The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2517, 11 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1871.

We have no doubt that before now most of the electors have made up their minds as to the candidates lor whom they intend to vote on Monday. We have purposely forborne to enter upon their personal opinions, for we could not do justice to them by reporting their speeches; and to have condemned or approved without reterring to their own sayings as a foundation, would have looked very like an unwarranted conclusion. As therefore justice to all could only be done by reporting' all or reporting none, being unable to do the one, we felt bound to take the other course. We cannot but feel the advantage of the ballot in an election where so many personal influences might have been brought to bear. Each candidate now stands more than ever upon his merits. Representation is at length placed under the rule of principle rather than person. We are quite prepared for mistakes being made, for there are some men offering themselves unfitted for the office through lack of knowledge, others equally unfitted through absence of principle, and some through theii motives being mixed. Our recommenda-: tion is to choose tried and consistent: men, in preference to those who have . proved themselves waverers and im-, stable, and to believe that what the: world terms “ practical men ” are usually men of narrow experience, who think they are able in one short life to gain more knowledge than those who have availed themselves of the accumulated learning of six thousand years. A “ practical in an ” is very valuable as a help to one who knows more , but put him into a position in which his practice is of no avail, and, like a child, he has all to learn. It does not follow that a man who could carry out public works should know what and where they are necessary. There are practical men, too, in electioneering, of whom wc advise the candidate-, and the electors to beware, or they may be misled. I n old times, when the system of open voting enabled the electors to ascertain the state of the poll at different hours during the day, there was opportunity of bringing certain tactics into play to secure the return of par- , ticular candidates. It perhaps was ascertained that one was safe, and in order to secure another in preference to a third, there should be no splitting of votes. But the ballot has put an end to ail this manoeuvring. It is necessary now that if the electors wish for particular men to be returned, they should vote for them. They must not calculate upon their being “ safe,” and think there is any advantage in “ plumping.” Mr Macassey’s and Mr Reynolds’s friends fell into that mistake, and the consequence was the one lost his election and the other stood second on the poll. But the last mistake of the “ practical ” cloctionccrer is the idea that anyone plumping a candidate adds seven votes to bis number at the poll. We should hardly have thought it necessary to s?iy a word on this subject, had we not heard from many quarters that this is a common impression. It is well therefore it should be made clear to every elector that a man has one vote each for seven candidates, but he has not seven votes for one. If he choose to vote for one only, his vote counts one —not seven—and the only result is that he loses the use of his other six votes. Ho votes for one man only, and by withholding his vote from the others, neglects the opportunity of sending six men to help him in the Provincial Council. By adopting such a course, he might be the means of preventing the election of men who hold his own views and will support his own candidate, and of giving seats to those who are opposed to both. We recommend, then, that every elector should make up his mind as to the seven men most likely to do good to the Province, and to vote for them ; . bearing in mind, at the same time,

that already by electing Mr Macandrevv the Province has pronounced in favpr of public works, and condemned the' dead-lock to which it was reduced by the factiousness of those who opposed them. Nothing, therefore, could, be more unwise than to return men who having’ opposed him, to be consistent must oppose him again. Let the work so well begun be finished well by electing the best men.

Princess Theatre.- —“ Time and the Hour” was played last night to a very thin house. This is to be regretted ; for it cannot bo urmal against the management that the bill of fare usually provided lacks variety, or that the performers do their work in a perfunctory maimer. However, as the city election will shortly he a thing of the past, we hope to see next week a decided improvement in pit, stalls, and boxes. We observe that liis xcellency the Governor will patronise the performance on Monday. Amateur Concert.— Last evening the concert in aid of the Kaikorai School bund, held at the Drill Shed, was crowded to excess. Mr H. Driver was chairman. Mr Sykes was pianist, and played two solos. He accompanied in excellent style and taste. Messrs Josephs, Mitchell, Sinclair, and Morri'.oii sang several songs most effectively, and Misses Webb and Waterhouse gave with j atho i and feeling the solos allotted to them, which, as wed as several by the gentlemen mentioned, were encored. A vote of thanks was given to the vocalists, and a dance brought the meeting to a close.

We would cull the especial attention of gardeners to the Horticultural Society’s advertisement elsewhere. It will be seen by advertisement tha: the, liar bur Company’s steamer Peninsula will make a special crip to the Tort to-morrow afternoon, at 2.30., returning at 4.30.

The following arc the election meetings to I c held this evening : —At the Athemeum—Mr Cuttcii at 7.30, ins tea lofß, as announced by advertisement. At the Oddfellows’ Hall —Mr Ho worth at 8 ; Mr Mason at 9. At the Polytechnic—Mr Cargill at 7 30; and Mr Jago afterwards. At the Mission House, Bussell street —Mr \valter at 8; Mr Cutten afterwards. At Watson’s Royal Hotel—Mr Turnbull at 8; Mr Bathgate at 8.30. At the Masonic Hall—Mr Tavion at 8 ; and Mr Reynolds afterwards. At the Drill Shed, Water of Leith—Mr Birch at 8 ; Mr Turton at 9. At the Imperial Hotel-Mr Barton at 7 30, In the Octagon—Mr M‘lndoc at 8. Open-air meeting—Mr Smythies.