The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1890, False Sentiment

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 49, 11 October 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1890, False Sentiment

We notice, with some surprise, that several of our most esteemed contemporaries have become almost rlachry-., mose over a few ex-M.H.R.s who have declared their intention not to seek re-election. Without pretending to be able to part with- old friends or servants without some feeling of regret, yet in the instances of members of Parliament, as the colony has known them for the last three years, we confess to an emotion of "sweet sorrow" when any of ; them declare they will " not seek re-election." No doubt they feel sorry too, and fancy that their places will never again be filled so ably or so well. This is human nature; but if 'a man really wants to know-how little he is missed after Be) is. gone, no taatter where, let him but recall to his own memory the many friends: he hatr parted with — and forgotten the moment they were out of sight,' Th^en;^hja will realise how httle /^ will b^e missed when •* he shuffles off thia^mbr^i' coil " or "declines to seek l Te»diection." Had any of these retiring gentlemen been of any special' value} in the House, or of any use whatever, other than to fill a gap, their constituents in the past — nay, the colony at large — would demand that they should again fill their respective posts ; but we have not heard that clamour from, any oontituency, and the electors of the c lony are dumb. In fact these gentlemeu can* not claim to be Heaven-born statesmen, they are of the earth— earthy. Their courage too, seems to be like that of the well known Bob Acres, which oozed out of his fingers' ends at the approach of danger. . Perhaps at no time in the history of the colony have the services of tried and good men been more urgently wanted, yet these "tried meu* o'.aim that as they have ; " borne the heat and burden of the day" they are now entitled to take off their armour and seek honorable re-' pose, when really they should berup and doing and endeavoring to justify the confidence their constituents had in the " old time before," by boldly and manfully facing the dangers, which they see only too well, and which they slink away to avoid.. I r is a. comfort; to know that there are plenty or courageons and capable^men able and willing to offer their services, and that the colony will be beri'efitted instead of injured by the voluntary absence from Parliament of these jaded poli- , ticians.