The Evening Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 578, 16 November 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1871.

■' For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance For the future, in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Mb. -Tons Wallace, of Flat Bush, is a great inau ; we would add, a very great man. "When Mr. John Wallace gpeaks let no dog bark. We bave go' into the serious predicament of having provoked the ire of Mr. John Wallace, and with the jaw-bone of an ass he has smitten us hip and thigh with a great slaughter. Mr. John Wallace of Plat Bush, has deemed it right to make a personal attack with the tongue on the We of the Evening Stab, his former resolution of a personal attack with a horse-whip having apparer tlj oozed out at his fingers' ends. In order that the public may have a correct idea of the cause of this great ire, we desire to make a brief resume of what has occurred in connection with our criticisms on the Agricultural League whereof Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Bush, is, or has been, the Vice-President. In consequence of the sneering manner iv which some of the members of this League had spoken of the judicious criticisms of the Press, we had taken upon ourselves the task of proving whether they were really indifferent to the power of the pen. The iron has entered into the soul more deeply than we had anticipated, and, we would add, than we intended. We felt i.npelled to use the scourge unsparingly, accepting as correct the representations of the speakers that they spoke the sentiments of the farmers. We find, however, that in this respect the soi disant leaders are impostors, and that the farmers and settlers are not responsible for their folly. But on the toea of some we had trodden somewhat rudely, and most so, it appears, on those of Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Bush, who has not since ever ceased to wail over tho bruising he received. Of all thing* terrestrial, there is nothing which our soul loathes so much as sham, and when we found a mau occupying the position of Vice-President of a League which aims, of all things, at the protection and encouragement of local industry; and when we found that these professions were wholly at variance with practice, we could not help denouncing such flagrant false pretence. Mr. James Wallace, of Otahuhu, whose manufacture in agricultural implements, yesterday commanded the admiration of everyone that visited the exhibition, had begun this form of industry, when Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Bush, his own near relative, in defiance of all Che claims of relationship, as well as of public interest, commenced importing similar implements on an extensive scale, with the determination to crush his relative and the local manufacture. And this Tras the man that had the impudence to occupy the position of Vice-President of a League whose chief objects include the estab lishment of local industries! We denounced such conduct as we shall evermore denounce imposture and sham. Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Bush, was roused to anger, aa much as he was capable of being inspired by any sentiments other than money-grubbing ; and generally expressed the intention of horsewhipping the We of the Evening Star. One day it appears he entered our office, when there was no one within but the little office boy, and expressed his desire to trounce the Editor. We are credibly informed, and we believe, that he watched about at the corners until he had seen all gone out save the little boy, so that be might have his blow cheap. He has since described this incident, his bellicose visit to our office, in terms consistent with the character of such a braggart, and "what he,would not have done" has been the theme of many a boasting speech at Flat Bush and in the regions round about Otahuhu. A few days subsequently he met one of the proprietors of this journal, and prefaced his conversation with the most abject assurances that he had come in the most friendly spirit—that he had no hostility against the Stae—that, in fact, many of its strictures were well deserved—that he was himself disgusted with the League, and intended to resign his position as vice-president. He also entered on an apologetic explanation of his connection with the importing of agricultural implements. He had entirely given over importing, and had withdrawn his advertisements from the papers, and altogether he prostrated himself in such, abject servility than we had half regretted the severity of our strictures. Since that, however, as we have learned, in the secure retreats of tho Flat Bush and Otahuhu, he has still been boasting of " what he would have done" to the tve of the Stati. Last night, in post-prandial speech^ under tho influence, doubtless, of "inspiring bold John Barleycorn," hie courage appears to have returned, and he spoke great swelling words, having first assured himself by enquiry in the room that he could do so with impunity behind the back of the object of his attack, His '

assertions were untrue, and his statements libellous, but any meanness from the laird of Flat Bush does not come unexpected to those that know him. This man who could live on the smell of an oiled rag, is forever advertising for a servant, none being able to live with him, the cause of which is the subject of common remark. He is on bad terms with all his relatives, being of such a morose, selfish, and hard-hearted disposition that no one can bear him. By the mere force of. dirt-scraping, he gathered together a little money ; but the position in which he found himself is generally known, when the fortunate turn of the tide in Caledonians placed him on his feet ; and now he turns round and abuses the very interest that saved him. He even attempted drivel in relation to religion, in his post-prandial speech last night—when it is known that he is at enmity with the Church, and his niggard soul will not allow him to give a fraction for tho support of religious ordinances. He, indeed, may speak of his Church ! and the ministers of his Church! Heaven have mercy on tho man that would have to depend on such a contributor to his support as Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Bush; nor will any wonder that any man of independent spirit would scorn subjection to the thick-witted ignorance of such stupid people as he, who talks religion when it costs him nothing, and speaks of his religion, as if religion had anything to do with such an Ishmaelite. Mr. John Wallace should retire into the genial shades of the Flat Bush. He has no place among tho intellectual advancement and generous instincts of the age. There let him meditate upon the folly of ambition, and chew the cud of better reflection for having measured swords with the Evening Stae. Thank goodness he cannot be regarded as the representative in any sense of our farmers and settlers. We have borne heavily upon them, but it was provoked by their permitting such assumed leadership as that of men of the stamp of Mr. John Wallace, of Flat Bush. There are among our farmers as honear, industrious, and deserving men as are to be found in the whole community, and with their interests and their trials we have the sinceYest sympathy. But we are not to bo blamed if, with our overwhelming antipathy to false pretence and brazen impudence, and in our impulse to rip off the false trappings of humbug, and expose the ignorant assumption of self-appointed leaders, we have been somewhat indiscriminate. Mr. John Wallace, of Fiat Bush, who almost on his knees assured us of his intention of resigning the vice - presidency, will probably take our suggestion, and bury himself in the sloughs and swamps of the Flat Bush, and there hold communion with animals of (similar intolliganoo cvnd JnoiluuUf to 111* own. And then shall wo have hope for the League, and shall bo happy to | afford it kindness and support, in so far as its objects are consistent with a wise political economy and the general good of the country.