The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, October 13, 1887. THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, October 13, 1887. THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

Be just and fear not j Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

The latest phase of the political question places things in a more satisfactory light, at least for the present. How far it will be satisfactory has yet to be tested. It is better for all parties that things should get a more settled character, and the business of the country get much of that attention which is too often paid to party strife only. We would greatly prefer that some other leader than one of the Atkinson type should have been found. Past experience has taught us what value to place on the Conservatives, who have always so many schemes of their own to propagate. But the inevitable must sometimes be submitted to, and if Major Atkinson can economise to the extent that he claims there need be little hesitation in entrusting him with the reins of power for a time, A level has been reached which it is dangerous to go below, or ruination threatens the country.

Party spirit cannot be allowed to encroach too much when all are so interested in altering the existing state of things. Vogelism, as we have already experienced it, must not be tolerated at any cost—bitter experience has taught us many severe lessons. Retrenchment and settlement of the waste lands are points upon which all Liberals will agree. Both will be forced upon us, sooner or later, as a matter of necessity, and the sooner something is done the less keen will the after results be. If these measures are taken up earnestly and successfully worked out, it matters little at whose hands it is done.

The fear is that Atkinson, in the desire to popularise his Ministry and retain office, may overdo the thing. He has commenced in a way that all will warmly approve, by trimming a few hundreds off the top branches. This, however, need not carry much weight, for when reforms are forced upon any one credit can only be given for the manner in which the details are worked out, and not for their inception.

If retrenchment is carried out in a fair and equitable manner—ho more of the cutting down of one officer’s salary and piling on indirectly double the amount saved—everyone must make some little sacrifice to fall in with the scheme. The dose will be a bitter one, but the swallowing of it can no longer be avoided. There is a chance now to have our affairs placed on a basis much sounder than has been attained for years past. Atkinson is not the man that Liberals will care to see at the helm. His actions require to be closely watched. But if the Liberal party can use a good influence with more effect out of office, by forcing judicious measures on the Government, they are not likely to run scrambling after office, to the delay of the general business of the country, Directly the Atkinson Government fail in the wise administration Of the country’s affairs, and refuse to suit themselves to the circumstances, it will then be the duty of the Liberal party to demand a reform, and, if that is ignored, to undertake the werk themselves, Until the Government's policy is more fully explained, there is no need for further action.