The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30,1887. THE PREMIER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1675, 29 September 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1887. THE PREMIER.

The Premier at the declaration of the poll yesterday reiterated his deterrnina■tion to retire into private life. We must confess that we cannot understand his conduct at all. Because one constituency has refused to elect him, while many others would return him unopposed, he persists m his determination to. quit the political arena. Telegrams from all parts of the colony —one even from the leader of the Opposition himself — urging him to j reconsider his determination, have as I yet proved unavailing. Offers to resign m his favor, from public spiritited men m various parts of the colony, are powerless to shake his determination, i and are declined with thanks. Now we think that such conduct, at a crisis like the present is not only childish but reprehensible. His opponents will say that it exhibits a lamentable want of true patriotism. The country at this time requires the services of the ablest men m the colony — and there can be no question as to Sir Robert Stout's being one of them. But he turns a deaf ear to all their entreaties, and remains obdurate. In the Old Country it is no uncommon thing for prominent statesmen to be beaten m their own electorates, but they do not for such a trivial reason retire into private life. Offers of resignation m their favor flow m, are accepted, and they are returned by a more intelligent constituency. Sir Robert punishes the whole colony for the offence of one small constituency. He does more. He punish ss his colleagues also, and this, we venture to think, he has no right to do. Should he persist m his determination, he will have to send m his resignation as Premier, and this will involve the resignations of all his colleagues. Persistence m his determination is therefore not only unpatriotic but it is also disloyal to his colleagues. It is more. It is cruel.