The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3895, 18 August 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1875.

Although we shall not regard the result of the Oaversham election as expressive of the opinion of the majority of the inhabitants of the City on the Abolition question, it cannot be without influence upon the proceedings of the Assembly. We are free to confess that there is much to admire in Mr Stout. He is painstaking, and in the main clear-headed and true to his party. Throughout the whole of his public career he has been faithful to his trust, and has discharged the duties of his office with great ability. Agreeing with him cordially on many points of his political and social creeds, it is somewhat an unpleasant duty to comment adversely on his present candidature. But the question now at issue is narrowed to this one point: Is the abolition of Provincialism to take place this session of Parliament or to be indefinitely delayed'? Mr Stout has made up his mind on the subject; hf> would delay it, although he, as well as every member of the Opposition, is convinced that it must take place, if not this session, in all human probability the next. Mr Stout’s reasons have been given in his peculiar style. We have expressed our opinion of his tact in addressing audiences many times. Next to his errors of political opinion, we consider it the most objectionable feature in his procedure. We regard his oratory as being much of the ad captanclum vulgus character too sophistical, and very often betraying, beneath a slight surface of reasoning, prejudices based upon mere personal antipathies. Men of this character are likely to accept a measure at the .hands of one party leader that they would oppose if proposed by another ; and were Air Stout returned for Caversham, and the Abolition Bill rejected this session, it would not be surprising to find him supporting a similar, if not much more sweeping measure, in company with Mr Reid and Mr Macandrew, if introduced into the House by the motley party with whom they are now associated. Mr Larnach has not hitherto taken any very prominent part in politics. Perhaps none except his friends knew what his views were. As a candidate for the representation of Caversham he has of necessity had to explain them, and the manner in which he has expressed himself forms a striking contrast in its frank, free outspokenness to the wily, captious utterances of Mr Stout. By Mr Larnach there is no beating about the bush ; no attempt to impute unworthy motives to o tliers ; no effort to lessen members holding different opinions in the eyes of their fellow-colonists. We do not think Mr Larnach would for a moment think of contesting the palm of oratory with Mr Stout. We are perfectly sure he would be quite content to yield to him the credit of being better able than himself to deal with the technicalities of an Act of Parliament, to point out its defects, and to introduce such verbal corrections as are needed. But it must bo remembered that this skill in dealing with small wares of that sort may be used two ways: either to express clearly the intention of the Act, or cunninuly to change its scope to suit the ideas of an opposing party. Lawyers are very useful members of a legislature, but they are dangerous ones also. Like edged tools, they can shape or deform the subject on which they operate. Mr Larnach, in his speeches, states prin ciples, and gives his reasons for enter-

taining them. He deals with measures —not men. His reasons for desiring the Abolition Bill to pass this session are well worthy of consideration, for they are not merely ideal, but based upon what has already been done by the Provincial Council on more than one occasion. Some sessions ago, panic-struck at the idea of our land revenue being wrested from us, land reserves were so recklessly voted that the Governor felt bound not to sanction them. Last session an equally reckless spirit, intensified by faction, was displayed in passing Ordinances for the construction of railway lines. What is to prevent Mr Larnach’s apprehension being realised that, believing the possibilities conjured up by Mr Stout and his friends to be certainties, the next session of the BrovincialCouncil should witness a reckless division of Provincial property lest any should be left to be disposed of when Provincial Councils are no more 1 Other cogent considerations might be urged in favor of Mr Larnach’s candidature, but the main difference between him and Mr Stout is the abolition question, and, notwithstanding the eighty men of Caversham who stood up for Provincialism, moved by Mr Stout’s eloquence, we think the election should turn upon that single question.