THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1881.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2339, 1 October 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1881.

Whatever may bo the opinion of the public generally upon the merits of the case put forward by the employes at Addington who have left the service of the Government, thore can bo but one feeling, and that of congratulation, at the stand taken by Mr. Maxwell against the attempt by a few to mako a little cheap popularity out of it. These gentlemen, no doubt with a wholesome knowlodgo of what an important factor in oloctions the working man is, have, during the con-

tinuance of the present agitation, posod themselves in the attitude of the friend of the working man. One of them is a member of the City Council, which, very wisely, we think, declined to take any action in the matter. The Sydenham Council, however, were not so stern, theroby affording one, at least, of their body an opportunity of paving the way, should he so desire it, to a seat in the Assembly. It is perfectly plain that had not a general election boon pending we should have heard j nothing of this enthusiasm for the downtrodden, " 'orny 'anded sons of toil." Nor do we think there was the slightest I necessity for it. The men had tongues I of their own, and, as the renult of yesterday's interview showed conclusively, know well how to plead their own case. What need then for the august interference of the gentlemen referred to ? We might use the words of Sir Joseph Parter, slightly altered, and say, " Don't patronise them gentlemen; pray don't patronise them." The refusal of Mr. Maxwell to allow them to strut and fret their little hour in the last scene of this matter must have been to them somewhat annoying. The preliminary skirmishes at the meetings of the men themselves, where of course the good gentlemen appeared as Tritons amongst the minnows, were all very well, but the crowning glory would have been to bo able on the platform, when wooing tho sweet voices of the electors, to point to the gallant defence they had made for the liberties of the working classes against the hireling minion of a despotic and tyrannical Government. Alas for the mutability of human affairs, the action of Mr. Maxwell rent from them even this shred of comfort. We are glad that he did so, and we commend him for firm and decisive action in the matter. It would, we think, have been far better that the men should have been left to themselves. There was not the slightest need, as we have said, for these gentlemen to interfere, and we hope the lesson that has been given to them, albeit it was somewhat sharp and severe, will not be thrown away. THE TOWN CLERK EMBROGLIO It is amusing to watch the way in which our contemporary the " Star" endeavours to wriggle out of any position he may have taken up, when the hollowness and nntenability of it and the fallaciousness of th 6 arguments used to bolster it up are exposed. Just such has been the conduct of that journal in connection with what we cannot but designate the humiliating episode of the dealing by the Council with the Town Clerk in the matter of his salary. Our contemporary, in the earlier part of the controversy, was an out-and-out partisan of the Town Clerk. He metaphorically went into battle with " Haskins " inscribed upon his flag nailed to the mast. But, sad to say, he has now turned recreant, and letting " I dare not" wait upon " I would," seeks now to turn round and give the cold shoulder to his quondam bosom friend. Not that he presents that uninviting point all at once. He is by far too astute and learned in wordly wisdom for that. Besides, he has before him so illustrious an example in this respect in the " Lyttelton Times." For months past that consistent journal has been industriously and by slow degrees, endervoring to wash out all traces of Grey from its compositions. The grand old man has become unpopular, ergo the '' Lyttelton Times" by slow degrees deserts him. So with our friend the " Star." It is so patent now that, a 3 we predicted, the Mayor and Council have to eat so much humble pie that even the partisanship of the " Star " has to give way. Hence, his article of the other evening, which certainly points towards his shaping a new course in the future on this question.