The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1889

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2700, 31 October 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1889

Tms is the ago of combinations. Empires and nations enter into .alliances for mutual protection, and to preserve each other from the clanger of extinction by one or more powerful neighbours. The scattered parts of a widely extended empire are searching for feasible means to bring themselves into cohesion under one district constitutional plan for federal purposes. In the political world parties are continually formiug and reforming themselves into organisations for the attainment of some definite object in which the welfare of the people, or section of the people, is concerned. Society itself is moved into activity by the same spirit, a spirit which the evolution of time stirs in the human breast and animates mankind to make daily progress towards mundane perfection. The Churches are not exempt from the same feeling, and they also are displaying an inclination towards unity in the cause of religion and Christianity. In every phase of the social and political fabric found amongst peoples and governments, we see the same movement taking place and gathering force each advancing year. Capital solidifies itself to make its operations felt, and Labour has discovered that unity is strength, and that in combination is contained the best means for the protection of its interests and the recognition of its rights in the human economy. This is, we may assume, the modern method of effecting revolutions. In the days of our forefathers brute force was reckoned the sovereign remedy for securing redress of any grievance, and no popular demonstration or declaration of rights could be made unless accompanied by broken heads and bloodshed. The world has now grown wiser; education has reached the masses and has carried the light of civilisation and liberty of thought where darkness formerly reigned supreme, and the human intellect was enchained in thraldom. The increased facilities of international communication, and the perpetual motion of people passing amongst one another from country to country, have expanded the mind and opened the eye to the humanitarian side of life, and to the common heritage of man. In these reflections we are touching lightly on a few of the evidences of the marvellous progress the world and its people have made, during the current century. It has been a period of unexampled changes, and which, also, appears to be but the beginning of a new era in the history of mankind, when it will occupy a higher level, not disfigured by the dark deeds excited by animal passions, selfish hatreds, and social and religious intolerance. It may be that we shall merge into a newer dispensation, or, rather, the dispensation of love will reach its consummation and achieve its universality. By it will be gained the unity of the human species under one universally acknowledged government. The whole tendency of the day is towards combination, the assimilation of kindred elementsnow disintegrated and weak. The most powerful and commanding aggregation will attract others to seek sln-lter under its tegis, or learn wisdom from its superior example and fountain-head, until the world will be brought under one dominion. It will be the dominion of commonsense, at least, and 110 longer that of brute-force, corruption and class interests. The combination of interests now diversified will influence the whole world and people hitherto kept apart by unnatural antagonism and distinctions, notwithstanding their descent and race, will come to a good understanding of each other. Nothing can be won without combined organisation, the old barriers cannot be broken down if the attack is not made under one standard. Political reforms will only be secured and good government, based on sound democratic principles, only established when people of all ranks sink their petty, selfdifVercnccs, and combine together fur the welfare of the whole nation. In other words, we wish to see the birth of a new nationalism, a genuine patriotism, in which self is svholly effaced, for the sake of the whole body of the people. We have caught the spirit of the age in a small measure, for we make some demonstration in the way of combination by forming associations to procure remedies for certain public evils, and talk a great deal of doing away with many others. But none of these evils will be remedied or abolished without systematic organisation, general throughout the colony. A railway reform league in isolated parts of the country will torment and worry for years without obtaining practical results; whereas, if organised methodically, with ramifications in every centre of the country, it would realise its desires in quicker time. If the people wish to ease their shoulders of irksome taxation, destroy the power of officialdom, simplify the machinery of Government, both general and local, they can only do so by political combinations, organised systematically throughout the colony, controlled from a common centre, and based on a common platform which has been accepted by every constituency in the country.. It can be done if the people will first meet together and sav they wish it done and the plan set in motion. Combination is the key to the whole position ; it is swaying the world.