The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit MONDAY, MAY 12, 1884. Sir Julius Vogel.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1251, 12 May 1884, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas e t Prevalebit MONDAY, MAY 12, 1884. Sir Julius Vogel.

It has been said that to outlive his reputation is the most pitiable experience that can befall a man, and Sir Julius Vogel has assuredly been afforded ample opportunity of testing the truth of this. Ten years ago he was regarded by the colony as a heavenborn statesman, and his Public Works policy was received with enthusiasm as the only means of developing our resources. The borrowing of foreign capital was entered into with a light heart, and the scheme which to join was the two ends of the North and Middle Is* lands by means of the iron road was inaugurated. While money was to be obtained from England for the asking, little thought was given to the future when the colony would be saddled with a debt, to provide the interest for which would necessitate a burden of taxation well nigh unbearable. The warning of political economists, who pointed out that it was a false principle to suppose that the railways would make the country, fell unregarded upon the ear of a people fascinated by the audacious and gigantic scheme of the then Premier. If the great Public Works policy has not turned out so well as was anticipated, it is scarcely fair to lay all the blame on its originator. Sir Julius Vogel may reply that it was in the power of the colonists to say whether or not the ideas he advocated should be carried out, and the manner in which they were received is a proof that the policy was the popular one, while he can furthermore argue that had his original plans been adhered to our present condition would not have been what it is. However, this may be, the Loan Frankenstein that the colony has raised up promises to overpower her, if some drastic reform is not undertaken. There is scarcely a politician, no matter what party he may belong to, who does not raise his voice against further borrowing, at any rate for some time, and the Vogelism which was applauded to the skies a few short years ago is now well nigh universally condemned as having been one of the chief causes of the existing depression in New Zealand.

Sir Julius Vogel has returned to this colony, and in response to an invitatation from the East Coast electors has expressed his willingness to re-enter the political arena. We do not know what chance there is of his obtaining the seat recently vacated by that eccentric representative of the people, Mr Allan McDonald, but it is doubtful if his presence in Parliament would be altogether an unmixed good. The truth is that the glamour that formerly surrounded the name of Vogel has departed, and the ex-Agent-General must have realised that he has returned to a land where his former influence is, if not forgotten, at any rate regarded as having scarcely been'an advantage. Nothing shows this more clearly than the manner in which he has been received since he landed from the Tongariro. He was, indeed, interviewed by an energetic reporter immediately after his arrival, but the pumping process proved of little avail in enabling us to discover the real purport of the visit. Since then the colony has been left in ignorance of his whereabouts, and we venture to say that not a single person felt curious concerning the matter. A Southern paper some days ago threw out a suggestion that Sir Julius should be asked to address a meeting on the subject of our present position—evidently with the idea that the man who provided the bane would be able to give us the antidote —but the suggestion was very naturally derided. The opinion has been gaining ground duiing recent years that the Vogelian policy was flashy and audacious rather than sound, and that the once admired Premier cared little for the interests of the colony so long as his own ends were served. His anxiety to leave New Zealand and take the position of AgentGeneral in England is regarded by not a few as showing that Sir Julius Vogel saw the difficulties in the way of carrying out his public works scheme, and was afraid of facing them. No one can question his shrewdness and ability, and he must have foreseen that the influx of loan capital meant a general scramble among the members, which would necessarily bring in its train log rolling and political jobbery and chicanery of all kinds. There can, of course, be no objection to Sir Julius wishing renew his connection with colonial politics, even if only for a few months, but should he be elected to Parliament we think lie will soon find out that the condition of New Zealand has absolutely changed since he left this country, that his ideas will be shared by hardly a single member, and that, in short, he has entirely outlived his reputation.