BOHEMIA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2400, 26 November 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOHEMIA.

y..- ./. //,- 7Vw' -X.., ni/ ,■ M,..1-| |n, Kill; MEA.-UKI'.. hr.. :■ IliV list linlXi ]■ > i'lf Mils I'i -111 i! ill 111- hill.ls I.; the print, r. tii'- Sjn-iik. r has 1 Ju i(i Dated nil the long-emim mg p 1 1i■ uin■ nf tin. eonnliv. Wll UIIVT limy hr thr I.pillion nf 11-.t |1 - ti'imM like thr chit nr I'i til" All-Mi1,.1 r.rll, I am quite -nre that T; ri U extraordinary behaviour u ill 'nr jnslly re probated liy thr -onmi common sense of people of X"W Z ihinl. The article in tint llrll is a shocking outrage im good taste. It adopts a line of argument that appears to hr habitual to it winn it proceeds to ilrfrail circumstance* Hint it rnmit feel aware will hr condemned hy thr iut elbgencn of an enlightened enmniiinity. In an editorial at the time the Hell sought to conilomi thr murderer Calfrey in the actual part hr took in the cowardly and hnifal slaughter of poor old Mr Taylor. It went so far as to hysterically denounce as “scoundrels” all who failed to regard L’afTruy as a hern. In now vehemently stigmatises those who dilfer from its dictum that Vogel is a martyr, and who do not sympathise with him in his late cmhroglin as not “worthy of the name of men.” This dogmatic manner of arguing a question may he in accordance witli the lights and experience of the Bell, Imt I doubt very much whether it carries the force of conviction with it. Moreover, judging hy my own knowledge of the world, I am inclined decidedly to the belief that rather than accept the Bell as a teacher of morals and good manners, most people will exclaim, after perusing such vituperations as it delights to indulge in, “ then, we bless onr stars we are scoundrels ! Thank God we arc not men nor gentlemen ! ”

It is somewhat won lerful, if not ludicrous, to sec Sir Julius Vogel setting himself up as an arbiter on “ good manners” ami the “ usages common to good society.” The whole past bi-tory_ot this extraordinary politician abounds in performances that should place him outside tile pale of pood society. Colonial society, speaking in a very liberal sense, is extremely tolerant, but it is a very different tiling in Kngland and on the Continent. Ido not for a moment question Sir Julius Vogel’s knowledge of the, world ; in that respect he not only excels tlie honourable member for Marsden, but, no doubt, also the majority of those sitting in the present Parliament. But when we come to analyse the claims to an intimace with “good society,” it is pertinent to the question to enquire in what circles of good society in Kng--1 iiid Sir Julius Vogel has mixed? Into what clubs of the West l'.ndor the Mall has Sir Julius had the, entre? From a variety of sources there is ample evidence to show that “ society' in Kngland never did and never will admit this “ remarkable statesman” of the antipodes. 1 hey know a g« ntleman by intuition in I'.ne’and, I think , and they know a great deal more about .Sir Jvlins in the Old Country, than is generally imagined out here. 1 lie Financial News that recently denounced the “gang of New Zealand politicians living on 1.0.U.s knew what it was writing about. • * * » Sir Julius Vogel, in bis passionate tirade against the 1 louse, placed the burden of his “ infirmity ” at the feet of the Almighty, which was a piece of impudent blasphemy. Hating ami drinking are necessary conditions of life, to lie observed in accordance with till) laws of Nature.* If these laws arc disregarded by excess or impure consumption in either one or the other, the penalties for so doing are certain to follow upon the offenders. Many authorities express the opinion that the immoderate eater is a more offensive spectacle than iic wiio over indulges in the use of the wine cup. In any case the abuses arc equal iu degree, and the liou-vivant is as guilty as the wiue-hihber. Both are sinners. Therefore, Sir Julius Vogel’s “infirmity," as a jm/n-ium Ih-i , has no doubt been a wisely-inflicted punishment. Involved in the whole dispute, however, is a great piiuciple which the partisans of Vogel purposely ignore. One of the most treasured priveieges of representative Government, which the people should he. moal e ireful to preserve nnimpared, is the liberty of action every member elected by the constituencies enjoys, ot is supposed to enjoy, in the exercise of ids duties whilst in Parliament assembled. Peculiarly identified with this principle is the right, handed down from the dajs of Simon de Monntfort and Magna Cbarla, to enquire into the n-o or misuse of pul.lie money or the employment of men whose services ere paid for out of the exchequer. Ilow.-ver trivial the sum involved in the matter under investigation, the pi im-igl" is there iu its entirety and should be treated as sacred bv the whole liCgislature. it is a most dangerous precedent to allow any members be Ids party views what they may, to bo suppressed ami made the target of bitter personal attacks becoi-e he bethought fit to exerci-e mi ', if not tingreatest, of his sen itmial pi 'negative- in scrutinising the expenditure of the country's revenue, or sitislying himselt on any matter in which he believes there is an abuse of the public estate. With this interpretation of Mr Thomson’s question betore one, it is impossible to discover anyth,mg in it of an offensive character, either as regards Sir Julius V’lu’el individually, or the good taste of Parliament.-! IT procedure. It seems to me. and everyone who has discussed the matter wilh me is of tinsame opinion, that the Speaker in having, at a subsequent period of the situation, condemned Mr Thomson's question as offensive, simply made ;ri inglorious retreat from the buttle ground on which lie had previously L'-diied a decided advantage. It is dilll -nit to understand what potent ii dlnemes caused him to sacrifice Ids dignity to such an extent. It would be one of th-- m-is’ serious evils that could helai! the legislative institutions of a constitutionally governed country, if the representative-s of I he people were to accept the doctrine I see some thoughtless individuals assume to preach, that such information as Mr Thompson asked for would be lest obtained by interviewing Ministers privately. If that plan became gem uv.l, God In-Ip the country ! for it would be the deathblow to purity of ad-ninis'niliou. Corruption of the deep ist dye would very sp-.-edily become rile once tin- check imposed upon abuses by the dread of public exposure through a hold and watchful Parliament was removed.

Some of the sycophants of Vogel are never weary of extollin.,' Ins statesmanship. To the, miml of a tieddon, or the Hell, the late Treasurer may appeal- as resplendent as a star of the Inst inagni tU'le, I*a tile Star of lie.* I MO hi---, appeare 1 a letter from i..y old seh".,: fellow. Dr. faii.-.hiey, on tie-.'■nhj.vt of ! selection of hooks efasnilahle el,-ms f.a the I’r.-e l.iiraiy. If.- cut. r; sonmwhat into a slee-t r.-ti'i.-I'l-v't of the colony’s p"lil i'-al hi .new. Dr. Laishley always writes well, with studious thoughtfulness .and in a clever cpigramm-ifie style ; therefore, a few apt pi rotations from him will not ire in lack of appreciation. “ the atmosphere of the colony has become demoralised and sound mows are so ignored, the road to ruin is being so surely trodden, that emnter,acting influences, are, indeed, urgently needed. In fact “laxity of principle is now too common to he scandalous.” “it needs no prophet to predict the disasters which must result from the exaltation of dis-

lull:- . (•. xAv ■/.. ah,ml, .1.-M.iil.l* to . I ■■■■nit n rln ! o( Mim pdcn ■"i m!y •- tr.vrr iii-icliMi", .; I, i -I ■ thr imnr, nr in ■ll 1(i 1 nil v bun - .hi- '. Or u!l ■ I inn r I iliirlllnlis •II ... ■, ;■ :i ! mi- 1 rv i; n m I Ir 1 '■ i!mi v spoken ..I :i- ,ihir men, mill (heir .ih-em;e I'imiii llir h..11-r m.-m d „vri- ! T.'ir f.n-ts mr igi, tin! nny nn.il n mini hy wrong i.l t;V- iv-.n, lint Clsi-homl ill word nr ..1 “ nnli'li fnr trnih. end (hat "i.:, in. of rli-i-imul itinii mi l hd-ohood .-h iuM mark a a ia ns ut!r rly Worthies-" mi.l .ihiii.i 'li'ii, lh:il. .-till vian-hip milsi>n in loi.mimr what are pi iii' i ;■!i s, in I applying I hem «•;«•/»/. in order In lii::i 111 !hr (} ri.«l nf m nil inly inn I,inn in riij.iviiirnt, mill mitigiiDng Imniiiii sufferings, .-mil that wise men shoulil illwavs hr im-liiu 'l In look wii.li irrnvo sns11 1 1■ ii• 11 mi thr angels mid demons of the muliitU'ie.”

When the London Timn.-i, in its famous articles mi “ I’arnelli ni and Grime,” impel si a charge of “ flagrant falsehood” In Mr Dillon in his speech in reply to (lie Maiquis of li.art.inglmi, such language on t.he part of the Croat Thunderer was resented as a breach of privclcgo as being used towards a member of the House of Commons, mid was brought under Die notice of the House in a direct manner by Sir Hilaries Lewis, one of the Conservative members. Placed side by side witli the scurrilous article in the Bell, the conduct of the Times is mild compared with the heinous churacicr of tile libellous accusations levelled broadcast at. the Speaker and Legislature of this colony. For the credit of New Zealand, such deliberate license on the part of public writers should not be permitted to pass unpunished. It seems to me that the Assembly should appoint a Select Committee to investigate the charges brought against it, for its honour and reputation arc at stake. It may be a disagreeable duty, but no right-minded man should shrink from it on that account. Wiser heads than mine may judge it best to treat such a vicious slander with silent contempt; but I doubt if the British House of Commons, or wen Congress, would quietly sit still under such an attack without taking stern measures to vindicate their character and guard their honourable privileges from foul vituperations. Fiuxc-Tibkub.