THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1731, 6 September 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1879.

The crushing defeat sustained yesterday at; the Kaiapoi election by the candidate put up by his associated friends and admirers has had already a marked effect here. Upon this Kaiapoi contest Mr. Beeves’ association had counted as one of the crucial tests which would show how rapidly its influence was spreading. Every conceivable effort was made to ensure the return of their candidate. Emissaries, wo understand, were sent to various parts of the district, and one of the fiercest canvasses over witnessed in Canterbury was prosecuted under the direction of the loading lights of the truculent body that sit in the shooting gallery. But it all proved of no avail. The mountain heaved and heaved, but the result was not commensurate with the mighty convulsion. It was another case of the traditional mouse. The common-sen so ’of the large majority made them see through the thin nonsense sown broadcast over the Northern constituency. Mr. Bowen had served them for a long time, and they had had no reason to regret his representing them. As to the cry of “Liberalism,” his views on all the topics of the day, and upon education especially, were of a most forward and go-ahead typo. Mr. Bowen’s opponent, for some easily understood reasons, received a fair share of support. The cry of a local man had boon raised at Kaiapoi, and it seldom fails to secure the adhesion of a few people. That cry, however, did not have much effect in the heart of the district, Raugiora, whore Mr. Bowen secured an enormous majority. Next Wednesday wo fancy that another such blow as Grcyism received at Kaiapoi wi 1 bo inflicted upon its “ associated ’ friends in Christchurch, whoso hopes and aspirations, wo very much fear, have boon raised high without there being any reasonable grounds for it. A loud-toned man, with lungs developed by ultraGreyism, makes considerably more noise and splutter than do, say, a hundred honest citizens minding their own business and going on the oven tenor of their ways. The loud-toned man, sometimes, does not oven possess a vote, his name not appearing on any roll. But it matters little; ho vociferates and shrieks all the more for that, attends public meetings, whore ho ejects communistic radicalism of the reddest hue, and actually proposes votes of confidence in candidates. These pleasurable attempts at reforming men and things deceive nobody. They are, of course, very dear to the loud-toned man, who perfectly revels in listening to the unmelodious strains of his own voice, but, unfortunately for him, the gratification is but evanescent. The polling day puts an ond to deceit, doubts, and hesitations, and henceforward the stagger of the loud-toned man is but seldom soon. Those who during a weak moment had, perhaps, been almost convinced by his sophistry and ingenious elasticity of speech, look back and can scarcely believe that they could have oven for an instant listened to clap-trap of so imaginative a character. Sotting class against class is one of the first dogmas of Communism. And is is patent to all well-thinking men that Mr. Reeves’ “ Liberals” and their few adherents are absolutely taking this up as their platform. It is neither more or less than the worst of all political crimes which, however, invariably carries with it its own retribution. Canterbury communities and the Christchurch people especially, have seen enough during the last twenty years of the character of the men who have boon at the head of public affairs, and of the benefits which have resulted to themselves from their Government, to realise how untruthful are the warning shrieks of these inflated demagogues who would fain make them believe that everything is upside down, and that to one class, “ that which possesses ” this uncomfortable state state of things is due. We feel confident that the result of next Wednesday’s poll will conclusively prove to those designing individuals that all their efforts to blind the public common-sense are unavailable. Perhaps they will not again repeat the attempt when they find that the puppets will not dance, of which they fancy they hold the strings.

There is generally supposed to bo a limit to all things, but it is difficulty to fix tbo fiuality with regard to tbo manner in wbicb tbe Government are working the present elections. It reminds one one of nothing so much as the sort of thing used to go on in Franco during tbe Empire. There tbe whole weight of tbe Government as a Government was brought to bear on constituoueios and officials in order to secure tbo return of Government supporters. Tbe thing was so barefaced as to become an absolute farce. It would have been most amusing if it bad not been so horribly corrupt. Jilonsieur Ic Frefef and Monsieur Ic IWiire put on tbo electoral thumbscrews to any extent, and tbe unhappy elector, nolens volcns, voted against bis conscience. The ballot of course stops that sort of thing in Now Zealand, but the Grey Government have tboir own peculiar devices. They use tbo Government steamer for purely electoral purposes; they enable themselves to fly backwards and forwards by means of special trains paid by tbo country at largo. And a quite novel idea has lately come to light. The manner in wbicb tbe Government worked tbo East Coast election is not likely to bo forgotten in a burry. A number of Maori voters wore in favor of Captain Morris, tbo lato member. This did not suit tbo Ministerial cards, and the Government absolutely formed about forty of those men into a contingent of tbo Armed Constabulary, brought them down, and kept them drilling in Wellington under receipt of regular pay. Such is life—electoral - ministerial life under the thumb of the great Pro-Consul ! What will bo tbo next charming dovolopomeut ?

“Honest Farmer Fisher’s” claims to electoral consideration will bo immediately before tbo Heathcote electors. This log of a Minister will bo rolled—figuratively speaking, of course—by bis partizans up on to tbo hustings, and the Heathcote public at largo will bo asked to record tboir votes for him. Even those who respond to tbo frenzied appeal of Mr Reeves’ Association can possibly bavo no more pleasure in tbo operation than they would bavo in kissing the pretty wax faces generally to bo soon in hair-dressers’ shops. People cannot bo enthusiastic about dummies. Fanner Fisher is no doubt well moaning, but as a representative, bo is a dummy and as a Minister be is an omboidod farce. The only thing lie can possibly claim as Laving done for tbo district is tbe extending of tbo penny r ite of postage to tbo suburbs. But this would Lave eventuated in any case, and

was indeed the mere result of extended population and communications. As a Minister, his power was nil, and merelybrought ridicule on the constituency that accepted him. Wo trust that the Heathcote electors will put an end to all this. In Mr. Morgan they have a liberally minded and pushing man, who will see to their interests and will not accept the position of a nonentity. The smile that broadens the features of the public when honest P. P.’s name is mentioned has no doubt been for some time past annoying the individual members of the Heathcote electorate. They are to be sympathised with, but the remedy lies in their own hands.