THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1881. MR. JOHN HOLMES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2395, 6 December 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1881. MR. JOHN HOLMES.

The electors of Christchurch South will, on Friday next, have the opportunity, if they are so disposed, of choosing for their representative a remarkahle man. Indeed, according to his own account, he is a very remarkahle man. Need it he said that we allude to Mr. John Holmes P At the nomination for the district a few days since, Mr. Holmes told us a good deal about himself, which must be of general interest. He describes himself as an "Intellectual Athlete," and alluded, with some degree of scorn, to the contrast presented by his opponent, Mr. John Anderson, who, according to the speaker's account, is a very ordinary mortal with none of bis grosser materials of flesh and blood sublimated by wrestlings with the Infinite. Of course, the constituency of Christchurch South will jump at a candidate composed entirely of Mind. " Intellectual Athletes" are not picked np ever day. They are rare birds outside of illustrated journals. "When they happen to condescend and offer their services to ordinary mortals they should bo anapt up at once. And yot there is a rumour abroad that Mr. Holmes found some difficulty in finding a proposer and secondor outside the public-house interest. Inside the charmed circle of Licensed "Victuallism sponsors in dozens could have been found. The intimate connection between Beer and the Mind is too well known to be commented on. At the last General Election in England, this truth was recognised. The Conservatives adopted the cry, well placarded over the country, of " Beer and the Bible." Mr. Holmes might well adopt, as his motto, "By Beer and Mind." Or perhaps, to preserve to some extent the alliteration, " Hops and the Higher Instincts." The difficulty of finding backers, alluded to above, only serves to prove that the Licensed Victuallers are in advance of the general public in their appreciation of Mind as contrasted with Matter. Now let us examine the programme laid down by this Intellectual Athlete. We shall find that it quite satisfies all expectations. And no wonder, because Mr. Holmes, moving as ho does on an extremely high level, naturally enjoys the advantage of seeing further than ordinary politicians. A general summary of what Mr. Holmes intends to do. if elected, is found in his manifesto to the electors of Christchurch South, which has been published in the daily papers for some little time past. He roquosts tho support "of all who desire to have our national progress atimulatod, our national resources and trade fully doveloped, our laws that are oppressive, unjust or unequal reformed, and the existing abuses, legal and ' administrative, that aro prejudicial to the welfare and advancement of this community, totally abolished." Of course, all candidates wish for the support of Buch people, because thoy are simply synonomoua with tho general public. Every elector wishes for these things. The gist of Mr. Holmes' manifesto lies in the implied promise that, if elected, he will see that all theso reforms are thoroughly carried out. For the first time in the Parliamentary History of New Zealand, a Mind, untrammelled by Matter, will bo brought to bear on the solution of questions which have as yet so greatly puzzled all who have attempted to grapple with them. The effect, Mr. Holmes considers, will be immense.

• The programme quoted ia all the more ' remarkable because Mr. Holmes is a ' lawyer. As ia now well recognised, we are overridden by lawyers, who tax the ' I public with a success which throws into the shade the puny efforts of the general tax collector. Mr. Holmes declares, however, that he has managed to subdue the instincts of his profession to such an extent that law reform will be one of his first cares. Matter declares in favour of the lawyer, but Mind stands nobly up for the client. As to the roforms outside of those connected with law, it is almost an axiom in political circles that lawyers are of little uao in the House outside of matters connected with their own profession. Mr. Holmes, however, being an Intellectual Athlete, is going to prove the one brilliant exception to a general rule At least that is what he promises to the the public, and the public may take his promise for gospel or not, just as they please. But one word in passing as to the sad condition of poor Mr. John Anderson. Mr. Holmes declares that his opponent is not all Mind, aud he apparently looks down on him in consequence. Now, Mr. Anderson is a gentleman who lias, by dint of manly toil, reached a standing which entitles him to ask for the suffrages of his fellow-citizons. He is one of the people, and as the people's man he asks them to trust him with their interests. He understands from practical experience their wants and aspirations. He is not a speaker, it is true, but he is not so simply because he has spent his life in working, and not in talking. He is flesh and blood like the electors themselves. He does not pretond to be all Mind. It is a sad business, but it ia too lato in the day for any alteration. Let us summarize the merits of the two candidates. Mr. Anderson's interests have grown with the growth of Canterbury. He is a representative man, and, as such, his opinions will have weight in any assembly of sensible men, who are not to bs gulled by phrases. The House of Representatives know a practical man when they see him, like any other body of individuals. The weight of members in the Honse is not represented by the number of pages in " Hansard " taken up by speakers. The interests of a practical community will be safe in the hands of a practical and earnest man. Mr. Holmes, for his part, is loved by the Licensed Victuallers, and is a lawyer. He promises to do everything he can possibly think of. He says he is an Intellectual Athlete. He may be so to a certain extent, for if a lawyer and a Jbeloved of the publicans tries at a tenth of Mr. Holmes' programme, it. will, indeed, prove that he is capable of considerable feats of mental gymnastics. But we mistrust persons who think too*Huch of themselves, who thank God that they are not as other men, who are over-profuse in protestations at critical moments. Such men, when off the stump, carry no weight. The House sees through them instantly. We should be sorry to see any such man elected for Christchnrch South.