THE LEADING OR MIS-LEADING JOURNAL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 62, 20 February 1877, Page 2

THE LEADING OR MIS-LEADING JOURNAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AKABOA MAIL. . Sir, —A constitutional wave having during, the last few years swept over not alone Great Britain, but Europe generally, in some measure explains the fact of the parliamentary minority in the British Senate being now chiefly composed of Scotch, Welsh and Irish, in conjunction with heterogeneous elements of society in the form of place-hunting politicians, home rulers, ultramontanes, arid political dissentors. The British parliamentary majority on the other hand is not only essentially English, but, moreover, the only national party extant, who, having solely at heart the welfare of the entire British people, consequently desire above all else, the maintenance of the British Empire intact. Notwithstanding this, the British Constitutional party have for many years had to contend with a most insidious, relentless, and unscrupulous hostility in the columns of the Times newspaper, wherein every conceivable opportunity has been indefatigably seized upon to misrepresent and discredit the Disraeli "Ministry since their timely advent to power and office. When unable to do this directly, the Times has venomously striven either

to condemn them with faint praise, or has arg-uinentatively drifted away from the question at issue. To term it meiely the mispleading journal would be not only unoriginal on my part, but far toe mild an expression to apply towards that un-Eng-lish spirited journal, therefore I rest content to treat it with the profound mistrust it provokes. Nevertheless, to .condemn it wholly would be of the 4 blunders, the?-e being no better advertising medium existing, neither is one able to find certain of the correspondence more complete and accurate in any other journal published throughout the world. In being able at all times and on every occasion, both to understand and appreciate the writings and utterances of its political idol, the Eight Honorable W. E. Gladstone, it is undoubtedly unique. Moreover, the prestige of the Times is incontestably and justly great on account of the innumerable and unpar'alled highly beneficial services it has rendered to the British people in times past. As this must be candidly admitted in its favour, so to. a proportionate extent is it still productive of incalculable good and evil. The evil or good it imparts and has previously imparted, seriously affects indirectly the entire British Empire, and may be, in some degree, the world at large. Be this as it may, its influence is directly felt amongst the British rnoneyocracy, who support it both for reasons already stated, and also that those belonging to them may be enabled daily to peruse births, deaths, and marriages, as well as to learn what is going on in the shape of public and, moreover, because of its being considered the correct thing to take it in. In so much as their views are formed -thereby and their opinions founded thereupon, and inasmuch as they themselves both naturally and necessarily, and at the same time justly influence the main body^Jof,their' fellowcountrymen, so is the natSjfal weal more or less proportionately by the writings of the Times. In conclusion, I suggest the following lines, entitled— "Home Bulk for the.Times." If mortal could peruse the Times aright, Throughout this age 't would be amazing quite; This " Rule" is therefore writ to guide the way, For all who read that paper when they may. And those that see it regular each day, It seldom deigns to honor, or doth tell Of public men who love their country well ;' So those it chiefly labours to condemn, Are Statesmen, patriotic, honest men. In certain cases be it understood, ■ Exceptions to this general rule stand good. This illustration homely names portrays, John Arthur Eoekuck's, Bbuverie's, Earl Grey's. ■£ Likewise of Newdjgate and General Peel, All thorough Englishmen, and true as ■ steel ; Who well know what they state, speak as they feel. These wanton failings woefully complex Its deep researching readers much perplex, Shall, when the Times recant them cease to vex. •'■■..'. . JAMES ANDREWS. Akaroa, 19th February, 1877.