THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1729, 4 September 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.

As the telegraph wires record the result of the elections which have already taken place elsewhere, the hearts of our friends the Greyites sink and feel sad. The Dunedin constituency has, we might almost say to a man, declared against the Grey party, while the Premier's versatile " young man " —as Mr. Feldwick, the late member for Invercargill, was called in the House—has been defeated in what was affirmed by the Government side to be one of the strongholds of their party. The blow must have been felt by Mr. Feldwick doubly crushing, as it was ho who prevailed upon Sir Georgo Grey to extend his stumping tour as far as Invercargill, so as to lend his helping hand to reduce the anti-Greyite element rapidly growing there, and which, hydralike, was shooting forth innumerable heads, much to the consternation of the defeated candidate. And, while touching upon the subjoct of Sir George Grey's ambulatory tour throughout the island, and the wonderful political emanations which followed his utterances, it seems to us that there is one man at least to whom Sir Gesrge has scarcely bohavedwith sufficieLt liberality. If the Premier could find time and " special trains " to rush to Mr. Poldwick's assistance, why could he not, or did he not, think of other friends in need ? Look, for instance, at the Heathcoto district, where "Honest Farmer Fisher " —as his old friends for years past have been permitted to call the Postmaster-General —is now struggling with all his might to conquer the strong

aversion to Greyism which has eprung up there among the electorate. When Sir Georgo Grey, some twelve months ago or more, paid the Middle Island a visit, on

the Manhood Suffrage " ticket," Mr. J. T. Fisher succeeded in trotting out the great j modern reformist before the Heathcote \

constituency. And, when in mooting ; assembled, the Heathcoto electorate sat under the eloquent voice of tho Premier, toarsof self-complacent joy foil from the eyes of "Honest F. P.," as pearls of wisdom and patriotism rolled on tho floor of tho platform, evolved out of nothing by the dexterous manipulation of that prince of oratorical jugglers, Sir Georgo Grey. Tho Premier's golden and unctuous address ended,' Mr. Fisher manfully came forward and, striking both his breast and an attitude, conquered Ins emotion sufficiently to utter a few disconnected words about the rights of men—tho salvation of tho country—his being a plain spoken " no-orator," and so forth/; Tears gushed forth from every eye, and whatever imaginative sentimentality was lying dormant beneath the surfaco of the British taxpayers present, was violently brought to the surface by the brilliant success of the performance. But reflection brings wisdom, and time rubs off tho exaggerated angles of all things, let thorn be ever so rich and raro. Honest Farmer Fisher, at ono time, a hero in the estimation of the many good-natured folks who once -thought it a good joke to place him on a popular pedestal, is now having an hard time of it; There is but one step from the sublime to tho ridiculous, and public opinion, always inclined'to respect manliness and dignity, oven if .it .exist in the subordinate social strata, very soon pricks up its ears when anything insincere or shoddy is discovered in him upon whom it has pinned its faith, as possessing the two above-named virtuos. "Well would it havo been if Sir George Grey had not refused Mr. Fisher when that gentleman begged him "to give another .dose" to the Heathcote constituency. But time just now is very valuable, as was exemplified by tho use to which the Premier ! had to put the Hinemoa and several " special trains " while on his canvassing tour. Sir Georgo thought it usoless to ' visit tho Heathcoto constituency. Was not the Hon. J. T. Fisher well-known as his right hand man ? His favorite col-' [ league was the Postmaster-General, who , accompanied him everywhere and was i keen at looking after the baggage, and the only one with whom he never had any unpleasant words. Of course it takes two to make a bargain, or to start a ' quarrel. You may say boo to a goose, but it does not follow that the goose will say boo to you. Events it is sad to contemplate, at least from a " Liberal Reform " point of view, have not turned out during tho past few days as Sir Georgo Grey, or Mr Fisher, for the matter of that, contemplated they would. This Heathcote election is never spoken, of without a smile. " Honest Farmer Fisher" trundles about from elector to elector, and his efforts to remove tho scales from their , eyes are heart-rending to behold. Every r power of rhetoric which he possesses, every suitable figure of speech he can scrape together are there, and brought into requisition to show that " the administration of affairs" has been such as never was surpassed under any constitutional Government. And our poor friend, meeting with rebuffs and sneers at every door, sadly remembers the good old days when parochial work was more congenial to his taste, and he trembles for his seat while muttering to himself that " they hav« eyes aHd tbey can see, and—unfortunately—they have ears and can hear and understand " what is good for them, as well as for tho interests of the community at large. Failing Sir George Grey's expected sup- ! port, that of Mr Reeves' " Liberal Reform Association" was sought for to assist in tho good work of steadying Mr Fisher upon his electoral legs. We are sorry to say, however, that that influential body, finding that they had not a moment to lose, nor a single man to spare, could not come to Mr Fisher's rescue in his time of need. And it is now very probable that one of Canterbury's most eminent politicians—and the only one who could be prevailed upon to represent Canterbury's interests in the Grey Cabinet when it was formed—will have to turn his mighty Ministerial pen into the proverbial ploughshare.