The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3052, 6 February 1892, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 1892.

Equal and eiact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Never, perhaps, in the history of democratic evolution was any Government so completely at the mercy of a handful of labour members "as is tho Now South Wales Government at the present moment. The Parkes' Ministry simply depended on the labour party for its existence as a Government. But Mr Dibbs and his colleagues, in addition to depending on the labour party for the possession of their portfolios, also depend upon them for the condonation of a whole series of illegal acts which have been committed since December 2nd, when the new duties began to be collected without tho sanction of an Act of Parliament. Those who elected the labour members in the hope that they would use every opportunity to push forward urgently-needed m ensures, stand aghast at the supiness of their representatives. They are in a position to dictate terms, and yet they submit to be hectored and bullied by Mr Dibbs as if he, and not they, held the whip. They hold him absolutely in their hands, but he has no power whatever over them, except so far as they may givo it him, by allowing a sordid fear for their £6 a week to drive out their zeal, for the objects for which they were elected. Step by step, owing to the defection of a section of the Labour party, the Government has been strengthening its position, and it will soon, so far as tho critical period of its existence is concerned,

bo entirely independent of the Labour party, oxcept for the ordinary purposes of Government. For the last few weeks the Government has been carrying on its business, metaphorically speaking, with a rope round its neck, in danger at any moment of being taken out and executed for its illegal and unconstitutional action. Yet none of these blatant demagogues who were so bold in their hustings talk has had tho courage to give that rope even so much as a twitch. Once more, by object lessons visible to all observers, the country is reminded that great talkers are almost always contemptible workers and that braggadocio and cowardice are convertible terms. The resistance of the Free-trade party to the unwarrantable exactions and extortions oi the new tariff has not been such as might have been expected. Had uncompromising opposition been shown when the duties first began to be collected, the position of the Government would soon have been seen to be untenable. Had the merchants claimed from the Supreme Court their legal rights to import their goods under the dutios and exemptions of the existing Customs Act it would have been seen to be impossible to exact any others until definite parliamentary sanction had been obtained. A good many professed champions of Free-trade appeal to be content with protesting just enough to save appearances, but have no idea of running any serious risk in defence of the principles violated. For trumpery personal ends they can fight with great vigour and courage ; but to prevent the conscienceless robbery of the whole people by ministerial fiat they would not lift a finger or risk a shilling. Some of the Free-trade journals counsel submission now and recommend a general rally at the next election; but can a man fight better when his limbs are yet free or when they have been fettered and bound? The vested interests of all traders who hold stocks will be enlisted in maintaining Protection if it is once suffered to be established. To remove the duties will be to depreciate the market value of their stocks, because the public can then be supplied with goods at a normal price without any added extortion. This factor will, in all probability, be sufficient to turn the scale." The outcry of the few persons who would be injured would be so much louder than that of the many persons who would be benefited that the latter, there is every reason to believe, would be ruthlessly sacrificed. It is much easier to preserve freedom than to regain it after it has been tamely resigned. If the Free-trade party in New South "Wales is worth anything, now, if ever, is the time to show it.