THE LATEST SURPRISE.

Evening Star, Issue 3855, 2 July 1875, Page 3

THE LATEST SURPRISE.

The * Post ’ pays the Premier a high compliment, and attacks the ‘ Press * for its abuse of him. Can it be, as the witty as well as “ intelligent vagrant ” surmises, that the editor of the ‘ Post ’ is anxious to have the monopoly of literary scavengering ? In our Wellington contemporary’s issue of the 28th ult. appeared a leading article, from which we extract the following “ The Canterbury ‘ Press ’ usually is intensely respectable, but it seems to have lost its temper over Sir Julius Vogel’s knighthood, and indulges in a tirade of abuse of the Most Distinguishable Order of St. Michael and St. George, and of its new member, in anything but a respectable manner. In fact, we scarcely remember ever having read an article conceived in worse taste than that which disfigures the leading columns of our contemporary’s issue of the 26th inst. No journal in New Zealand has been more consistently opposed to Sir Julius Vogel than ourselves. We do not approve of his policy or think iiim a fit man now to hold the helm of State, but we say that the ability he has displayed and the position he has won by indomitable energy, unwearying perseverance, and extraordinary ability fully entitled him to the mark of Royal favor which he has received. Few of the Colonial Knights of the Order have better deserved it. At the same time, we think it might have been conferred at a more opportune time. The ‘ Press * goes on to compare the conduct of Sir Julius Vogel with that of Dr Featherston, who refused the distinction, and that of Mr Stafford, who refused the Companionship of St, Michael and St. George, alhtough offered on the understanding that it would merely precede the higher rank, and years ago declined the distinction of Knight-bachelor, Perhaps it gave Mr Stafford more pleasure to say he bad refused these honors than Sir Julius Vogel has derived from the acceptance of his. Different men are differently constituted, and the pride which apes humility is perhaps not the least offensive variety. For our parts we agree wi' hj the ‘Tribune’ that the ‘Press’ has degraded itself by an attack, not only untrue, but vile and scurrilous, so as to have neither rhyme nor reason to sustain it.”