The Globe. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1876.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 542, 14 March 1876, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1876.

It is well that our readers should be reminded that there are two aides to every shield, therefore we call their attention to an article upon the financial condition of the colony, which appeared in the Press on the 11th inst, wherein is au array of figures which no doubt Mr Babbage might be able to understand, but of which we must confess that we have not the least comprehension, but we can comprehend that the tendency of the article is meant to cast a doubt upon the administrative capacity of the Chief Secretary for the Colony, Sir Julius Vogel, whom our contemporary persists in speaking of as Mr Vogel. We do not object to this want of courtesy toward an eminent statesman, so much as we do to the setting forth of statements which, without explanation, must be regarded as an attempt to undermine the confidence of the Colony in the integrity of the intentions of the Premier. Every one is conversant with the fact that every undertaking is entered upon whether with views strictly economical or with the belief that the proposed expenditure will meet the demands that will be made upon the resources. We see no reason but that on either supposition that Sir Julias Vogel has stultified the position he then took, or that the results have been contrary to his anticipations at the time. It is patent that when the proposal to incur the expenditure of ten millions, extending over a period of ten years was made, that there was no basis to guide Sir Julius Vogel with respect to the actual increase to take place in the population, or what necessary extra expenditure would have to be incurred to meet the commercial necessities of the community, and that the estimate which was put forward at the time appeared to be and was one alike reasonable and just; but as circumstances alter cases, the unexampled prosperity which attended the policy the Government of the period propounded was only to be met by the earlier completion of the proposed works, that this earlier expenditure has been justified by the results and that we have a population of 300,000 to contribute to the revenue in the place of about 250,000 had not Sir Julius Vogel been equal to the emergency, If we are now where we were intended to be in 1880” and our “ liabilities have been thus prematurely magnified ” we consider it to be a proof of the progression of the colony in enterprise, wealth, and standing; and we are convinced that had not certain journals in the colony persistently looked upon the wrong side of the shield, that Bir Julius would have been enabled to have made better terms for the last loan, it is our impression that whatever advantage may exist in a “ good opposition ” that that there is an infinite amount of evil in a harassing and fractious one.