OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2866, 25 November 1890, Page 4

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

(KBO.M OUR OWN COURKSrONBENT.) Svd.nkv, November 1, Loud tongued disaffection has rando itself vory prominent among us lately. In reviows, iu Hocioty journals, in Parliament itsulf, as well ns uu tho stumps of the Dumuiu, or tho roatrum of tho Maritimo Hall. It haa raised its voice, and has run through all its mendatious painut from cringing cajolery to bloodcurdling threat. So loud aud so persistent has been its outcry, and so dctarmiticd to hoar nothing bnt its own voico, tliiit a superficial obsorver might imagine that it represented the epirit of the community, and that we were all auimateel by black-hearted envy and groon-eyed jealousy, linked together in fell conspiracy to seize tho goods and chattels of thoso who happened to be a little better ott' than ourselves, or at all events to compel them to carry on their business for our fancied advantage. As woll might one sopposo that tho croaking of the frogs in a low-lying , meadow was a fair representative of tho fatness of the pasture or tho value of the stock that feed on it.

Tho real feeling of the community is as distinct from this as the real sentiment and strength of a man is distinct from the noisy eructations which trouble him in his fits of indigestion. How small a minority the spokesmen of discontent comprise, and how feeble and transitory the feeling which they interpret, was shown pretty conclusively on Saturday. Nearly all tho city and suburbs turned out to bid farewell to Lord and Lady Carrington. The streets were crowded. Sidewalks, windows and balconies presented masses of cordial, perspiring humanity, breathing out ite good wishes, not only in heartfelt prayer and honest viva vote language, but speaking also in the language of symbol from every point of vantage. The vice-regal carriage was nearly filled with flowers, and the whole course of tho procession was gay with Buttering and waving bunting. The disgruntled section, who iivcr that society wants chopping and lucking to pieces, and putting together agaiu after their pattern, were nowhere to be seen. Either they left their discontent at homo for the nonce, like other decent people, or else absented themselves altogether. In any case they were not missed. Tho demonstration of personal esteem and affection towards the nobleman aud jjentlo woman, who have discharged a great oflioe with credit, left nothing to be desired. May their successors acquit themselves as well.

It goes- without saying that such a display of appreciation of the services and character of a departing Governor would have been impossible had there been any widespread and serious discontent with the existing conditions, The rabid balderdash which is talked for their own ende by wonld-be-leaders of revolt finds no echo in tho great honest heart of the majority of the people, who bear the burden and heat of the day without writing to the papers, without orating on stumps, and without ever attempting to act the incendiary to the bad passions of the baser sort. No one in his senses will contend that oar social conditions are perfect. But they can only be improved through the individuals who compose society, and the first condition of individual amendment is a disposition to make tlio best of things, rather than the worst, to accept existing conditions, with a view to improve them rather thau to act the part of a 19th century Guy Fawkcs, and blow up the whole edifice with socialistic or anarchic dynamite. However, our Guy Fawkeses of to-day havo succeeded in demonstrating, not only their explosive intentions, but their own object and utter folly. They have marched their loyal dupes out of wellpaid employment to tho depths of destitution and despair. They have re-con-'.ttructed society, by compelling their trusing followers, to give up secure positions and fair wages for no work, and uo wages. They have bounced or inveigled them out of the frying pan into tho fire, from honest self-supporting and self-respecting labour to beggary. The very men who talked so loudly about the hundreds of thousands of pounds which they had at disposal, are now praying the Government to treat them as paupers, by granting them rations. This is the result of listening to lies, instead of looking the facts squarely in the face. Even now the labour leaders are frantically endeavouring to shunt the blame on to other shoulders than their own. While with ono side of their mouths they beg the Government to give them food, to keep them from the starvation which their own petulant folly has invited, with the other they accuse it of entering into a diabolical conspiracy, to provoke the men to rebellion. Their misery and wretchedness they attribute to the cruel vindictiveness of the employers. As well might a highwayman whoso attack had been successfully repelled, complain of the cruel vindietiveness of the man who refused to bo coerced into surrendering bis property. Not only has their fatuous counsel lost to tho strikers all tho money they would havo oarned had they continued at work, but, by free donations and forced levios, tho other Unions havo boon brought to tho verge of poverty. 'I'ho money of which thoy are buing , drained might .is well be thrown into the sen, ku far us assisting to gain a Unionist victory is uuiiuurued. Had they roiiliuuud lit. work, iitid shown tin; sainu /.out aii'.l scll'-iluiiiiil, I hey might now have lm.l a fund of fully halfa-million of iiionuy. If tliry can livu on a fow pence ;i any a". Ihu liiiUliug of a handful of liillati.d windbags, suroly they should be itlilo to do it for principle. By thrifty Miiviujj and wise employment of tho funds thus accumulated, some measuio of success is assured and certain. But u strike swallows up all the savings', and likoPharoah's lean kino, it i« gaunter and hungrier after it has eaten them thau it was before. Moreover, society is becoming moro and more intolerant of the tyrannical coercion and intimidation by which this destructive warfare is being carried on. Tho " moral suasion" of the pickets and of tho " blue metal" contingencies disgu3ts by its sickening , hypocrisy no loss than by its brutality. Tho prosperity of sooiety depends on the efficiency -with which its varied activities and avocation?) aro carried on. Those who sot themselves to obstruct those activities, whether they aro omployers or agitators, are enemies of the public, nnd public feeling, unless under vory exceptional circumstances, is certain to declare against them.

Mr Dibbs moved his vote of censuro last wcok and lost it by an unmistakeable mujority. This wns u forcgono conclusion, a« a section of tho Opposition wnro known to bo estranged, Tho defeated party nllcgc that tho division was unfairly 'snatched by tho Government but tbo result under any ciruuniHtances would have been the name although tlic numbers might have been t'lightly altered. Tho truth appears to bo that a considerable number of Uio 1 (pponi'.ioiL wcro ieuio interested iu the faiuwo.H ball to Liidy (Jumugt'jn than iu Hie (tobiilu, and tlici not think it worth while to louiaiii iu their planus. Consequently tin) tlirtunfiuu Uiimo Id a more npeiidy end than lead boon hoped for, fiwin;; lo tho lack of Hpealeeip, aud thf diviuion list showed n larger majority for l.hd Govuruuieut tb.iu would otherwise have bocu tho case. Air Dibbs threatened 1.0 movo another resolution of censure. Had ho douo eo tho Government would have been warranted in dealing with it na undisguised obstruction, and would havo boon backed up by a larger majority than before I'orhnpn fiffor nil, it ifl just na well thai morubcra nro in nohinry lo iaeo their constituontH.