The Liberal, Volume I, Number 39, 25 Ianuali 1893 — LET THERE BE LIGHT. [ARTICLE]

LET THERE BE LIGHT.

Circumstances sometimes arise under which it is necessary for the best intentioned men to carry out their times in secret. It is always unfortunate that such conditions should exist, and their existence should be abbreviated to the shortest possible period. It has been thought by the gentlemen in charge of our present destinies , to he essential to our safety that all the proceedings of the government should be conducted in secret. There may have been, and there may still be excellent reasons for such a course. No doubt there were and are such reasons, for the men in command are honest, prudent and practical, But it is none the less a strain upon the confidence of the ordinary man to be expected to shut his eyes and blindly bolt whatever may be thrown to him from the secret sessions of a council in whose individual members he may have the utmost faith. Secrecy invariably, in all minds and in all lands, breeds suspicion. Publicity invites confidence. We would therefore earnestly recommend our friends in the government to, as soon as possible, drop the veil of secrecy from their actions, and invite the public to the sessions of their Legislative body. No fear of treachery or violence, gentlemen. The monarchy is as dead as any other corpse, and is incapable of creating mischief, whatever the disposition of its partisans. The situation is as serene as a summer dawn, except as that serenity is disturbed by the tramp of armed men who, like a divinity, hedge in the dual Councils from non-existent perils.