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

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3254, 6 December 1881, Page 2

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

We regret to notice a feeling of apathy with respect to the selection of a representative for the borough of Napier. Nobody seems to care very much as to which of the three candidates is elected. Not one of the three hits public taste. And so strong is the feeling of indifference that very many have already made up their minds to abstain from going to the poll. The Conservative party (for want of a better designation) say that they have always opposed the best of the three, and they do not intend to vote for either of the other two : the Liberals are split into ribbons, and do not know who to support. No interest is taken in the election whatever. The fact is it takes two sides to make an election conteet, and there is only one side engaged in the conflict. Mr Buchanan represents the head of his political party, the other two candidates are deserters. The Conservative party are therefore content to stand on one side, careless as to which faction may win ; neither of the three representing their opinions nor being the man of their choice. Mr Buchanan drifted into his candidature on the tide of previous rejections ; a misconception of the profits arising from a seat in Parliament, probably, caused the other two to come forward. Messrs McDougall and McSweeney have nothing to lose by going to the General Assembly; presumably they hope to gain. If there be no pecuniary profit; if there be no chance of dipping into the Dublic purse ; if the attainment of ambition be its only reward, what inducement can a poor man have in seeking a parliamentary seat ? There are men now ; there have been men who have gone to their graves ; who have held a seat in Parliament for long periods of political life, and who have been the poorer for having neglected their private business. There have been men, on the other hand, who have made politics their trade, and who have made money by it. But in what way is money made out of politics ? This constituency of Napier is surely not going to be the means of starting another adventurer across the political horizon of New Zealand. I?et us fairly know what Mr McSweeney's or Mr McDougall's object may be in seeking to emerge from the obscurity that hitherto has veiled their imperfections. If either of these men had risen above the position in which they were born; if they had secured the universal respect of all who knew them, by steady perseverance in their calling by which they had attained to an independent position in life, they would at least have had a qualification entitling them to the political esteem of their fellows. But when it is found that two men who have no special qualification whatever, nothing but a brazen conGdence in their own oratorical abilities, rise up like Jonah's gourd in a night time to overshadow all and sundry, a doubt is created in the minds of thinking men as to whether the system of education under which such candidates graduated was altogether the best that could have been devised for the benefit of the human race. It is one of the evils of manhood suffrage, and Corrupt Practices Acts, that any one, no matter who, can stand for the House of Representatives, and in the capacity ot a candidate can expect to get the outcome of his shallow studies published in the form of his addresses to a more enlightened audience than himself. It is a most unfortunate circumstance that there is Dot some more expensive qualification needed in a candidate than residence in a district for six months, or the freehold of a quarter-acre section. Unless a man has shown himself proof against monetary temptation, little faith can be placed in an impecunious politician. We see no reason for the apathy that is exhibited in this Napier election. On the contrary, we say tbat the electors should rise up like one man and say, " of evils the less is always to be chosen." And let it be distinctly uuderetood that we regard the fact that none but the three now Btanding for the representation of this town could

be found to come forward asamisfortune. We think it is a disgrace to this constituency that no thoroughly representative man was forthcoming. But we are not ashamed of Mr Buchanan's candidature. He at all events will not fiad himself "at sea " when he enters Parliament, and now, through Mr Johnston's retirement, Mr Ormond's election for Waipawa is placed, we hope, beyond a doubt, it is of importance that Napier should send a representative who is pledged to work with him. The provincial district of Hawke's Bay has for the last twenty years been powerfully represented in our colonial Parliament in the persons of Sir Donald McLean, Mr Ormond, Captain Russell, and MrSutton, and before them by men of mark. Are we now, we would ask, to sink in the Legislature to the level of nonentities by sending nonentities to Parliament, through the apathy and the culpable supineness of those whose stake in the conntry should lift them above the petty jealousies of the past, and nerve them to do the best they can for this diatrict in particular and the colony in general.