, 1875-07-31

Barbados was so degraded from the want of
education as was to be seen In the lower class
es in England. Dissatisfaction is tbs result
of bad government but there is no d~issatis-
faction in Barbados. We are content with
our mode of government, with our island institu.
tons and our constitution. We have no need
to envy our neighbours their confederation. By
all accounts they are not satisfied with it them
selves. 1t is a sore subject with them. 1t
stlhks in the nOstrils OF every one who knows
it. We have succeeded in the past with the
elective system, and we. hope to do the same
in the future. Under this system reform comes
from the people. 1t is a self-working, self.
correcting system. No doubt Sir Graham
Briggs vas fattered by the influence be poss.
eSsed at the Colonial Office, and had talked
with the Secretary of State concerning the af-
fairs of Barbados. But he had no authority to
speak as their delegate. If the Secretary of
State wished to obtain information concerning
our affairs, or to suggest any reform of our in
situtions, he should not have recourse to pri.
yate channels, but through the Governor. The
object Of this meeting was to indicate the
views of the public. There was no need to
resort to private sources of Information, to
diplomacy and intrigue, to know what was go
ing on in Barbados, and the feeling Of the
inhabitants. These should be known through
Tue proper CuduHelSy INC Assembly, Council
and Governor. 1t was unpledged men who
voted for and carried the confederation scheme.
1t is a scheme to give the preponderance to
the official party. The despatch of the Duke
of Buckingham, published in the Reporter,
describes the Governor as the agent to carry
out the views of the Secretary Of State. The
scheme was tainted from head to foot. The
head was tainted, for the head was the Cover
nor, who was paid by the State to sink his in.
dividuality, and to carry out the instructions
Of his superior the Secretary Of State. The
subordinate officers of government were re-
CURED to yield obedience to the Governor,
under penalty of r~esigning their offices in case
of refusing to d. as they are bid. The official
and nominee members were mere instruments
in the hands of the Governor. There was no
such thing as independence of judgment or ao-
ton recognised their conscientious ~soruples
were not respected. Now these offices were
looked forward to, especially in he profession
to which he belonged, as rewards for deserving
an honorable service, but how could high
minded and honorable men be expected to
accept of office on this condition of implicit I'M
varying obedience to the Instructions of their
superior. 1t would be to degrade not to reward
them. 1t would be necessary to go down to O
lower stratum of society to find persons to fill
public offices upon such terms. The whole
system thus became tainted and vicious. He
did not think a government actuated by vicious
motives not aiming at virtue could prosper.
The only sound part Of this government was
the elected portion aad all it could do was to
protest. But thej responsibility of this
system unnaturally goes upwards to the
Colonial Minister; instead Of d~ownwards to the
people. What was the consequence-Parlia-
ment-to whom the appeal would be made
in the last resort, would decide in favour of the
nominees against those who protested, alleging
that they were equally competent to Judge our
affairs. Let us have none of this. Let US
stick to our tried and valued constitution.
We strive to emulate the British people in
their loyalty and attachment to their inStitu-
tons in Church and State let US initiate
them in our attachment to that constitution
which our ancestors brought from England
with them, and which we have inherited from
them, if the constitution fails, the fault will be
in the electors, for not electing the best men
to represent them. In all ages suicide has
been regarded as the greatest crime that can
be committed, and branded as such by the
laws. Don't let us be guilty of this most
Infamous of crimes. Don't let US commit
political suicide in the destruction OF our con-
~stltutiOn. If our constitution is to be destroy.
ed by the Imperial Parliament let US have no
hand in the doing of it, let US leave to England
the odium and detestatiOn, which must fall
upon her for having committed a political
lnfanticide.