The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24,1887. THE POLLING DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1671, 24 September 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1887. THE POLLING DAY.

The present political campaign is rapidly drawing to a close, and on Monday the electors will be called upon to decide the fate ot the various candidates for Parliamentary honors. In this district the contest has been carried on so far m a fairly respectable manner, and we are glad to say has been distinguished by an absence of that vehement and virulent abuse of opponents which has been the leading feature of the campaign m other parts of the Colony. Each of the candidates for the Ashburton seat has had the benefit of the services of a zealous and hard-working Committee and the vanquished candidate may rest assured that his defeat has not been due to any want of zeal or ardour on the part of those who have so energetically worked m his cause. Of course, during a political contest promises are " as plentiful as leaves m Allambrosa." The promises are framed for the special purpose of catching votes. But all colonists are painfully alive to the fact that promises are like , the proverbial pie-crust. The electors ' want deeds — not promises — something •that will inspire confidence, which promises fail to do. Thus it is that when an ex-representative has discharged his duty to his constituents m a satisfactory manner, he places ao opponent at a disadvantage. This is the case m the contest for the Ashburton seat. Mr Purnell, though an able and clever man, has not been m Parliamentary harness; whereas Mr Walker has served the constituency for several years with credit to himself and benefit to them. Mr Purnell is also heavily handicapped m another direction, He is fighting on the Opposition ticket, and as the success of the Opposition m the present contest means the recall to power of the Atkinson party we may safely say that his Government has left behind it a very shady record — which is fully dealt with m another column — while the Government, of which Mr Walker is such a staunch supported, has one of which any colonial Administration might be proud. The eiectors of Ashburton are much too independent to vote according to the dictation of any man, and know too well the value of services faithfully rendered to allow any purely personal consideration to Influence their voting, so that we have every confidence that the Jesuit of the poll will be to put "the right man m the right place."