CAPTAIN RUSSELL'S ADDRESS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4044, 8 July 1884, Page 3

CAPTAIN RUSSELL'S ADDRESS.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sir,—l am sorry to sec that Captain Russell is about to follow the conventional idea that it is necessary for a candidate to address the electors. In lai'jre districts, whore the candidate is to the majority of tho electors a complete stranger, as is always the case in English constituencies, it is, of course, absolutely necessary for him to address the people". I do not, howorer, see the necessity for such a course out here. In Hawke's Bay, iov instance, _ Captain Russell is known to us all; ho is an old settler, and we are confident that he is the proper person to represent us. The hands we employ will take our word for it that he is the candidate for us, and so why should he speak ? In addressing the electors he is certain, and so would any other man be certain, to give some handle to his opponents to turn to his disadvantage. We have seen what Mr Desmond has done for himself by coming on the public platform. If he had held his tongue, and just contented himself by announcing his candidature lie would have got a lot of votes. Now, I do not suppose he will get a seconder for his nomination. At all events I should not brand myself "fool" by doing so. In a lessor degree it will be so with the Captain, for although he is an educated gentleman, and possesses the self-respect engendered hi a man's mind by the knowledge that ho is independent, and has a large estate, still ho cannot always be sure of not making some assertion for a vulgar fellow to take up. The old story will be brought, up about the Captain getting his clothes from London, instead of patronising some tailor out here who cannot fit him, and that other wretched absurdity about the parcels post to enable him to get tho said clothes out cheaply; then there is the Chinese question, and the boct-root sugar. Ido not sec why ho should expose himself to these insults by putting himself up as a cockshy for everyone. If he would take my advice he would rely on his acquaintance with the landowners of Hawke's Bay to put him in Parliament. —I am, Sec, A. Z. Hastings, July 8, 1884.