The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3021, 25 October 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1872.

We do nob know that any one need grumble because our morning contemporary speaks ill of him. There are people philosophical enough to imagine that to be evil spoken of by the Daily Times is the highest praise. Taking into consideration the pets, social and political, who are favored with its persistent patronage, we are inclined to think there is much truth in this, although it must be confessed, on the other hand, that there is no predicting what change may come over the editorial spirit of our eccentric contemporary to-morrow. Although that Whose edge is sharper than the sword ; whose tongue Outvenoms all the worms of Nile; may seek to blacken the fair fame of many worthy men to-day, a twinge ol conscience, a change of mind, or haply the cheering influence of a good dinner-, aided by easy digestion, may set the current of thought in an another direction ; and those on whom the lash fell on Friday may on Saturday be eulogised by some flattering painter, who made it his care To draw men as they ought be, Not as they are. On this ground the fiercest condemnation by our contemporary carries no weight with it except in those dark corners of the Province where no clearer literary light is shed ; for we are led to believe there are one or two of that description to be found. Not that better- pabulum is not to be had, but because, having been once a reliable authority, like the dead Napoleon, the memory of what it was still lives and leads the less informed irr the rural districts to trust its guidance, albeit its columns gleam with falsehood under saintly show ; Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge. It is quite right that the Press should keep a keen watch upon the proceedings of public men, and condemn the appointment of incompetent persons to offices of public trust; but it is not right to slander them as unfit for their special duties in the face of the clearest evidence lu tjre contrary. This moni-

mg, notwithstanding the testimony borne to Mr Birch’s usefulness as an emigration agent by the English Press, we are told that “ neither by nature nor education ” is he fitted for its duties. We should like to know from our contemporary what are the natural and acquired qualifications requisite for such an office. Is it necessary to success that an emigration agent should write as powerfully as the Editor of Daily Times ? Our readers may perhaps remember that some months the Evening Star published the notes of a journey to England via San Francisco, which, in our judgment and in that of men well able to speak with authority, were written in a style fully equal to anything editorial or contributed that has yet appeared in our contemporary's columns. There was no common-place twaddle in them ; they evinced powers of shrewd observation in the writer, and no ordinary acquaintance with human character. We are inclined to think that those at anyrate are natural qualifications for an emigration agent, and the writer of those papers was no other than Mr Birch. We may also point to the estimation in which that gentleman has been held by referring to the public offices held by him in Otago. He was at one time a member of the House of Hepresentatives, at different times a member of the Provincial Council, and was three times chosen Mayor of Dunedin. He could, therefore, speak experimentally of the means by which deserving men could attain to positions of honor through well-directed industry, integrity, and perseverance. Although Mr Seaton has not yet had opportunity of doing much that is publicly spoken of through circumstances over which he has had no control, private letters which have been shewn to us prove that he too is working energetically, and with every prospect of success, in forwarding our Provincial interests. We have felt it only due to those gentlemen thus publicly to defend them against the wanton attack made upon them by the Daily Times. It is true now, as of old, that “a prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kindred, and in his own house,” and its truth is proved by the reception both Messrs Birch and Seaton have met with at Homo. We do not condemn our contemporary for holding the opinions expressed. That is quite legitimate : his folly is in giving utterance to them at a wrong time. Had they been delivered before the appointment of Messrs Birch and Seaton, they might have led to consideration on the part of the Government ; but having been appointed, it is the bounden duty of every honest citizen to strengthen their hands, instead of striving to destroy their usefulness. Viewing the matter in its lowest aspect, the country pays them, and it is our interest to get the most we can for our money. Such cut-throat condemnations as our morning contemporary indulges in tend to shake confidence in the men the Colony employs, and to bring about the very evil professedly intended to be guarded against. Truly there is too much gall in our contemporary’s ink to trust its being written with by “ a goose pen.”