THE EXECUTIVE AND THEIR ORGAN.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 3, 25 December 1856, Page 1

THE EXECUTIVE AND THEIR ORGAN.

The party print which wears our Superintendent’s liverv and reflects such wisdom

as may be found in his Executive, is full of complaints. It complains with all the bitterness of an affronted old maid. Like 11. B.’s comical figure wot kicks all man ner of ways, it hits out in every direction. The late Provincial Secretary is sneered at for sneering ; the actual Provincial Speaker is not only snubbed for snubbing, but told that the office of Speaker in Provincial Councils is both needless and useless ; while oppositionists generally are lumped together under the somewhat offensive as well as general description of “either political intrigants to whom it would signify not a jot should the Province become bankrupt, or paid officials vexed at the loss of place which they have proved themselves unfit to hold.”

An anecdote quite germane to this matter has occurred to us. It is the anecdote according to which Tom Cribb, the once noted pugilist, being asked by a pugnacious young man which was the best attitude of defence, curtly replied — To keep a civil tongue in your head.

What have the Executive done ? That is the question. Calling other people hard names is a dangerous way of defending one’s self. Our contemporary may depend upon it that the Executive will be rather damaged than benefitted by an advocate who is unable to keep a civil tongue in his head. Sam Slick observes that an intempernte advocate is more dangerous than an open foe, and all our exexperience approves the observation. Not by railing against opposition can our Executive hope to convince us of their fitness for the difficult and delicate business of Government. Querulous complaints of opposition and malignant aspersion of individuals are bad stock in trade for a party journalist who deprecates party squabbling. At hazard of being ranked amongst “ political intrigants," we tell our contemporary that the Executive whose acts he “ trumpets to the world” are fair subjects of criticism even though criticism should establish their political incapacity. This Executive seemed to reckon upon settling tho Education Question right off, and making the affair quite snug in what Cockneys call “quick-sticks,” and Yankees “less than no time.” Provided with a cut-and-dried scheme by their clerical allies the idea of successful opposition found no place in their pericranium. But they reckoned without their host and “ counted spoil before the field was won.” While admiring their courage we question their prudence. An Educational Measure should be thoroughly discussed. Perhaps the Executive thought the opinion of that clerical junta who drew up their Plan and whose catspaw they are, was decisive ; but we beg leave to assure them that those gentlemen have no more right or title to say— We the people of this Province than certain tailors-three of Tooley-street, to commence their famous petition with —77Y the people of England.

The Education Question is not settled. Our Provincial Council “ separated for the Christmas recess” after disturbing many things without settling any one of them. In the business of disturbing they are quite au fait. It is true, as our uncivil contemporary observes, they have “ brought down eight Bills connected with some of the chief topics touched upon in the Opening Address of the Superintendent but bringing down Bills is one thing —passing them another. And of eight Bills “ brought down” none are likely to pass into law in their present shape, while many will certainly not pass into law at all—being as Dogberry says —“ doomed to redemption.” It was a maxim of Napoleon that wo should let policy govern incidents notallow incidents to govern policy. The Executive is in danger of reversing that maxim by allowing incidents to govern policy instead of so managing that policy shall give law to incidents. Judged by such measures as have been laid before the Provincial Council they appear to small advantage. All those measures Lave been prepared in hot haste and by people without anything like astonishing genius for legislation. The Local Boards Bill has been declared “ too bad” even by friends of Superintendent Williamson and his Executive. One, and not the least influential, of these “friends” puts in print his firm conviction that to pass it in its present form would prove the death-blow to the political character of the Constitutional Party, and in language bitterly ironical recommends its framers to confer on our Constitutional .Superintendent the power to proclaim its

first coming into operation in some district near the mines of Siberia,

Our antiopposition contemporary takes credit for the Superintendent and his Executive on the ground that they have not availed themselves of their numerical majority to force on their Bills as quickly as possible. But precisely because they have neglected to force anything on we find fault with them. During a sitting of ten days a capable Executive would surely have done more than tongue-fence and look unutterable things at “ politieal intrigants" on the opposition benches.