The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1055, 14 November 1877, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1877.

The political situation becomes more and more complicated every day, and nothing short of an appeal to the electors will, to all appearance, restore order. The difficulty of course is that there is no great question which has to be referred to the decision of the people, unless it be the oho—is a party which is numerically weak, but strong in strategy, to be looked upon as representing New Zealand? If such au issue were placed before the

country, we have little doubt of the inswer which would be returned, not•vithstanding the aid which the Lyttelton Times would, we suppose, be prepared to give to the leaders who nave displayed a “ pre-eminent aptitude for tactics and superior skill in party warfare.” There may no doubt be throughout the colony, in addition to the Lyttelton Times , many admirers of “ ways that are dark and tricks that are vain,” but few have the courage of our contemporary to come boldly forward as the advocates of such a political code of morality, and by their votes keep in office its successful practisers. On the other hand, there are many who will take every means in their power to defeat Sir G. Grey just because they think that he has got into place by “ crooked ways,” and that he is now endeavouring to establish “ personal for Parliamentary government,” and defy the majority of the people’s representatives. It is urged that during the short time he has been in office not only has he defied the majority of the House of Representatives, but he has also got into antagonism with the Governor and the Legislative Council, and all the while ho maintains that he is New Zealand’s disinterested saviour and true representative, while the majority in the House do not possess the confidence of the people. And we are sorry to say that there are those who take him. at his word. The Otago Unity Times, for example, charges the Opposition with resorting to dodges of a most discreditable character in order to gain votes. “ They are not content,” says our contemporary, “ with the old-established method of bribery and corruption, they have invented a new crime.” The new crime is, we suppose, stated in the following passage, which we extract from another portion of our contemporary’s leader: —“If the Opposition succeed in kidnapping enough members to give them a majority in the f ouse of one or two we should hope that Sir G. Grey would not be foolish enough to yield to a resolution obtained by the votes of a fevj inebriates, and imperil the welfare of the colony because the Opposition has poured enough drink into a certain member to render him incapable of exercising his wits. For it is to resources like these that the greed of office has already drawn the members of the Opposition ” It will will be observed that our contemporary carefully abstains from making specific charges in the above extract, but confines himself to throwing dirt at the Opposition generally in the hope that some of it will stick. If we are to believe the Daily Times the Opposition have gained a majority in the House not by honest means, but by “ kidnapping,” and by the votes of a “few inebriates.” Since our contemporary’s remarks appeared the Opposition have actually “ gained” a majority in the House. The division published in yesterday’s issue proves it. Now' a comparison of the lists, the one when Major Atkinson was turned out of office, and the one referred to above, shows that Messrs. Brandon, Curtis, Kolleston, Sharp, Travers, and Sir B. Douglas, have changed sides during the interval. These gentlemen voted against Major Atkinson, and helped to turn him out of office, and now their votes are likely to have a similar effect upon the Grey Cabinet. The inference therefore is that, in the opinion of our contemporary, the majority has been gained by means of the votes of a “ few inebriates.” These Bacchanalians, according to the division list, cannot be other than Sir B. Douglas, Messrs. Bolleston, Curtis, Brandon, Sharp, and Travers. Our readers are perfectly aware of the utter groundlessness of such a charge. We only refer to the subject to show to what contemptible depths the Grey party have fallen, when their advocates in the press are reduced to the use of such a disgraceful mode of advocacy in order to try and keep their party in power.