The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889)(about) |
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Friday 10 June 1859
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8 corrections, most recently by anonymous - Show corrections
Is it right to " support" a Government, sup- posing a Government to be worthy of support ? We put this question because we believe that very opposite opinions prevail on the subject. To promise to give "support" to a Government is looked upon as a betrayal of the people's cause. " Support a Government,"-we hear some one ask,-" How can an independent representative support a Government ? Are not all public officers made to be opposed ; and can that man hold up his head before his constituents, or .look his country in the face, who refused, when he had a chance, to kick a Ministry ?"
Support a Government! How is it possible? Governments always were wrong, always are wrong, always will be wrong ; and those who would be right should take care ever to vote in opposition to Ministers. Are not Ministers in office ? Are they not in " power ?" Are they not servants of the public? Do they not receive pay ? Where, then, is the man of sterling prin- ciple who could, under any circumstances, sup- port a Government ? It is absurd on the face of it. By so doing you actually- sanction the holding of office, support the exercise of admi- nistrative power, identify yourself with acts of Executive policy, and, worst of all, run the risk of appearing to be contented with the men whom you pay for the fulfilment of their duties. Nothing can be more preposterous.
Much has been said about Responsible Ad- ministration, Popular Government, &c., but the attempt to realise these ideas is akin to that of the man who chased his own shadow. A Tory Administration might be consis- tently supported by Tories ; a Protectionist Administration by Protectionists ; an ultra Protestant or ultra-Catholic Administra- tion by ultra-Protestants or ultra-Catholics ;
but a Liberal Administration CANNOT be supported by Liberals, because " Liberalism" means " Opposition ;" and the triumphant Oppo- sition of to-day becomes, on taking office, the hypocritical, time-serving, contemptible turn- coats of to-morrow. It is, therefore, clear to de- monstration that-no matter who are in power no matter what their policy-the simple fact that they are in power condemns their every act and word. As long as Liberalism exhibits to the world its glorious and unchangeable attribute of " Opposition," so long will it be a political crime for Liberals to support Governments, even though of their own creation. The true ideal of a Liberal is Resistance ; the summit of his am- bition is Expectation, His" proper attribute is to stand with foot on the step and thumb on the latch ; but on no account to cross the threshold, nor open the door.
Perhaps some of our readers may think we are joking, and others that .we are serious. Well, all we can say is-if they have paid for their paper they are entitled to their choice, and we
leave them to its free exercise.