Australian Tales - Setis

That is a pleasing picture; but as I look complacently at it, grave doubts
arise in my mind if it will meet the eyes of our rulers, so I cannot hope it
will effect all the reform I desire; and I fancy I hear some of my kind
country friends say, “Ah! Old Boomerang is off his beaten track, and will
soon be lost in the bush if he does not look out. Political economy is
evidently not his favourite theme, for he handles it as nervously as a
black fellow would a lighted sky-rocket. He had better stick to his storytelling,
and leave politics for bolder pens.” I reply, “I don't often touch
upon politics, for I have many other matters in hand; and as Hudibras
says, ‘A man can do no more than he can do.’ But I ask you — my
friends — to kindly bear with me while I offer you a word or two of
counsel on this subject; and please to excuse me for comparing you to
the passengers in the crippled steamer's cabin. Some of you, I am sure,
are ready and willing to spring up on the deck of our colonial vessel, and
lend a hand to trim it upright; but there are too many who choose to stay
below and grumble, and frequently those persons talk loudest who
cannot consistently say a word; I mean, those who were too apathetic to
record their votes at the last general election, and those who voted
without due discrimination.
Many of you old men are fond of talking of politics by your evening
firesides, which is very right and proper, and I should like to have a chat
with you, now and then; and perhaps some of you have occasionally lost
patience (at which I do not wonder), and have freely expressed
disapprobation of doings or misdoings, while your young sons or
grandsons have sat by with open ears. It is no marvel, then, if they, when
out of your sight, should talk politics too; and in order to show that they
are as witty as their sires, they ridicule certain members whom, perhaps,
you have nicknamed, which is certainly not polite, to say the least of it,
nor is it at all encouraging to a legislator to know that it is the popular
sport to roast him behind his back, and joke about all that he says and
does. In the name of fair play, I say, friends, remedy that as far as you
can, and be as ready to award a meed of praise where it is due, as you are
to censure; for after all, you know, legislators are only men. And depend
upon it, if the ship is to be put in good trim, you must help to do it, either
positively or negatively, according to your ability and influence; so
calmly consider how you can best lend your aid, and then do it heartily.
If these remarks, written with an honest motive, on the first day of a
new session, should in any way help to right our lop-sided ship, I shall be
much more pleased than I should be if I were triumphantly elected to the
vacant seat for West Sydney, and further honoured with the Speaker's
chair.