The Evening Star THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2200, 26 May 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1870.

It is a pity that some of the up-country journals pander to the prejudices and wrongheaded ness of the populations of the districts in which they circulate, irrespective of those principles which should alike guide journalists and statesmen. Differences of opinion will exist as to the measures necessary for the welfare of a country or a province ; and it is well that they do, or truth would never be arrived at. But alter a question has been fairly considered by the Legislative, and a deliberate decision arrived at, nothing can be more detrimental to the public interest than to re-open the subject with the view of undoing what has been done. The Bruce Herald , in an article in its last issue, endeavors to pull down the idols that only a few months back it fell down and worshipped. Our contemporary’s wrath is kindled not a little at Messrs Reid and Gillies, because they were not prepared to do the bidding of the Clutha settlers. It is well for their characters, for honor and consistency, that they have refused to entertain the foolish projects of Mr Thomson and Mr Henderson, and to reopen the whole subject of the terms for proclaiming hundreds. It is humiliating enough to the Province to have in it an organ of public opinion in which political Honor is held so lightly as to advocate such ft course. It is humiliating to think that such a doctrine can find acceptance with any section of the community, however small ; for we infer from the publication of the article it is expected to please some j though, notwithstanding the course adopted hy Mr Thomson and the few who supported him in the Council, we are loth to believe that they have the support of any considerable number of electors. But however humiliating it may be to find such perversity advocated in a public journal, it is still more annoying to find amongst the Provincial Council men ready to vote against the very measures they were instrumental in adopting. In every division that took place on the amendments agreed to by the Government on the Hundreds Regulation Act, Messrs Thomson and Henderson voted with them. Nothing was done in the dark. We are not concerned to consider now what those amendments were : whether they were in favor or against the interests of the pastoral tenants. An examination of the division lists will prove that those gentlemen were not the parties who carried the resolutions, and that by their votes they seemed to consider they were inimical to their interests. But they accept the decision ; the vote ■went against them, and they, in a proper spirit, abide by it. Assuming that their opposition to the amendments asserted to be a compromise on the part of the Government, was based upon their deliberately formed opinions, it was for them, if for anyone, to have moved the re-opening of the question. We do not know that hy their so doing, they would have compromised any principle. They were not parties to the compromise which appears to have been entered into voluntarily on the part of the Government and thensupporters. If, therefore, they had renewed their opposition, they at least would not have been open to the charge of inconsistency, however they might be taxed with factiousness. It remains for the Clutha to have, not only the honor of inducing the General Assembly to legislate without consulting the Provincial Council, but to be represented by men, who, after reeorduig their votes in one way, have the coolness to , come forward and say the veiy measures they assisted in passing were had ones; they knew it at the time, but they supported them that they might have another fight over them another day. Childish enough is this. If they were not measures they approved, their duty was to have voted against them, and not for the sake of a victory of faction to have allowed any consideration to have led to giving them their support. Wc do not envy the representatives of the Clutha, Messrs Thomson and Hen- ; person, the distinction they have earned for themselves. It would have been much better for them to have been silent than to have proclaimed their discontent at their own doings, and if their constituents in their ignorance chose to withdraw from them their approval, surely the .satisfaction of having acted a decided and consistent course would have compensated them for any temporary or even permanent withdrawal of confidence. But they have thrown this chance away. Henceforth on their own confession they must stand convicted of having voted more for the sake of retaining a, certain party in office, than on account of the value of the measure they supported. Whatever its fate, or whatever course opinion iu the Clutha may take in regard to the future of the Bill, faith in their political integrity must be shaken.

Messrs Reid and Gillies, in refusing to entertain the project of rescinding the resolutions of last session, stand out in strong and honorable relief as compared with them. They have acted only as became persons in their position, and have received the support of all right-minded men on both sides of the House. A more absurd proposition could not have been brought forward than that the Land cpiestion should be left a hustings cry for the elections now looming. It is sincerely to be hoped that it will be; set at rest at once, in order that the paralysis in the Province may be removed. We have already suffered sufliciently through theoretical objections to a beneficial measure, and it would have been intolerable to have perpetuated the evil to suit the backwards and forwards policy of Messrs Thomson and Henderson, backed by the Jeremiad of the Bruce Herald.