The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1286, 3 May 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1878.

The vote of confidence which was passed in Mr. Stevens on Monday night must have been exceedingly annoying to those partizans of Sir G. Grey in Christchurch who fondly imagined that his policy, whatever it is, had been accepted by the great majority of the electors of the city. It, therefore, became necessary to explain away the meaning of the decision of the meeting in some way or other. Tho Lyttelton Times set about tho task with a zeal which should have produced better results. According to our contemporary, 800 people appeared in tho Oddfellows' Hall in 1876 to hear Mr. Stevens speak on abolition. In 1878 only 200 or 250 turned up to hoar him on tho policy of Sir G. Grey. The curious reason assigned for this difference is that Mr. Stevens did " not represent " tho Grey policy. It would seem, therefore, that, in the opinion of the Times, only the representatives of a particular policy should bo heard on it, and that because tho attendance in 187 b* was larger than in 1878, the Grey policy is acceptable to Christchurch. "What possible connection the premiss and tho conclusion have in the abovo, wo leave to our readers to discover. If we mistake not, the more they try the more puzzled thoy will become. " Under ordinary circumstances," says our contemporary, "the difference might be explained as one of relative interest." But ho rejects this obvious explanation on account of tho emphatic reception obtained so recently by Sir G. Grey in Christchurch—which could only be explained on tho ground that tho constituency is in favour of tho Ministerial policy. Now, it is a somewhat singular circumstance, if the electors are so enthusiastic in favour of tho Grey policy, that thoy did not take the trouble to go to the meeting, and learn what the opinions of Mr. Stevens were, upon the leading public questions, and, if they were distasteful to them, to pass a vote of want of confidence in him. By their absence they showed either that the policy laid down by the Premier was not very near to their hearts, or that they felt their interests perfectly safe in the hands of Mr. Stevens. Tho latter is tho more probable explanation. A story is told of a worthy old woman who used regularly to attend a church, tho pulpit of which was occupied by a learned professor of a neighbouring University. She as regularly fell asleep during the sermon. It was observed, however, that though Janet always slopt during her own pastor's discourse, she was alert enough when tho pulpit was occupied by a young preacher from the University. Slighty piqued at this, the Professor said to her one day, " Janet, I think you hardly behave voiy respectfully to me." ' Mo, sir," exclaimed Janet, " I wad like, to see ony man, by yoursel, say that o' me, what can you mean?" "Well, Janet, you know when I preach, you're almost always fast asleop before I have well given out my text, but when any of those young men from St. Andrews preach for me, I seo you never sleep a wink." "Hoot, sir," was the reply, "is that a' ? I'll soon tell you the reason o' that. When you preach, we a' ken tho word o' God's safe in your hands; but when the young birkies tak' it in haun, my certie, but it tak's us a' to look after them." "When Sir G. Grey came here, ho addressed the public for tho first time. Naturally, curiosity was excited to hear a distinguished orator speak, and enunciate a policy about which so much had been said and written for weeks before. But having heard him, and having discovered nothing in his speech but a vague sketch of a happily impossible policy, garnished with personal reminiscences of tho part he took in compelling unfortunate Irishmen to pay tithes to a Church with the doctrines of which they did not agree, and of being compelled, in consequence of the illiberal legislation of England, to take the oaths against transubstantiation when he first took office in a colony, tho public soon relapsed into indifference Had they the policy of the Premier as near to their hearts as our contemporary tries to make out, tho electors have taken a peculiar way of showing it. The truth, of course, is, that the people of Christchurch havo no intention whatever of committing themselves blindly to the adoption of what may prove a wild scheme at tho bidding of any man. Thoy know too little regarding Ministerial intentions to do anything of the kind. Even Sir G. Grey's warmest supporters have a very vague notion of tho nature of tho measures which will bo submitted to Parliament. Ministers themselves, it is said, are far from agroed upon a policy. It is not likely, therefore that the electors are going to express a decided opinion in favor of unknown measures. Of course, we havo heard a groat deal of late of liberal land laws, tho oxtonsiou of the franchise, and a change in the incidence of taxation, but the public require something more than vague generalities before committing themselves to supporting Sir G. Grey. On tho other hand, thoy know that Mr. Stevons is not at all likely to espouse extravagant views on public questions. They are satisfied to leave their interests in his hands, believing that the promised measures of the Government will be judged by him on their merits, and apart from party considerations. But had the public definitely adopted the Grey policy, as thoy had abolition in 1876, they would have taken very good care to make Mr. Stevens acquainted with their opinions.