The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1887. Political

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 45, 4 October 1887, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1887. Political

It is with feelings of considerable satisfaction we learn that a coalition between the party of Major Atkinson and that of Sir Julius Yogel is an absolute impossibility. Such being; the case, it is a matter of some doubt: whether either leader will be strong enough to undertake the formation of a stable Ministry. Rumor, with her busy tongue, has it that some members have declared their preference for Waterhouse as Premier, while others rest their; hopes on Sir John Hall. For ourselves, we are inclined to think neither Waterhouse nor Hall will have the position thrust upon them. The country does not know the former, and as to the latter it cost a tremendous struggle, with many sacrifices, to get rid of him, therefore his return to power would be very unpopular. Should Major Atkinson adopt a bold course, which is always the better one, and declare his policy openly, pledging himself at the same time to stand or fall thereby, we believe he would gather around him a large following of devoted partisan*. Many of the new n> embers would be only too glad to enlist under the banners of so experienced a leader as the gallant Major, who if he got them into a mess would also know how to get them out of it. Finesse is certainly not his forte. He has shown, on a hundred occasions in the past, a bruskness of manner when there was no earthly occasion for it, which has alienated friends, and made his enemies hate him more bitterly, to gain nothing but the momentary gratification of crushing; a foe weaker than himself. If he can put that bad toait in his character aside for a period, even " assuming the virtue, if he has it n«t," he will greatly strengthen his position. We observe; ' with some degree of disgust, that the cry of " the spoils to the victors" has already commenced, and the friends of the several members who fancy themselves Heaven born statesmen, are already clamouring for a division of the plunder. The first thing these people seem to think of is not the welfare of their country, but what they can make out of the political game. However, we are clear on one point, which is that every member, old or new, has been elected to Parliament on the distinct pledge to support a policy of " Retrenchment and Economy." This it will be the duty of the Press and the public to see fulfilled in both the letter and the spirit. The popular idea is that while Sir Julius Yogel is brilliantly extravagant Major Atkinson spends most money, so the rigid economists in the New House may have some difficulty in selecting their leader. Be that as it may, a few days will decide the question. , ■