THE GLOBE. TUESDAY. MAY 25, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1950, 25 May 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY. MAY 25, 1880.

The Liberal Reform Association of Invercargill are a hopeful body. Their trust in the viridity of human naturo is touching and surprising. Last week they forwarded a tolograrn to the Premier requesting him to address the electors of Invercargill presumably under the auspices of the Liberal Reform Association —before the meeting of Parliament. No doubt arrangements had been planned by which the whole affair would have been a brilliant success from a Reform Association point of view. Mr. Hall would have been marched like a sacrificial lamb, surrounded by the members of the Association, on to the platform of a building specially packed with devoted patriots. Heading the procession would have stalked that burning lover of his country, the ex-M.H.R. Mr. Feldwick. This gentleman, it will be remembered, on a former occasion declared that in tho event of Sir George Grey being defeated, ho, Mr. Feldwick, would stump tho country from tho North Cape to the Bluff. Sir George was defeated, and so for the matter of that was Mr. Feldwick himself, in his own small way, and yet the stumping tour has not eventuated. This, however, is morely to show what a real patriot Mr. Feldwick happens to be. Ho, wo say, would probably have marched at the head of the procession destined to conduct the Premier on to the scene of the triumph of the Liberal party in Invercargill. Ho would probably have introduced the guest of the Association to the assembled patriots in a few choice words, calling upon them, with a wink of the left eye, to give their illustrious guest a patient hearing, for that he was sure that no man with the true interests of the country at heart (another wink) could possibly say anything that would in any way jar against the feelings of such an illustrious assemblage; that he was sure that the instincts of the Premier would lead him into a strain of thought and expression which his position must show to him was absolutely essential on such an occasion. And then the Premier would have been left to his own devices. We prefer to throw a veil over the possibilities of tho scene that might have taken place. At the time of the visit of the Apostle Paul to Ephesns, Alexander, who wished to address the crowd, did not find the development of his discourse materially aided when the multitude cried out with one voice for the space of about two hours, " Groat is Diana of tho Ephesians." The Liberal Reform Association of Invercargill have perhaps as implicit a faith in Sir George Grey as had the Bphesians in Diana. Sir George and Diana have by their respective worshippers been credited with about powers on grounds about ecjuaUy sound. Whether in these degenerate days the lungs of the Association would have stood for two hours is the only ground for doubting that the Association would have equalled the Ephesians of old in the matter of upholding tho dignity of their fetish, although no doubt tho Association would havo been kept as near up to tho mark as possible by the exertions of Mr. Feldwick, the High Priest. The state ef the Premier endeavouring to push in edgeways a few of the facts connected with what his Government has really done in the cause of the people would be somewhat difficult to realise. The triumph of the Liberal Reform Association would have no doubt been complete, and the sacrificial lamb would have been conducted back to his hotel with all tho pomp due to such a signal victory. But, alas ! the best framed plans occasionally fall through. "In vain the not is sproad in the sight of any bird," and the Hon. John Hall is not the description of songster to bo caught by Association chaff. Pressing engagements curiously enough prevented the Premier from visiting Mr. Feldwick, ex-M.H.R. Tho Association, who calmly took upon themselves to represent tho citizens of Invercargill in inviting tho Premier to speak there, have lost the cost of tho telegram, and unless they get up a little private entertainment on their own account must find the time hang somewhat heavy. In view of Mr. Hall's refusal, wo strongly recommend Mr. Feldwick to commence his stumping tour at once. It will divert, at one and the same time, the people of New Zealand and his own attention from his recent disappointment.