THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1778, 1 November 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1879.

The Parliamentary kaleidoscope has been ' well shaken, the political wheel of fortune has made another turn, and, unfortunately for certain people, things are not now as they were some days ago. And while with heart and soul the great majority in Canterbury rejoices that, at last, New Zealand is freed from the thraldom of Greyism and its unsavoury concomitants, tears and lamentations and shrieks are heard in some quarters. Big words are uttered and threats made that certain engines will bo set to work to rouse “ popular feeling” in the direction in which a few political dilettante, who think they can successfully pull the hidden [strings, would ardently wish it to go. No one during the past few days has excited more sympathetic commiseration than Mr William Beeves, our quondam Minister for the Middle Island, and the mighty motor of a certain class of leaders of “ public opinion ” in the city. Mr Reeves is an able and far-seeing man, one upon whom many people—some oven unconnected with the “ Canterbury Liberal Reform Association ” are willing to fix a modicum of political faith, and the grotesque fiasco made by the “ Lyttelton Times” during the eventful political struggle just ended must have filled the bosom of some of his friends with more than ordinary compassion. An old latin adage, liberally translated, hath it that those whom Providence wishes to destroy it first deprives of their senses. How keenly the numberless readers of the “ Lyttelton Times ” must have felt the force of the text of this old saying, when perusing the extraordinary editorial “ puff ” which on Thursday morning ornamented the columns of that facetious organ This characteristic effusion worded in as prudently sedate and grandiloquent terms as the peculiar connection between Mr William Reeves and the so-called “ Canterbury’ Liberal Reform Association ” necessarily demanded, has shed new light upon the interesting doings of those hitherto lucky ones behind the scenes who are so zealously encouraging a few deluded electors to keep their hands well in while attempting the well-worn game of politics. Rumour has it that this remarkable body, the Canterbury Liberal Reform Association, of the doings and say« ings of which so much was heard during the late election, was especially constructed for special purposes by Mr William Reeves, who, with the assistance of some employes of the “ Lyttelton Times,” endeavoured to control the march of events. How, under skilful manipulation, a number of well-thinking and honest—if easily led —working men were induced to “ roll up ” and range themselves under the temporary and flimsy banner upon which the words “ Canterbury Liberal Reform Association ” were gaudily printed, is now a record of Canterbury history. Not one of its brightest pages perhaps, but one which, when looked back to in times to come, wiU. make people think and wonder what senile absurdities characterised popular effervescence in days gone bye. This “ O. L. R. Association,” at no time very able to boast of any electoral lights in any way or shape reflecting the hard commonsense, unfettered stability of purpose or the national feeling of the community, was laughed at a good deal, of course good-naturedly, during the Greyistic monomania which seized upon Christchurch two months ago. It was but one of the many legitimate “ tricks of trade,” useful at election times, when it is so easy to throw dust into the eyes of people electorally intoxicated. Our good friend the “ Star,” as a matter of course, had to “ follow my leader ”; and, when detailed to put its best foot foremost to illuminate the doings of the C. L, R. Association, its eagerness was such as to unfortunately—to use a sporting expression—make Mr. W. Reeves’ ‘‘ pot boil over.” The words " Canterbury Liberal Reform Assotion ” dazzled one’s eyes everywhere, and people came to ask wonderingly what it was all about ? And then the elections over, electioneering “ dodges ” were no longer required, and honest Jones, Brown and Robinson went back to their workshops but half satisfied with being dubbed members of the ‘‘ O. L. R. A.,” of the .merits and aims of which they knew about as little' as the traditional man in the moon. Another political twist of the great Parliamentary machine, however, has again filled with new ideas the mind of their leader, Mr. Reeves, a mind fertile at any time when that great lever, the mighty moral, social and economical engine which rolls under his control can be made to revolve in a direction which can bring grist to its powerful mill. The puny little “ Star ” is no longer to be alone utilised; the urgency of the case has compelled the powers behind the throne to rouse up the Lees and the Treadwells of this democratic period to renewed action, and the weight of metal carried by the "Lyttelton Times” is to do it. The public is urgently complimented in the editorial broadside to which we have alluded, because the 0. L. R. Association “ came out in a pleasant light at its meeting on Tuesday.” No description, however, of the quality of bone and sinews which mustered there—nor of its quantity —is given, although the somewhat elastic words “ large attendance ” are used. Dr. Turnbull’s name alone is alluded to and, of course, his " unwearied patience, unselfish care, and prudent decisions ” are lauded to the skies. Not a word is said as to the “ unwearied patience, unselfish cave and prudent decision ” displayed by Mr. William Reeves. This really it is too bad. He, the father, the founder and monetary patron of this estimable institution, notwithstanding his naturally patriotic desire to remain behind the scenes, might surely have got a word of praise. The Association, —the “Lyttelton Times” also pathetically remarks, —“ has had during tho last few days a very disagreeable pill to swallow ” but then let the members remember how well gilded this nauseous product was before they had to submit to tho swallowing process. Have tho fierce-tonod tribunes acted entirely disinterestedly ? Have no little bills, oven since tho election, boon sent in to Sir George Grey for personal services rendered by self-appointed workers in the great harvest field of patriotism ? While enlightening tho Canterbury public on the interesting details of the doings and sayings of tho lately revived “ Canterbury Liberal Reform Association,” wore it for Mr. Beeves’ sake only—politically or otherwise —it would have been well if light, let it be ever so subdued, had been thrown into tho darker recesses of some of that gentleman’s pot—if powerful— I organisation. I

And when Mr. Allwright is so roundly abused h 7 our allies of Cathedral square who gave him sole credit for bundling out Sir George Grey from his Christchurch seat, did they forget to mention one little rumour ? While the Election Committee was deliberating upon the issues placed by Parliament before it did, or did not, a "Lyttelton Times” employee in Wellington offer in writing, all kinds of journalistic pains and penalties to the member for Lyttelton should ho vote for the unseating Sir George Grey —or in other words should he follow the dictates of his own conscience, and act according to his Parliamentary oath ? And here again we repeat it, as viewed in the light thrown upon their proceedings by the “ Lyttelton Times ” on Thursday, Mr. W. Reeves has been shamefully, let alone ungratefully, used by the C.L.R. Association which has seemingly forgotten its allegiance to its main spring, its very backbone. But then men’s good deeds are written on sand—not on marble, and the day of reckoning is not always near.