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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3243, 22 November 1881, Page 2

The opponents of Mr Sutton are endeavoring to show that that gentleman, in his addresses to the electors, has tried to set class against class—the workingman against his employer. Everything else failing to injure his candidature this trumped up charge is just as good as any other. Mr Sutton has been merely using the weapons that have been freely turned against himself. It is undoubtedly true that, with but two or three exceptions, all the large landowners are employing their best endeavors to keep Mr Sutton out of Parliament. And, strange to say, the so-called liberals, in unholy alliance with those they formerly denounced as land monopolists, are exerting themselves in the same direction, so that only one interest—sheep—shall be represented in the General Assembly. We join with Mr Sutton in telling the working men that there is something exceedingly suspicious in the fact of wealth and acres being allied in opposition to a candidate who is an avowed supporter of fhe property tax. It is perfect rubbish to talk of setting class against class in a matter of this kind. We take it that class is arrayed against class when the one is trying to shirk its responsibilities on to the other, and there is nothing to be gained by hiding the position. Mr Sutton does not come forward as the " champion of tbe working classes," nor does he pose as the " working man's friend." Without figuring in any such contemptible character he has the right to tell working men that, in any measure of taxation for the special relief of property, the consideration that they will receive will be exactly in proportion to their exercise of their electoral privileges. If they choose to be silent; if they choose to throw their weight into the side of wealth ; if they choose that only one interest shall be represented, they have themselves to blame if only that one interest is considered iv the legislation of the country. That is what Mr Sutton has told tbe working men, and, though it is as well to remind them of these things, they are intelligent enough to be perfectly well aware of the truth of what he has pointed out to them.