The Feilding Star. SATURDAY SEPT. 27, 1884. In Effigy

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 45, 27 September 1884, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY SEPT. 27, 1884. In Effigy

It is with considerable wonder that we look upon the strange kind of madness which is rapidly growing or developing in the brains of a certain class of people. If it be not madness it is most certainly a premomtary symptom of insanity. Some weeks ago, in an obscure village in the South Island, a few pot-house politicians took it into their beer-muddled heads that the member for their district had done a grievous wrong by voting in a manner which did not meet their "alcoholic approval." In order to show a proper sense of their disapproval of a fellow citizen exercising an independant judgement, when surrounded by circumstances of the very nature of which they were naturally as ignorant as on all other subjects, they decided to burn an effigy of the said offender. This idiotic project was carried out, and to make the matter worte was telegraphed all over the Colony by the Press Association. Almost simultaneously the fires of the effigy burners were lighted in several other places, on the principle, we suppose, that "one fool maketh many." The slightest pretence seems to be accepted as a good and sufficient reason to attempt to drag in the mire the name of a man whom a majority of their fellow citizens has declared a fit and proper person to represent them in Parliament. We doubt very much whether the persons who conduct these mockeries are electors at all. We should judge them to belong to the larrikin class and irresponsible. But the men who, from political or private malice, indirectly encourage them are very contemptible. We observe that a few Wanganui lunatics propose to burn Mr Bbtce in effigy because he opposed, in his place in the House, that which he has opposed from conviction since its inception — the Wanganui Harbor Board Bill. If he had suddenly changed from being an ardent supporter of the Bill to a decided enemy, we could understand a certain display of feeling, but as he only acted in perfect accordance with that straightforward manliness which has always distinguished him both in public and private life, the wonder i« that any one could be found wrongheaded enouglr even to suggest such an impertinence at such a late hour. We do not like- to suggest violence, or any action likely to provoke a breach of the peace, yet we would like to hear that the friends of Mr Bryce, who are legion in and near Wanganui, had dropped the effigy and a few cf the burners into the river for a few minutes in order to cool them. This is the greatest punishment that can be inflicted on members of the Great Unwashed, who have a pious horror of water in any shape unadulterated and for outward application.