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Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6489, 14 December 1881, Page 4

As human nature is nowhere perfect under the moot favourable conditions, it is not likely to be perfect on the hustings under the influence of defeat. Hence we expect a large proportion of the rejected candidates after an election to make undignified displays. The present Is no exception to the rule, but we think it is an occasion on which the

rule has been signalised by extreme lightness of application. The nansnallf large proportion of dignity and manliness in the speeches of the defeated eondidatee is probably the natural result of the unusual absence of excitement, which, in ite turn, is due to two things, want of political interest, and the enforced cairn which tbe election day owes to the Corrupt Practices Act. That there should be still several individuals who lay the blame of their failure upon everything and anything bnt the right thing, Is only natural. Under the influence of disappointment men will say hard things of ReturningOfficers, of their opponents, of the constituency they have just been wooing. One man will blame the axle of a carriage, while another twite bis opponent with the length of bis purse, or the electors with the length of their ears. A third taunts the men who have rejected him with having mode a mistake, a fourth uses strong language, and a string of others impate motives. In pleasant contrast are those who come up smiling, and, thanking their friends, manfully accept defeat in courteous terms, some men adding the compliments of the approaching season. This example, no doubt, all those of tbo defeated who took their punishment not like men, will by this time be regretting they did not follow. Into these things, however, it is useless to enter, for nothing will alter human nature, which, as we think has been remarked before, is imperfect. Bnt there is one thing which we cannot help saying. Many of the candidates who were defeated have team expressing themselves very strongly concerning the voters who, after promising them their support, either failed to give it, or gave it to somebody else. We ask these gentlemen, what right had they to know bow any man intended to vote t Have we the ballot here! Is not the ballot set up for the protection of those voters who require to be protected against might in the free exercise of their right as freemen P II people go about making out lists of voters, what does the protection of the ballot amount to P The fact is that a law which protects the voter only at the ballot boxes, leaving him open daring weeks to determined shrewdness of attack, is imperfect. As long os canvassing is permitted at all, so long is the ballot either good in name alone, or the breeder of a race of electoral hypocrites. If candidates were forced to do all their electioneering in public, we should have more protection in the ballot, and less of that form of verdancy—at present very common—which is taken in by the supposed pledges of electors.