STAFFORD AND O’SHANNESSY.— A PARALLEL.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 September 1867, Page 234

STAFFORD AND O’SHANNESSY.— A PARALLEL.

(From the Wanganui Times.)

Eighteen months ago—and after a careful study of the natural dispositions of the two men as exhibited in their political career—we predicted that Mr Stafford would fall by the same weapon as slew Mr O’Shannessy, formerly Premier in Victoria ; —that weapon is Ambition. During many years we watched O’Shannessy, saw and helped him to rise, but directlp he seized the reins of power, the colony, and even its Governor, were'expected to bow to his behests. The ambitious idea became in him a mania to such an extent as to lose him the entire confidence of his political supporters, although they bore long with with him. His Ministry held office for about three years, hut the colonists at length revolted against his despotic administration, defeated his Government ou the eve of a general election, and at that election he was the only man of his party returned. Mr Stafford we have noted as a man of the same stamp. An able man; a man who would do credit to any colonial legislature, or even take no mean position in She British House of Commons, and yet, through this infirmity of disposition, totally unfit tq be at the head of a. colonial Government. That natural infirmity, however, imparts to the man a tenfold value as tne leader of an Opposition. Whilst such men as these lead an Opposition the Ministry of the day wiU be upon the alert, and the country will be well governed. But, here, is another anomaly, in what we shaU call the "political constitution of such men as we hare taken Mr O’Shannessy and Mr Stafford as a type. Out of office that class of politicians are patriots ; —in office perfect despots. Out of office the welfare of their country; the protection of its trade and commerce; the injustice of the rich domineering over the poor ; the reasons why the labouring man should have employment, and the tradesman be protected;—these, and a thousand other subjects, are ably and effectually advocated by that class of men out of office, but, once in office, those arguments were apparently only made use of to break down barriers which obstructed their way to power.

Now we say apparently, because the history of the human race fully demonstates the fact that the same individual may persuade himself that whilst advocating a particular line of policy he does so for the benefit of his fellow men, —and then, when placed in power, that it would be equally for the benefit of his fellow men that Ac and he alone, should have power to dictate, power to govern, power to administer, and in fact, power supreme. Now, sweep away the salutary laws by which we are governed, and for which our forefathers so nobly fought in their day,—we say, sweep those laws away, and give such a man absolute power, and then you enable him to become an intolerable despot. Such, unfortunately, is the natural—or as we have called it—political disposition of Mr Stafford, who, were it not for that, would be one of New Zealand’s ablest statesmen. Since his recent accession to power, he has displayed all the propensities of the petty despot. He would at one fell swoop sweep away provincialism; bring all Provincial Governments under his immediate control; divest them of ninetenths of the powers which they exercised under the Constitution Act; assume the right of delegating power which can only be exercised by the Governor, and, in short, be Supreme Dictator in the colony.

But the Colony won’t stand that: its representatives join issue, and such will be the case in every British colony where men of the O’Shannessy and Stafford stamp try to exercise despotic sway. The thing can’t be'done, and we would advise "Mr Stafford riot to try it. He is one of our best politicians, but to be of any real benefit to the colony, must divest himself of that despotic propensity which has led him to domineer over all constituted authority in the colony, and even the press itself. The press has not hitherto retaliated so effectually as it might have done, but now other constituted authorities have him in their grasp, and it will only be by very humble submission that he can get out of it; should he do so, we trust that henceforward he will be a wiser, if not a better man.