The Globe. WEDNESDAY JULY 17, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1379, 17 July 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY JULY 17, 1878.

The Government organ in Wellington makes a miserable attempt to defend the action of its proprietors in the following jmssage in a recent issue: — How circumstances do alter cases. When a few years ago a certain newspaper was in the market, it was of course the most natural and therefore proper thing in the world for some members of the Ministry to buy it, and, with the aid of a few friends, form a company for conducting it. There was no impropriety whatever in the then Colonial Treasurer, Mr Yogel, taking 700 shares (with an extra 200 for the members of his family), the Hon. Hr. Pollen 200 shares, the Hon. Sir Donald M’Lean 400 shares, and various other members ai d Parliamentary supporters of the then existing Ministry taking smaller interests, but it is a most unconstitutional, improper, and most severely to be deprecated action, for any member of another Q-overnment to have invested a few pounds in newspaper enterprise, and if any relative of a Minister chances to be connected with the venture—why, of course everybody understands what this means. People are often inclined to regard those who differ from them as marvellously obtuse and stupid. All that has been written on this question of shareholders in newspapers, simply proves the truth of what was long ago written : “ That in the captain’s but’a choleric word, Which in the soldier is rank blasphemy.” In the above quotation our contemporary apparently thinks it has fully disposed of all the charges which have been brought against its shareholders. But no one, we should imagine, would ho so unreasonable as <o take exception to the manner in which Ministers invest their private means. They are at liberty to take shares in any public company, or they can enter into any private speculation they think will give a good return for the investment. But they are not at liberty to make use of their public positions to further their private business. In the quotation wo give above no attempt is made, because wo believe it would he fruitless, to show that Sir Julius Yogel. the Hou. Dr. Pollen, or Sir Donald M'Loan gave the journal with which they were connected any advantages over its opponents. The modern Liberal doctrine, of confining Government advertisements to those journals which supported them, had not

been thought of at that time. The charge against the present Government is, not that they are owners of a newspaper, hut that having invested money in such an enterprise, they aro using their Ministerial position to further their personal interests. The reference to the members of a former Government who took shares in a newspaper, hut carefully avoided any such dishonourable means of making a profit, is no answer to the charge of jobbery which has been freely made against some of the members of the Cabinet.

Elsewhere wo publish a letter on the subject of game licenses. The Acclimatisation Society is anxious to have the law altered, so as to enable them lo issue gun licenses instead of game licenses. Wo sincerely hope that their efforts will not bo successful. Such an enactment would bo an exceedingly annoying and exasperating measure. It may bo true of course that by its means game would bo more successfully preserved. But there aro other interests beyond those of tho sportsman involved. Our game laws aro tpiito stringent enough already, aud if any alteration is to bo made at all, it should bo in the direction of greater liberty. There are a certain number in tho community who would, no doubt, bo delighted lo see tho game laws of tho old country enacted hero in all their severity, but they are, after all, in a very groat minority. Their pleasure and enjoyment must give way to tho general good. It is certainly far from desirable that wo should have a repetition in Now Zealand of scenes which have done so much to set class against class in England. Wo view the persistent, efforts of tho Acclimatisati«u Society to make tho law regarding tho preservation of game more and more stringent, as a proof that the members of its Council in no sense reflect the views of the general public. If that body choose to make thomsolves tho representatives of tho sportsmen of Canterbury, they must expect to moot with strenuous opposition in any endeavour to get tho law amended in tho direction of their own wishes. Wo protest against this latest attempt at class legislation, because it is uncalled for, aud because it would bo needlessly oppressive.

Recent events have directed attention to “ Nihilism” in Russia, the influence of which is said to be so widespread in that Empire. “An Expelled Correspondent,” whoso “ narrative” was published a short time ago, gives some interesting particulars regarding Nihilism in the army, from which we gather the following facts. Nihilism, he says, may be called a finished phase of Communism —that is humanity pure and simple, wherein every being will do what is right in his own eyes, aud whatever he does will be good. Tho one word of this now revolution is Dantou’s motto —“ deslrue ! uproot, throw down, roll over all that exists.” “ Communists in France,” says the writer from whom wo aro quoting, l,: aro hut an infinitesimal proportion of tho educated classes; but in Russia Nihilists, or their sympathisers, form a majority. All object to the despotism of one; tho mass object to tho authority of any.” It is pointed out as a striking fact that Nihilism is the best Utopia which the discontented in Russia image for themselves as tho result of their efforts for freedom. The writer tried to discover what is to be set up when all is cast down —Imperialism, bureaucracy, armed force, religion, marriage, property, aud all tho rest, but could get no answer. “To what degrading depths,” ho exclaims, “ has authority been carried when intelligent creatures cry in despair, away with it all, aud lot us count tho cost thereafter. That more inability to raise even a phantom substitute for the power overthrown reveals its deadly pressure.”