THE GLOBE. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1726, 1 September 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1879.

The Christchurch “ Liberals” are making frantic efforts to -wriggle out of the chaotic state in which they have managed, from the very first, to entwine themselves. Days and weeks passed by without any kind of unity being discernible amongst them. And, indeed, Mr. W. Reeves and his acolytes seated behind the scenes, must be greatly pitied for the all but abortive results of their heroic endeavors to instil patriotism, red-hot and flaming, into the manly bosoms of the “head-centres” of the “Liberal” Association which they are working so zealously. At last, on Friday evening, the many incoherent and variegated elements of “Liberalism” which poor Mr. Reeves has had so much trouble in drilling into “ the way in which they should go,” made a vigorous attempt to muster their numbers so that each could see who was who. The Association has thrown off all disguise, finding doubtlessly that “ Liberals” did not throng in large bodies to the dismal den where their inquisitorial doings were carried on during the twilight hours. And besides, their praiseworthy attempts to revolutionise all things and all men could not be brought to any decent state of perfection, so long as the cancer of internal jealousies ate into the very vitals of those mighty principles inscribed upon their flag. We cannot all be masters in this world, some must form the rank, others must swell the file; and as the politics of the leading lights of Mr. Reeves’ “ Liberal” Association differed in hundreds of ways one from the other, confusion continually rose on lines of policy, the marvellous slenderness of which wore as tender as the threads of the spider’s web. The views of most of these “ headcentres” on the smallest questions of policy oven, and their happy-go-lucky way of giving vent to them, were varied and curious. But all this has now come to an end. The flag hitherto hidden in some obscure corner has been unfurled, and Friday evening’s proceeding have thrown a weird light upon the status q^uooL

Mr. Reeves’ “ Liberal” Brigade. We now find that onr esteemed and enthusiastic friend Mr. Alport is its treasurer, and that “ he has plenty of funds at his command.” Gonial and disinterested Mr. Andrews—to whom the proprietory of the “Lyttelton Times” owes no small debt of gratitude for having so neatly worked the popular oracle ” for Mr. Reeves—is a kind of protecting angel and patriotic conductor to the association. The small fry whoso names appear on the “ directory ” of these Liberal Reformists, are mainly employes and general hangers-on of the Cathedral square organ, with a small sprinkling of irreconcilable sans-cullofes thrown in, so as to give the “ direction ” an air of consistency and independence. The Gaiety Theatre on Friday was absolutely alive with the back-bone and bristles of the Association, and it required but a few moments to tot up the “ whole strength of the company,” loading stars, supers, and all. And indeed, brief as has been our diagnosis of the political condition of this hitherto secret society, wo think that we have fairly sketched its frame, limbs, and its main support. We say “main support ” because the principal wire puller, Mr. Reeves, has other [gentlemen who help in the exciting operation. For, besides Mr. Andrews, Mr. Treadwell and Mr. John Lee share with Mr. Reeves the privilege of “making the old mare go.” As to the Rev. Mr. Fraser, who, next to Dr. Turnbull, the Association’s President, took a lead in last Friday’s demonstration, ho cannot of course be included in the personnel of the organization. Mr. Fraser has views of his own, and it is well known that when ministers of religion direct their thoughts into politics and take a public part in them, they never do things by halves/, but go the full length of the tether. The Rev. Mr. Fraser does not appear to be an exception to the rule, as was proved by his sudden appearance before the Ultra-Greyite meeting of Friday. But, while very unwilling to question the wisdom of a clergyman plunging into such an electoral vortex as is now whirling so madly, we cannot but express our regret for his own sake that Mr. Fraser should have raised the issue which ho did when giving a reason for his public appearance at the Gaiety. He gave the meeting clearly to understand that the principal reason which had brought him there was his zeal for the sectarian view of the education question. We would point out to that gentleman that love for the existing system should have kept him out of the very doubtful company in which he was found on Friday. He tried to mislead his hearers with regard to Mr Macandrew’s movements and the proposed removal of the railway system centre, and here we find him endeavoring to insinuate that his proper place as a supporter of of secular education was alongside Sir George Grey’s supporters and the following of the “Lyttelton Times.” We never before thought the rev. gentleman so fatuous. We feel sure that did Mr. Fraser possess the means of learning the real state of affairs, and of realising the dangerous nature of the weapons used by those with whom he feels inclined to ally himself, he would pursue a totally different course, and not play into the hands of a designing few. Let him for a moment reflect that the so-called “ Liberal “ Reform Association ” cannot possibly be anything else than a shame and a snare. Is it not a combination of certain men who—Liberal forsooth ! —actually work for one man. Sir George Grey, and the rules of which combination entirely exclude “ any other true friend of liberal riews who may have qualms of conscience it supporting that one individual!” Of course Dr. Turnbull knows full well how correct our remarks are; he, however, has a leetle game on hand to which that of Bret Harte’s Heathen Chinee was mere child’s play. The Rev. Mr. Fraser, on the contrary, has not, as far is apparent, , anything of the sort. And to think that \ dust of so flimsy a character could for one instant blind him to the real state of affairs can only pain his friends.