THE MAYORALTY.

Cromwell Argus, 13 July 1870, Page 5

THE MAYORALTY.

To the Editor tf the Oromwkll A nous. Sir,—*' Observer," In your last Issue, did hit best to make himself look ridiculous In print. Ho has lot Us see for Unco what can bo dono it this way when a man Is In downright earnest, His faculty of observation Is clear, acute, and discriminating. His sight Into things Is as farseeing as that of the old Jow on the treadmill of the Philistines. And then he has added new beauties to her Majesty’s splendid English. Washed and mangled by " Observer," the Eng lish language puts on now forms of flexibility and power. Ono hardly knows his own mother tongue, when ho meats it In company with “ Observer." And then look at his logic. How profound I It searches where tho vulture’s eye hath not seen : It is keener than the cutlery ol Sheffield. He can split a hair, and then disced the ghost of it, and show every limb and ligature. Take a few instances r " Observer” ha£ plenty moro In stock, but he has put tho following into tho forefront as samples. “ Observer’ 1 says Mr Goodgcr must bo Mayor; and tho reason is, because he has done nothing this year, nor suffered anyone else to do anything ; but be is to bring in the municipal millennium next year. “Observer" says Mr Goodger must be Mayor; and tho reason Is, because he would send us heaps of water down from Mrs Box’s ; moaning, 1 suppose, that sickening compound of duck and goose mixture, diluted with the 111 th of pigs and poultry, and the outwash of sardine and salmon tins, and other nameless abominations. “ Observer” says, let us have Mr Goodger as Mayor ; because he has lota of cattle kept dark at the Novfe, till he shall have time on the quiet to monopolise his neighbors’ grazing ground,forJwhich they have paid at a high rate : and

then he can bring his cattle down to the Lower Flat to fatten, while his poorer neighbours’ fa 1 mish above. “Observer” tells the ratepayers to make Mr Goodgor Mayor, and he will give them plenty of commonage ; not on theJLowei Flat—he wants that for his own behoof ; but on the snowy backbone of Mount Pisa s that whist lies at your own hack-doors must go as a perquisite to the chief officer of the Corporation. And then in what glowing teiins “ Observer” claims a Goodger paternity for the commonage offspring. I tell “ Observer” that the credit of parentage belongs to another ; and the universal statutebook demands “honour to whom honour is due.’ The commonage child looks for its fatherhood tc Mr Smitham, and it is important to note this ai the present moment. He stood forth at “the litt’e ruse” (see “ Observer’s” letter) to vindicate the common rights of our common citizen ship ; but where was Mr Goodger f Mr Smithan now stands pledged to the ratepayers as an antagonist to the Gooelger grass monopoly, II * * Observer” wishes to set up a municipal image, and act the toady before it, he can do this ; bul the townspeople are not going to follow his example, or do the worshipful at hia dictation. For myself, I regard Mr Goodger’s term oi office as a misfortune to the Corporation, himself, and others,,. During it, Cromwell has beer a laughing-stock over two Provinces, and t scorn and a mockery every where. A respected townsman has been hurled into the bottomless pit of litigation, and God only knows when hj( will get out again. All along, Mr Goodger has bestrided the path of progress in the Council Chamber, and rung ont the ratepayers to meet

him where nothing can be legally determined. All could see that this was mere bidding for po' pularity, and common sense never valued It above its market price. And now “Observer*’ comes forward and asks the voters to put Mr Goodger into a position for which Nature has not fitted him. Many of Mr Goodger’s pet schemes would look well enough as fancy articles set in Berlin wool under a glass case. But for the rough usage of a digging community they are totally unfitted. Mr Goodger will always have the respect due to his many good qualities as a private citizen ; and hero ho is on a level with moat of his neighbours. But as a Mayor, Mr Smitham is the man. He is the beat qualified to meet and master the difficulties of the times upon which Cromwell has fallen : his savage earnestness fits him for the lead. 1 here is in the coming year a good deal of money to bo spent in road repairs (when we can get it); and he has had more road experience than any one among ns, and therefore knows best what is wanted, and how to supply it with economy. Fellow-townsmen, if you would follow the counsel of “ Observer”—if you wish to have your hats pulled over your eyes, and your shins barked by the iron fence below the terrace, vote for Mr Goodger, If you would like to see a cattle famine next summer, vote for Mr Goodger, If you would have moonshine improvements, to show only on toned paper, and a fortnightly rigmarole over them in the Council Chamber, vote for Mr Goodger. If you would have a rising community, with a splendid future before it, piocked by another resignation, vote for Mr Goodger. If you would have all useful subjects initiated by the Council obstructed by tho chair, and the ratepayers cajoled weekly by appeals from their representatives to themselves, veto for Mr Goodger. In a word, if yon would havo next year a faithful duplicate of tho present year, in law, loss of time, fencing, wheedling, and do-nothing policy, veto for Mr Goodger. But if you would have useful reforms, plainly introduced and promptly executed, vote for Mr Smitham. If you would redeem our Corporation from utter extinction, and wipe out the foul stigma of a year’s misrule, vote for Mr Smitham. If you would have tho wafcef in tho town race—which is now a liquid manure, fitted only to moisten our gardens, and serve aa emetics for ourselves—reach your back premises usable for domestic purposes, vote for Mi Smitham. RTf yon would havo our Corporation filling its own place, fighting Its own battles, claiming a fair share of tho public funds, and respected everywhere, vote for Mr Smitham, II yOu would but I must conclude. And now well sing, long live tho Queon, “ Observed’ long live ho ; When next ho shows himself In print. May I bo there to soo. July 7. Moll Cromwell.