THE GLOBE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1768, 20 October 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1879.

Auckland is weeping over the fall of Sir George Grey with a bitterness of soul that refuses to be comforted. It is no consolation to the Groyite organs of that province that Mr. Hall’s hold on the Treasury benches is most precarious, and that Mr. Macandrew is eager to stop into his place, and, assisted by Mr. Pyko, lead the quondam Groyites down the flowery paths of official extravagance, so merrily trod by the late Government. All this is as nothing to Auckland. Indeed, the “Herald” would appear to prefer a Hall to a Macandrew Government, inasmuch as in the former Mr Whitaker, as Attorney-General, would be sure to look after Auckland interests; while in the latter Mr. Macandrew, possessed of the strongest Otagonian instincts, would guide the plough. “ It was not for this,” says the “Herald,” alluding to the possible Premiership of Mr. Macandrew, “ that the Auckland phalanx was formed, and the members who constitute it will have to be careful that they are not led into sacrificing to party the claims which they have been specially instructed to enforce, and the interests which they have been emphatically urged to promote. Their position is both curious and difficult. There wore but two items in their programme—Sir George Grey and Auckland. ButMacandrew is not Grey, is something quite different, and to him they owe no allegiance. Sir George Grey gone—and it may be that he is not quite gone yet—there remains to the Auckland members of their two pledges only the interests of Auckland. There should be no mistake on this point; it was the fiat of the constituencies, and it would be idle to tell them presently that nothing could bo done because of Mr. Macandrew. They would ask a very simple question, ‘Then why Mr. Macandrew ?’ ” These Northern patriots are very outspoken. There is no nonsense or beating about the bush in their case. “ Sir G. Grey and Auckland ” is their cry. And as it is hardly probable that the Auckland constituencies are personally attached to the late Premier, and more than probable that they loved him for the good things he was once capable of dispensing, we may fairly say that the real cry of these burning lovers of their country is simply and soley : —“ Auckland ! Auckland !” Hero we have an interesting peep into the stronghold of pseudo-liberalism. These are the gentlemen whom Sir G. Grey has politically educated by example and precept. They have, figuratively speaking, followed their sage through the groves of the Academy listening to his curious and rare philosophic system 'and the world at large began half to believe that they had been bit by the taking nature of the high sounding phrases poured into their ears. But nothing of the sort. These disciples reverently following their political teacher in his airy flights had their eyes very wide open indeed, in a mundane point of view. They had not the slightest objection to swallowing any amount of “ tall talk,” but the main chance must not bo interfered with. And then the “Herald” proceeds to plan out the future as follows :—“ If the Auckland members are to support a MacandrewMontgomery Ministry the basis of an agreement must be laid down, and its infringement must mean the downfall of the Government. They must start on now lines, the position must be made clear', and that done and the compact rendered fairly secure Mr Macandrew might then do as well as anyone else, but not till then. As regards the party, the Auckland members are the party. Without them it can contain no Ministry in office, and expel none. It is impossible to contest the obligations of party, and it is the duty of the Auckland members to discharge theirs if it be possible ; but a party has obligations of reciprocity with regard to its members, and especially if, as is the case with respect to the Auckland members, they constitute a very largo proportion of the whole. Even if they wore not pledged to their constituents with regard to a particular line of conduct, they would still, from their numerical relation to tho whole, bo entitled to expect very largo concessions to their views. But tho Auckland members occupy both positions they have tho potency of numbers and tho force of explicit instructions, and if, therefore, Sir George Grey, to whom they were pledged, retire, their bonds are relaxed, the party claims are relaxed, and they are enabled under tho now conditions to make their support contingent on tho acceptance of their demands. It will be useless to rail at the selfishness of Auckland, because that would make matters worse rather than hotter, “and it would be unjust to assail its representatives, because they would be simply fulfilling the instructions they have received.” Such is tho outcome of pseudo-liberalism

when it has arrived at full fructification. Planted in congenial soil, watered with showers of diluted Rousseauism, and manured with promises of ample expenditure, the whole plant has arrived at maturity, and has become, if not an object of intrinsic beauty, at least an object of decided interest to the philosophic mind. Groyism in this province has not been quite as outspoken in its views as all this. Indeed, it has borne the loss of its idol with a fortitude worthy of a bettor cause. Seeing that at one time it was generally given out in the Groyito journals that affairs in general could not possibly proceed unless under the direction of their idol, and that the rotation of the political world must cease and a general chaos ensue, if Sir George Grey’s bountiful hand and lucid brain wore not the directing powers, it is wonderful what a small amount of outcry has boon raised at his disappearance from the holm. Pseudo-liberalism in Canterbury is a plant which is capable of adapting itself to circumstances with a marvellous facility.