The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 526, 18 November 1857, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

I Wednesday, November 38. Among the prominent figures handed down to us with life-like reality by the poets of antiquity, there is, perhaps, none of more painful interest than that of the gifted prophetess of Troy, who foresaw clearly and truly the evils that were to fall upon her house and kindred, and yet was doomed to see her words slighted and her warnings disregarded by those whom they most nearly concerned. From the days of him " who seemed as one that mocked unto his son-in-law," to that recent one in which the conqueror of Scinde J retired wearied and disgusted after havingforetold the mutinies of the Indian army to those who would neither benefit by his experience nor examine for themselves ; throughout the whole history of the world, the warning' voice has been received with contempt, if not with insult. It is true that the experience of ages does gradually bear fruit; but it seems to be the destiny of man that he should for the most part gain experience for himself at his own personal cost. It must be with something- of a Cas-sandra-like feeling that the wisest and best men of our own age are constantly pointing out to us the danger in which we stand of seeing free institutions turned into a system of the most cruel and degrading tyranny. It little avails us that the United States of America are going through the ordeal and working out the problem of pure and unbalanced democracy. It might seem reasonable, at first sight, that the world should take warning by the errors into which our kinsmen have fallen, and the mob-tjTanny under which one of the bravest and most energetic people in the world have suffered. But the history of ages tells us that this cannot be j we must work out our own problem, and fight our way manfully through errors and difficulties. In every community those who have the interests of the common weal honestly at heart must, guard against the most common temptations in an age of struggle—the temptations of apathy and cowardice. In England, where a happy balance of different influences prevents undue tyranny from pressing- upon any class or individual, we do not give credit so much to the energy of leading men of every variety of talent who adorn her legislature, as to the institutions which have placed them there. But m America we should accord ten-fold honour to the few of her best men who have held their own throughout a life of heart-sickening contest with turbulent and corrupt opponents, while the mass of her choicest spirits hold aloof, selfishly enough, from a scene which promises much obloquy and little enjoyment. In our own colony of New Zealand, if we are likely to gain but little from the example of a country which was once composed of colonies like our own, at least each province ought to gather what lessons it can by watching carefully the history of the neighbours who are fig-hting the battle of modern politics contemporaneously with ourselves. At this very moment a remarkable instance of political insanity is brought under our notice in the neighbouring province of Wellington. In that province the late general elections have been little less than a revolution, ; so far as the city of Wellington is concerned, j The popular men of four years ago are ' now rejected en masse to make way for j others acknowledgedly their inferiors in j every requisite to form councillors. We have been all along far from agreeing with Dr. Featherston and his associates in the Provincial Government of Wellington, but we have given them credit for being able, energetic men, thoroughly devoted to the advancement of their province. If, however, a fair and honest opposition had been organised on definite political principles we should not have been astonished. But, as in the case of the Superintendent's election, so in that of the twelve members for the town of Wellington, the opposition toctics have been simply a disgrace to the constituency. The Government party had to face public and private slander of the basest kind; they were refused a hearing by mobs infuriated by drink and falsehood, which refreshments were lavishly distributed by designing leaders. Every man of their party was indiscriminately thrown out, to make way for mere nobodies. The Superintendent is left to look for support to the country districts which secured his election. What Wellington has gained, and what will be done by the new crew of members, we are at a 'loss to conceive. Some idea of their political views may be

gathered from the only determination so™ of them have come to:—to get rid oft!! Superintendent by hook or by crook To remind the Wellington Government party that as they have sown the wind they must reap the whirlwind, may seem ungenerous at this moment; but in looW for the causes of the present state of affa . at Wellington, we cannot conceal ftom oZ* selves the fact that the personalities so rif in Wellington politics were first introduced into the discussion of public matters by some of those who have now suffered fro them. They must not be astonished if j!! the hands of a lower party than their own a bad system will become worse, or that ribaldry and scurrility will be the answer of the low-minded and vulgar to the un fairness and vulgarity of purely personal attacks. However that may be, Dr. Featherston and his friends have not flinched from the struggle. The experience gained in the last month will not be lost upon them; and, no doubt, as regards some of his ultra views, the Superintendent of Wellington will be a sadder and a wiser man. We heartily wish him success in the struggle which will ensue; success commensurate with his honesty and courage. To stand in safety on the firm shore, and thence to enjoy for the .sake of contrast the struggles of' wearied sailors tossed about upon a stormy sea, is an idea of pleasure well befitting the indolence of an Epicurean poet, nursed under the softening- influences of a southern sky. But to men framed in a:more manly mould it will occur to watch such struggles with a view of learning how to meet them for themselves and to prepare the means for averting* shipwreck on a future occasion. With reference to our observations on the conduct of the recent elections in our own province, we must guard ourselves from the supposition that we are dissatisfied with their general issue. On the contrar} r, there is every reason to be satisfied on the whole, especially when we compai*e our position with that of our neighbours. But we have chosen this occasion, when the elections are all over, and when we cannot be suspected of partizan motives, to draw our readers' attention to the' dang-erous tendencies which always develop themselves on all sides in a popular election. And we ask them to consider again whether there is not too much fear lest a 'cry' judiciously worked by intriguers and demagogues would not carry away a large portion of our electors against their better judgment. It is not our electors only, but electors all over the world who are in want of more self-respect and self-reliance. Let us only consider what .election agents mean when they ask for ' a good cry' to go to a constituency with. Do they not mean that they have a thorough contempt for the reasoning powers of electors as a body, a thorough conviction that they are to be led or driven by judicious means ? Let it be our aim as electors to put ourselves out of the reach of election ag-ents and their ingenious devices by accustoming ourselves to form in our own mind consciencious judgments as to the merits or demerits of candidates for our suffrages, and to vote according to such judgments independently of all other motives. Wellington has afforded us ere now a warning as regards physical distubanees of which we have been glad to take advantage. The effect of earthquakes in that province has guided 'us in the construction of our houses and the choice of our building material. The political and social storm from which our neighboui'S are now sufferingought to make us prepare for a day—which, we yet may hope is far distant —when unscrupulous traders in political agitation may be active in stirring up all that is lowest and basest among us to fatten on the spoil while they mock at the credulity of their deluded victims.