The Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2594, 10 June 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1871.

Mr Reid must be beginning to find out that the throne he so impetuously usurped is by no means a bed of roses ; and will find it difficult to reconcile his policy of the past two years with that forced upon‘him by his present following in the Council ’ We say forced upon him, because it is clear that he is no longer a chief, but merely a con venient instrument in the hands of the political party who ran him for the Superintendency, and whose real talent seem content to pull the strings and bide their time. The very constitution of the Executive goes far to confirm this view; they arc evidently chosen for weakness not strength. Neither originality of mind, administrative ability, nor power in debate, have been looked for; but rather the contented mind to “ follow the leader" in carrying out the behests of the league—compromised, seriously hy the party action taken upon the Hundreds Act of 1869. Mr Reid never during the existence of - tbe last Council sought to disembarrass himself of the position, but steadily, session after session, stood against the strongly expressed wishes of bis party, and declined to sanction, directly or indirectly, any interference with the arrangements agreed to. It was a solemn compact, the only one at the time possible, and he was right in refusing . to undo with one hand what he had done with the other. But now mark the difference. His first political act in the new Council is to displace the Government upon the ostensible grounds that no allusion had been made in the address of His Honor to the repeal of the Hundreds Act— i.e.. that Mr Cargill and his colleagues did not take the course which he himself for two preceding sessions had resolutely declined to take, although backed by an effective majority. Those who know him will acquit Mr Reid of acting in this , way upon his ownjiulg merit; he has "been impelled by an irresistible force id what be must in his heart condemn. The author, as we may assume him, of the resolutions of 1869, conies down now with a proposal to repeal the very acts which were founded upon those resolutions. Is it to be imagined, if the Government succeed in carrying its land policy, that the General Assembly will submit to be trifled with in this way, or that it will pay the slightest attention to the vagaries of a Council which does not know its own mind for six months together ? that it will consent at its bidding to repeal absolutely, legislation which, whether judicious or not—a question we do not now enter into—has resulted in the creation of rights which cannot be ignored by the legislature ?

The Provincial Council, in discussing proposals, for the alteration of the existing laws, should keep constantly before their eyes the fact that all their labor is useless if it ends in adopting a Bill, the principles of which are certain to be rejected by the Parliament of the Colony. It is absolutely essential that existing rights should be fully recognised, and very desirable that any scheme for encouraging settlement should not be absolutely antagonistic to the interests of the pastoral tenants. We may assume that Mr Cargill’s resolutions would have met their concurrence and assent, while providing liberally for bona fide' settlement of this class j and we trust Mr Beid will not be pressed on to a revolutionary course, which can only, delay indefinitely what he and his party affirm they have so much at heart.