TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3179, 6 September 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1881.

An exemplification of the value of humbug in politics was given recently by Mr Sheehan in the House of Representatives. Referring to the old Provincial Government of Auckland, Mr Sheehan told a most amusing story of how he and his party got into office on the cry of " Retrenchment and Reform," remained in office on that cry for four years, and only

took £20 off the pay of a policeman which they put on again before they went out. Since those day 3Mr Sheehan has been connected with another party whose secret pleasure it may be to think of the manner in which tbe people were so successfully humbugged by the cry of "Liberty and Reform." Under Sir George Grey's administration we know that no reform was attempted, and we are equally well aware that no measures were introduced to give increased liberty to the people. But it was . taking cry, and wherever it was raised Sir George was worshipped. Who that saw it will ever forget the ridiculous spectacle that was presented when the "Heaven-born statesman,' 11 accompanied by Mr Sheehan. iri.mlc his triumphal eutry into Napier? W-u .tin ever forget the red-hot excitement duii-.ig those few weeks, or the sense of humiliation chat was felt at the appearance of so many otherwise intelligent people being entrapped by humbug? But as there is nothing so successful as success, so there is nothing so deceptive as humbug. Every word that Sir George Grey uttered on Clive Square was accepted as the absolute truth, and the " great and good mau " was followed and cheered as though he had already accomplished the glorious task of making New Zealand the happy home of "unborn millions." When we look back to those days we may well smile at the folly that could belie»e io the sincerity of an electioneering dodge. Tbe time will come, some day, perhaps, when Mr Sheehan will tell how he and his party got into office on the cry of " Liberty and Reform," how they remained in office two years on that cry, and gave the people lens liberty and spent more public money than any Government that had gone before theui.