The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3916, 11 September 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1875.

Mr Stout prides himself on nice distinctions. He draws one between power and right, which the party with which he is associated would do well to remember and apply. He says the House of Representatives may have the power but not the right to abolish the Provinces. As a little bunkum the dogma sounds well, but is clearly inapplicable, for the right to make the change is conferred upon Parliament, according to Mr Stout’s own admission, and the majority proves they have tinpower. It does, however, apply to the franticly factious tactics of the Opposition, who may have power to obstruct public business in the face of an overwhelming majority, but who, by all Constitutional usage, have not the right to do so. It seems probable that more sensible counsel will prevail, for it is not pleasant to be coerced or bodyworn by a minority whose; weapons are threats of revolution, of stoppage of supplies, and of interminable talking. The younger members of the House, Sir Georoe Grey and Mr Stout, have specially distinguished themselves in this guerilla warfare. Their obstructiveness proves their devotedness, and would do honor to a Choctaw or Sioux leader, whose stubbornness, when adorned with paint and feathers, might be sung by some poet under the euphuism “ endurance.” As, however, those gentlemen, and the Opposition generally’, owe their outward adornments to civilised and artistic tailors, they would do well to exercise the higher qualities of knowledge and its intellectual application, and to leave to bulldogs and savages an

unreasoning and unreasonable opposition calculated to bring representative institutions into contempt. The course adopted by the minority is not altogether without precedent ; but we cannot call to mind a single instance in which a similar one was adopted when the majority in favor of a measure was so large as now. A parallel course was, in some degree, excusable in the long debate in the Provincial Council on the Hundreds Regulation Bill, where parties were so equally divided that one or two votes on either side turned the scale. Had this been the position of the Abolition Bill, no Government, under ordinary circumstances, would have pi’esaed the measure, but would at once have handed over the reins to the other side or have appealed to the country. The large majority by which the second reading was carried not only precludes the necessity for such a course, but commits the Government to pressing the measure through ; for it is inconceivable that, at the bidding of a small and divided minority, they would abandon a measure on which they have staked their position as Ministers of the Crown. It would be an insult to the country and to their supporters. It is well that all the members of the Opposition are not neophytes with more zeal and knowledge; but that there are amongst them cool clear heads capable of grasping the situation, and pointing out the pap that will soothe the sucking politicians into rest. To these sage nurses the country must look to make such arrangements with the Government as the position of parties justifies. The .Ministry are strong enough to meet the Opposition on points that may fairly be conceded, and we think ought not to press their advantage with too high a hand. It is not wise to aggravate the bitterness of party feeling, but to smooth matters so that the business of the session may be proceeded with. Whatever concession is made will be claimed as a victory by the motley band who have but one opinion in common. The bantam, though defeated, will have his crow, and no one will dispute his pluckiness. We are glad to learn that the Ministry have made advances in a conciliatory spirit; should they not be met in a similar manner, the effect must be to lower the Opposition individually and collectively in the estimation of the Colony.