THE LOGIC OF FACIS.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2583, 29 May 1871, Page 3

THE LOGIC OF FACIS.

To the Editor. Pin, —Mr Bathgate is reported to have said (in his place in the Provincial Council) the other day that ho “laid it down as a principle that the Speaker of the Provincial Council ought to be a gentleman having the confidence of both sides of the Council, ami above the suspicion of partisanship. At the recent election he siw with regret the hon. ra mber, Mr Key noils, taking an active part in promoting the election of certain persons of his own party. He did not blame Mr Reynolds for supp-wtr-g any party in promoting any particular views of the Province; but he (Mr Bathgate) would be unworthy of his own place in the Council if he supported the election of any gentleman as Speaker who was known to be an active partisan, and on that ground alone should oppose the re-election of Mr Reynolds.” Now, sir, as the above extract is from the Daily Time , with which Mr B. is closely connected, and remans ur.Q mtradioted up to the present time, I presume I may lake its correctness for granted. Hence wc have matter for rather a curious syllogism, wh ch 1 commend to the serious consideration of ray fellow-electors of the City. Syllogism. 1. Mr Bathgate (according to his own showing) would be unworthy of his place in the Council if ho supported the election of any gentleman as Speaker who was known t) he an active partisan. 2. Mr Bathgate did support the election of a gentleman as Speaker who teas (notoriously) “known to be an active pa tisan.” 3. Therefore Mr Bathgate, by his own confession, is '* unworthy of his own i lace in the Council,” and should forthwith resign. I am, &c., Consistency. Dunedin, May 27.