and histrionic ability and volume, and bhe sing-j her music with artistic cultiue and ease which weie to have been expected from a daughter of Sydney Nelson. Hei acting too has unproved, and now, without having lost any of the arch piquancy which raideied her such a favoiuite with the public, she has acquired a reposeful and yet picturesque style, giaceful, natural, and theiefore highly effective. Miss NeKon is an accomplished pianist as well as vocalist, as was evinced by the mannei in which she played her own accompaniments. Mr F. Nelson made a capital hit as the gruff but ever- forgiving old Sergeant. This actor also gave pathetic and spuit-stining recitations, in a manner that e\ meed his mastery of elocution and dramatic ait. Wheieever this Company have played they ha vp bean pronounced more complete than any that have appealed in the piovinces. We know them to be artists of raie merit. The play-going portion of the public should not miss the opportunity of enjoying excellent music and a good hearty laugli.

An American Exchange received by Monday's mail, then lvsfeis to the English Franchise bill : — The most important measure relating to domestic affairs which has been presented to the British Parliament for many years past, is that known as the Franchise bill, which is now pending. This is a pet measure with Gladhtone, and upon it the Mmibtiy lias staked its official existence, and it. piepaied to subordinate all other questions in promoting its welfare. The bill applies to the entire United Kingdom, and it has now reached that stage in legislative life known as consideration by tho House sitting as a Committee of the Whole. That it will pass the Commons in substantially such form as the Ministry desires, is amply shown by. the fact that a Conver»ative motion to exclude Ii eland from its operation was smothered by a vote of 332 to 137. the Parnellites, for the first time this session, voting with those who are struggling to correct errors and reform abuses that have become almost sanctified by age. This action, however, need not deceive any person. It is not the result of a change of heart on the part of this demagogue and tho emptyheaded pot-house politicians who follow him, and it does not presage their attempting in the future to give effect to those liberal principles they so loudly profess. It simply means that the profitable effect of this bill will be to add a few votes to the Parliamentary stiength of this ragged army of patriotic dudes and assassins' friends. The bill, however, stands no chance of becoming law during this session. It is almost a foregone conclusion that it will be defeated by the House of Lords. In that event a dissolution of Parliament and an appeal to the country on this issue will follow ; but it is by no means certain that the response of the country will be based upon this issue. Considerable time must elapse before the constituencies can be heard from, and in that interim something may happen to swell the present popular misunderstanding of, and dissatisfaction with, the Government's Egyptian policy. If this Bill could get fairly before the country, there is little room to doubt but that it would receive such an emphatic indorsement that further opposition to it by the House of Lords would greatly imperil the furture existence of that body as an element in the legislative system of the country. The Bill is in keeping with the general principle underlying all those great measures of reform with which Gladstone has traced his name, in clear, bold characters, on the statute books of hia country. It aims to extend the electoral franchise to every one who possesses anything like a permanent home. And this probably is as near to universal suffrage as it is desirable to get. It gives a voice in the direction of public affairs to about every one who deserves to have one, and it excludes from that privilege bums, vagrants and wanderers of all degrees— those in fact who, if not absolutely a menace to the welfarejaf society, are by reason of their shiftlessness of no benefit to the body social, and have no interests to be injured by errors in the management of public affairs. The passage of this measure will fittingly cap the climax in the political career of a man who entered public life when a large property qualification was the basis of the electoral franchise, and who has been greatly, if not chiefly, instrumental in driving It down step by step to its present position,' ; ,

A reward is offered for two lost horses. A number of properties of defaulttrg ratepayer in the Waikato County advertised lor sale or lease ly tho Public' Tiustee are advertised in another column. MrJ.S.Bupkl^ndwill^ell Mr Tisdalls* live and dead stock at Auburn Alexandra' on 'Saturday at 11 a.m. A full list of the lots will be found ( ,in the advertisement. He will hold his Waihou sale on Thursdayj.hts Cambridge; Cattle Sale, btf the 17th and his CiW H4W «!«'# W