Hawke's Bay Times.. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1869. THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 694, 24 June 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times.. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1869. THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE.

At our latest dates from "Wellington the battle of the opposition, headed by Mr Fox, against the Stafford Ministry, was being fought in earnest. Mr Fox, in moving his no confidence motion, had shown much of his skill in debate—had. in fact, succeeded perfectly in finding fault. This is never a very hard tiling to do; but the one thing necessary, and at the same time difficult—the indicating of a remedy—Mr Fox did not succeed in doing. He had, in fact, no policy to propose in substitution for that which he was so ready in condemning: neither was he able to construct a policy until Ministers should supply him wich the,requisite materials for the work. Such a state of affairs does not look hopeful for the opposition. There is no guarantee that a policy to be hereafter built up will prove acceptable to the incongruous elements of which the opposition is composed. It may be true that xhat party are at one in their opposition to the present ministry, but a great deal more +han that is required to ensure its success.

It has been well said by a contemporary that the policy of the Stafford Ministry is the only possible policy for the Colony; that any change that may be effected will prove to be merely a change of men, and that they will perforce be obliged to cany out the work Stafford has begun. Could we even depend on this, we should still doubt the propriety of entrusting work to the wrong hands, lest good designs should be marred in their execution.

The Colony has already had most unsatisfactory experience of Mr Fox in power. There are many who can remember the " unholy alliance " of that gentleman with the Church Mission party in the days of Governor Browne, which succeeded in supplanting a Stafford Ministry, and placing power in Fox's hands. They also know how dearly the Colony has paid for, and how bitterly it has suffered from the crude and costly quackery of his administration, even down to the present time. It does not appear that anything better is to be expected from him this time. Allied now with M'Lean and the Maori doctors, as before with the " peace-at-any-price party," it is more than probable that further attempts would be made to " sugar and flour " the rebels—to bribe them to an extent that should bring about a treacherous state of temporary calm, only to be followed quickly by other series of outbreaks, raids, and massacres, |