The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 321, 15 August 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 15.

Mr. Montgomery's address, which appears elsewhere, is worthy of attentive perusal, and we hope may have the effect of inducing, by example, other candidates for senatorial honors to declare themselves boldly and explicitly as the member for Akaroa has done, instead of veiling their real opinions under a few venerable truisms.

It appears that this address has caused considerable sensation in the Fox-cum-Atkinson party, as their Christchurch organ, the Press, on the day of its publication, devotes a leader to the purpose of endeavoring to catch Mr Montgomery and those who think with him in-a 'trap, and prevent the battle being fought out on the broad ground of principle. Our contemporary says :—

" It is impossible therefore, to avoid trying the question at issue on any other than personal grounds. The point which the countiy will have to decide must be whether they will be prepared any longer to put up with Sir George Grey's Government, and the first duty of the House upon its re-assembling will be to give effect to the verdict which the country has returned. Os $ so c * " The electors are appealed to as if the only questions they are called upon to settle are whether the franchise is to be extended, representation adjusted, and more frequent appeals made to the people consequent upon the adoption of triennial Parliament." The article goes on to accuse those who, like Mr Montgomery, advocate certain reforms of " confusing the issue."

" The address which has been issued to the electors of Akaroa is an example of what we mean. But has Mr Montgomery the courage to complete his manifesto'? Will be tell the electors under what colors he is. going to fight ? Will he inform them whether or not he is prepared to accept Sir George Grey as the future leader of his party ? Whether he likes it or not, the answer will have to be given, and the sooner he has the pluck to face the fact that he will have to make up his mind on that point the better it will be for himself. The dilemma in which certain of Sir Geo. Grey's followers are placed is that they have the utmost difficulty in determining under what leader they are going to act. They apparently dare not come out as ' Greyites ;' they are afraid to come out as 1 anti-Greyites.' They would fain be returned without having to make inconvenient pledges, so that they may be prepared for any contingency when the new House again assembles."

We can imagine all kinds of objections being taken to the address of Mr Montgomery, but this charge of " confusing the isue,' ? and evading the real point is about the most paradoxical we ever heard brought. If there is one thing for which the address is noticeable it is the definite manner in which it raises one or more distinct issues. Mr Montgomery says in effect —•" I believe certain legislative measures are necessary. If you return me, I shall endeavor to secure their being carried out." The issue is plain in such a case. If we disagree with a candidate's principles we should, of course, endeavor to prevent his getting into a position where he can assist in carrying them out. If, on the other hand, we agree with him, and have no reason to doubt his sincerity, we-should return him, and leave him to take such measures as may be most expedient towards carrying them intoeffect. The question of who is to be the leader of the Liberal party may very safely be left to the judgment of the members of that party themselves.

But how would an election address, framed on the model of the article in the Press commend itself to the judgment of any reasonable body of men ?

It would run something as follows : — " Some fellows are making a fuss about the suffrage, taxation, distribution of seats, and a lot of absurd trifles like that. I don't know anything about them, and am sure they are not of. the least consequence. But I will faithfully promise to oppose everything, good, bad, or indifferent, which is supported by Sir George Grey, and, as we must have a leader in order to do this effectually, I will also engage to vote in every respect as I shall be directed to do by Sir William Fox and Major Atkinson." The fact is that there has always been far too much of this personal following introduced into New Zealand politics. What we want is men whose principles are sound, whose antecedents are such that we can trust them to stick to those principles, and we can safely leave the arrangements as to leadership to the party themselves. It is an insult to an intelligent man to ask him to pledge himself to vote for or against a particular iudividual, irrespective of the measures he might thereby be called upon to support or oppose. We doubt very much whether those gentlemen who clamor that Mr Montgomery and other candidates should pronounce so unhesitatingly for or against Sir George Grey, would themselves be willing to pledge themselves blindfold for their present leader, Sir W. Fox. And yet, on the showing of their organ, this is jnst what they are bound to do.