The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4014, 7 January 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 1876.

The latest speculation on the part of the Opposition is that Sir Julius Vogel, on hia arrival, will leave his colleagues and place himself at the head of their party. They base their anticipations upon two or three grounds, any one of which they imagine sufficient to justify the conclusion they have arrived at. One section affirms that there is division in the Ministry, especially respecting the small excess above the vote for the San Francisco Mail Ser vice. That because the action of Sir Julius was not more vigorously defended in the House his colleagues may be said to have forsaken him, and therefore he will retaliate by leaving them to their fate. Another section dives into ‘ Hansard’s ’ records of seven years back, and brings to light some fossils, proving that at that time Sir JAlius held a higher opinion of the value of Provincial Councils than the rest of the Ministry have at present; and therefore he will so thoroughly resent their abolition that he will throw himself into the arms of the Opposition, reverse all that has been done, and once more set up local idols in the shape of Superintendents for the Provinces to worship. It is scarcely necessary to state a third reason cunningly put forward by Opposition students of human nature • for although we know nothing of Dr Pollen, we cannot think so meanly of him as to believe he loves his position as Premier so dearly as to desire to exclude Sir Julius ; or of the latter that he would forsake a Ministry merely because through his own illness it was found necessary to place Dr Pollen at its head. That political motives have led to the sinister insinuations so industriously circulated is obvious. The extreme partizans of the Opposition calculate upon being believed when they say these things, partly because of the low estimate they place upon electoral intellects, but especially as they put' them forth as confidently as if they knew their truth. Premising that our knowledge is as superficial as their own, it is only through weighing well the present situation that we can surmise the future. Assuming it to be true that the Ministry did not defend Sir Julius’s action in the San Francisco contract, the only sound conclusion is that he acted on his own responsibly ; and not having asked their concurrence—which might have been given or withheld by telegraph it was only fair that he himself should bear the blame, if any. We do not suppose it will fall very heavily upon him, as it was only a matter gof some five thousand pounds out of which the Opposition raised a mountain—not nearly so much as their factious freaks in Parliament cost the country. Aa to Sir Julius’s opinion 6f Provincialism seven years since coinciding with his present views, it is nonsense. We believe it to be perfectly true that abolition has gone farther than he proposed or at one time thought absolutely necessary; and the same may be said of every member of the Ministry. Whei i Provincial abolition was first proposed it was only in tended to iuoluuo tlkose Provinces that could not or ha>d not fulfilled Pro*

vmcial functions. The original intention was not to extend the Act to Otago and Canterbury, but it was found impossible to exclude them ; and, as sooner or later they must have shared the fate of the rest, although Sir Julius would have been quite content with the partial measure, we have no doubt he will be reconciled to the change as it stands. If, however, there is in his mind a lurking discontent with the of his comrades what probability is there of his placing himself in opposition to them ? His colleagues are men of tried political worth, and to their well directed efforts the extraordinary progress of the Colony during the past seven years is mainly owing; is it likely he will forsake them, and for the sake of revenge ally himself with a faction, most of whom have been his deadliest opponents, and only the ablest of whom agree with him and his Ministry on all points, excepting their theories of Provincialism 1 Is it to be supposed that smatterers like Sir George Grey ; financiers like Mr Murray ; Postmasters-General like, say Mr Seaton or Mr Burns, could ci’editably fill the places of Dr Pollen, Major Atkinson, and Mr Reynolds'? We might certainly, with some credit, place Mr Macandrew and Mr Reid in office ; or, when rubbed down a wee, Mr Stout, divested of ultra Spencerianism, might grace the portfolio of Minister of Justice; but what would be the consequence to themselves 1 They would have to make peace with their constituents because of giving up Provincialism—for none know better than they that it is dead. The present Ministry have been cooperators with Sir Julius Vogel, have approved, endorsed, and aided to carry out his plans. We may go further and say that to their untiring industry, singleness of purpose, and integrity, the success with which Sir Julius’s ideas have been carried out is due. There may have been mistakes—there must always be in human organisings, for not the wisest can be prepared for every contingency; but the wonder is, not that there have been so many, but that there have been so few. Men new to office would at this juncture be a national misfortune. Those who now hold the command may economise, but fresh men would be tools in the hands of the permanent heads of departments, just as they have been proved to be in Victoria. New Ministers would have all to learn from those whose interest it is to keep them in the dark. We do not think Sir Julius is likely to ally himself with them unless his colleagues refuse to work with him. A very unlikely contingency.