The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 22, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2577, 22 May 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 22, 1871.

John Bull, by which we understand the English nation collectively, has always been celebrated fora keen sense of the ridiculous. It is to be seen in many of the witty publications of the day, such as Punch. , Fun, and others, in which popular faults and foibles are dished up so agreeably, that those who are guilty laugh as loudly at them as those who are innocent. It is observable in the increasing fondness for burlesque, which in music and the drama commonly attracts, where classic merit fails to draw ; and it peeps out in the names of parties, social, religions, and political. Although our Scottish brethren at Homo do not tolerate such outrages upon politeness to the same extent, in this Province they seem to have caught the infection. On what other possible ground can it be imagined that the term “ liberal ” can be apjjlied to the party which includes Brown, Thomson, Shepherd, and Co. ? Yet such is the title assumed by themselves, or conferred in derision up tlie country ; we do not know which. It may possibly be a little claptrap to catch the unwary, in the hope that such a war cry will cause many to enrol themselves under their banner, with the idea of pleasing the people. In the past career of the party to which this burlesque term is applied, we fail to discover one spark of liberality in thought or action. Their ideas have been narrowed down to the limits of self; and whenever they have gone beyond that most important of entities, they have extended only to the class of which they are units. How for an instant Messrs Brown, Thomson, Shepherd, and Co. can be easy under the imputation of being “ Liberals,” we cannot imagine. The slightest sense of political honor would lead them to disavow the censure, and to declare they would never sail under false colors. But perhaps we wrong them, after all. Since the election they have had time for reflection upon the past. The consequences of their obstructiveness have told so fearfully upon the interests of the Province, that it is just barely possible they may have i*epented and determined to turn over a new leaf. It may haply dawn upon their minds that the measures which they so strenuously advocated have led to stagnation instead of progress ; and that it is just because precisely the opposite course has been taken that we begin to see our way out of our difficulties. During two years, owing to the whims of these “ liberals ” there have been no land sales. We are not about to enter upon a discussion of the land question. The “ liberals ” were content to say that Hundreds could not be proclaimed and wished the people to believe them. When they were removed from office no difficulty was felt by their successors, and land sales have been resumed. During their term of office, a great row was made about Provincialism as opposed to what they termed Centralism, and a tremenduous agitation was attempted against the construction of railways by the General Government, So far was this carried, that their leader, who for two years tried in vain to induce contractors to construct the Clutha line on his terms, would fain have persuaded the people it was better to pay £400,000 for it than £300,000, and more to their advantage to pay 8 per cent, for money than six. We never believed Mr. lieid could have been guilty of so gross an act as entering into such a contract; but so closely was he driven to give effect to his avowed belief, that the withdrawal of the bargain was only effected by the common sense view of Mr. J, L. Gillies —no doubt to Mr. Peid’s infinite relief. But what that gentleman could not effect, has been done on hotter terms and without any loss of Provincial honor. Not only is the work in progress, but the expenditure of the money is virtually placed under the control of the Provincial Executive, so that the last shadow of an objection is taken from the “ liberal” party. It is quite possible, should they attempt to resume office, that as a set off against the failures of their policy they may point to the Port Chalmer’s Railway as an instance of their success. Xt

is not the'fashion for the Executive to reveal secrets, and therefore we are not in a position authoritatively to say to whom the pushing forward that work was due. The stand the Executive of the day took—the “ liberals”— was of the most conservative character, and there is every reason to believe, had it not been for His Honor the Superintendent, not a sod of that railway would have been turned at this day. We might multiply instances in which these “ liberals ” tried to obstruct and failed, and in which, in other hands, the measures have proved a success : but we do not wish to perpetuate old grievances. We only want to show to this little knot of obstructives, who arc known up country by that taking title “ liberals,” that the country expects something very different from this Council from what they tolerated in the last. Throughout the whole course of the existence of the last, there was a persistent opposition to the General Government. In the first instance, perhaps it was justificable. Mr Stafford was arrogant and presuming : ho insulted the Province, and although the measures adopted in opposition to him were nearly insurrectionary, they secured to it the rights witheld. But the antagonism to the General Government was continued after its measures became conciliatory and beneficial ; and herein was the fault. Parliament, to please the “liberals,” passed a land Act and because it did not suit them, passed a second—a thing almost without precedent in the Parliamentary history of any country; yet they wanted something else. Parliament passed almost unanimously a series of Acts which were so obviously advantageous that none but the wilfully blind could misconceive them : yet the Provincial Council sat in judgment upon them, and decided to refer the subjects back to the constituencies who chose the men who passed them. In view of these eccentricities of conduct—which remind one of the monomaniac who refused his breakfast because it was handed to him by a servant—we cannot look back upon the doings of the past Council with any satisfaction. It was throughout every sitting a continued

Bubble, bubble, Toil and trouble,

This week our new Council meets ; and although it must necessarily he that differences of opinion exist amongst them, we trust faction will bo discarded and that measures will be canvassed on their merits, in an intelligent and wise spirit. If this course is adopted, and an earnest desire is evinced on the part of every member to promote the welfare of the Province, and not the triumph of a party, the next four years will prove a season of advancement such as Otago has not experienced since 1801.