THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1723, 28 August 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1879.

Thebe is something peculiar about the ephemeral “ Liberal Reform” Association of the “ Lyttelton Times,” which has furnished food for amusing comment over since the bantling was supposed to have positively issued forth from its shell. Those happy individuals whose names swell the somewhat short roll of the Association, have often met in conclave more or loss solemn or noisy. But, strange to say, although its leading members —save the mark ! have flapped their wings and crowed with all the vigour that ultra-Groyism gives to the worshippers at the shrine of the Knight of Kawau, all has been shadow; of substance there has been, so far, absolutely none. Windy declamations, vociferous asservations, and exultant shrieks of impossible patriotism have been well to the front; but, as yet, there is no sign of the Association’s programme. Elsewhere in Wellington, say—the very first step of the Liberal Association was to settle whatever issues wore in the minds of the members. The tone of those programmes was soon decided upon. It was generally that embodied in the cardinal questions touched upon in the Ministerial manifesto which formed the Governor’s speech

when Parliament last mot. Hero, however, patriotism of the true blue stylo being rampant, Mr. W. Reeves’ “ Liberal Association ” pooh-poohed any programme as being a pure matter of detail requiring no possible consideration. What was the good? Was not the Association especially constructed for a special purpose ? Wore not axes to be ground by the hands of a few to whom it was of the utmost consequence that certain things should be “ Reformed” without loss of time. As we said in a previous issue, all that the Association found it necessary to do, when appealing to the feelings of those who, but a few days before, had heard, with a somewhat confused feeling, the words “Liberalism and Conservatism” loudly dinned into their oars, was to brand the words “Grey and nothing but Grey” deeply into their electoral flesh. With this, the only required rallying cry, the only needed badge, they were prepared to march forth to death or victory. Popular feeling, history has shown us, is a thing easily aroused; but on the other hand it takes but little to make it evaporate, or at least to divert it into other channels. Enthusiastic and credulous men are very like children. They soon tiro of a toy, and quickly want another. Times have been dull in Christchurch for some time past, and the present political excitement may be said to bo a godsend to many otherwise well - meaning people. The downfall of the Grey Ministry was, both financially and otherwise, a terrible blow to our friend in Cathedral square, and, viewed in the light of his notorious JimCrowism in the past, it can scarcely be wondered that, as' an ad misericordiam resource, he should have moved heaven and earth to play on the weakest points of those who were foolish enough to listen to him. The tools which Mr Wm. Reeves has succeeded in utilising for his sinister purposes, however, have been but few. Let us say at once of Dr. Turnbull that no one who knows much of the history of Canterbury will greatly wonder at his having allowed himself to become a pliant “ Tribune of the People” under the thumb nf him who pulls the strings of the ponderous organ of Cathedral square. The facetious doctor possesses marvellous scent; ho has sniffed something in the air which makes him believe that, if a Redistribution of Seats Bill becomes law, he might come in at the death, and scramble into the House upon the stalwart shoulders of the “ 65,000 miserable serfs who yet have got no votes.” We now come to Mr S. P. Andrews, the only possible candidate which the “ Liberal ” party in Christchurch, after anxious deliberations, could find to represent Greyism. Mr. Reeves’ “Association” moved high and low to secure a man of soma kind of mark; but all their prayers and entreaties failed. “The game is not worth the candle,” was, in so many words, the reply whispered in the very many quarters where the Association searched for candidates. At the present moment we thus have, coupled with Sir George Grey as candidates for Christchurch in the so called Liberal interest, two more “Tribunes of the People,” Mr S. P. Andrews, and last but certainly not least, Mr. Treadwell. We shall pleasantly dissect in another isssue these two aspirants to Parliamentary fame who desire to represent the many thousand owners of property in the city, and we will endeavour to vividly depict for the benefit of the electors, the thousand and one claims these two gentlemen have upon their suffrages. It is more than probable that the effect of our explanations will be to impale them upon the very apex of the poll.

Our evening contemporary is not always in accord with its morning heavy father, at least in matters of correctness of fact. The “ Star ” on Monday, alluding to the had reception received by Sir George Grey last Saturday evening, trios to wriggle out of the difficulty by boldly stating that “ the leaders of these rowdies could easily be distinguished from the platform. One bright, rubicund countenance shone occasionally as a banner, &c. ...” Now, the “ Star ”

evidently alludes to Mr. Eolleston whom the “ Times,” in its next issue, entirely exonerated from having had anything to do with those little ebullitions of popular feelings. Mr, Eolleston had not been paid the compliment of receiving a ticket to the platform, and it was quite accidentally that ho found himself in the very middle of a few enthusiasts who had, perhaps, too keen an idea of the polished humbug which was being retailed by the yard to the meeting. And as to Mr Eolleston, or any other person then present, being somewhat flushed in countenance, those who found themselves jammed in the centre of the Hall during the “ demonstration ” will not easily forget the state of the atmosphere, which Greyism brought to white heat, generated on that eventful evening. It is indeed too bad, and cowardly in fact, to drag in Mr. Eolleston in the manner in which the “ Star” does in its eagerness to do the dirty work of the “ Liberals” of Christchurch.