THE POST ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 263, 27 July 1881, Page 3

THE POST ON THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

As an independent journal, tied to no party, the opinions of the Pod usually coincide with those of the general public and in its issue of Friday last it thus alludes to the present position of affairs '• There is no doubt that a decided “ funk” was established in the first instance when Mr Ormond threw off the mask of friendship, which he had worn up to the last moment, and declared himself the leader of tIW-jWny. All the more was this the case on-Jg to the fact that several prominent supporters of the Government had already during the debate on the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill expressed strong opinions so exactly formulated by Mr Ormond's amendment that it seemed impossible they could consistently do aught but vote for it. 'The Opposition whips accordingly claimed all these gentlemen <:u mow, and loudly proclaimed themselves the assured victors by a least half-a-dozen votes. But time works many changes, and none more remarkable than those which it brings about in the sentiment of a body of men at first panic stricken through surprise, but allowed an opportunity of reviewing their position, and recovering their equanimity. Two days ago half the Ministerialists frankly admitted in the lobbies that defeat on the issue raised was almost certain. Very perceptible, however, was the change which came over the face of affairs yesterday. Member after member rose in his place and stated emphatically that he should treat the amendment on its real and covert meaning, not on its ostensible purport—that although lie did not like the Government proposals, he should not vote for an amendment, the only practical effect of which would lie to turn out the Government with grave uncertainty as who was to fill their place. The Opposition had loudly boasted in the lobbies up to the time of the House meeting last evening, that they were at any rate sure of Mr. Saunders, Mr. Weston, and Mr. Bunny. They even professed to show telegrams from the last gentleman iving in his adhesion. Yet last night all those three members condemned their tactics in tire plainest and most uncompromising manner, and declared their fixed intention of voting with the Government, even although not at all satisfied with the Ministerial proposals. Now that this good example has been set of insisting on calling things by their right names and not being tricked into turning out a Ministry under the pretext that the vote was only one of opinion on a particular measure, we anticipate that it will be followed by many, who

at first were puzzled how to extricate themselves from the horns of the dilemma—to

sunport the Government without being committed to entire approval of all their measures!. The way out of tins puzzle nas now been clearly shown by Mr. Weston, one of the clearest-beaded men and soundest lawyers in the House. Nothing could | he more emphatic than bis condemnation • of the Ministerial proposals regarding local J government. \et lie demonstrated plainly I that it was quite consistent for him while j holding this view to vote against Mr. Ormond’s amendment because the latter meant nothing more than “turn out the Government.’’ Mr. Westouj is known to have personal reasons for regarding the present Government with little favor, and it redounds all the more to his credit that at a time when every vote is of consequent he should have east aside all private feelings and acted solely in the public interest. A t the same time the disappointment was no doubt a very bitter one for the Groy-Ormond party, especially following as it did a similarly open and straightforward declaration on the part of Mr. Bunny. This doubtless accounts for the coarse and vulgar personal attack subsequently made by .Sir George Grey on Mr. Weston, whom he declared to have been rightly removed from tin; judicial bench, as his ignorance of law might have wrought evil to innocent persons. It was to the credft of the House that this menu and dastardly insult was promptly resented, and Sir George Grey deservedly hooted for his unworthy"and ungontlomanlypersonalities. While on this point, we feel bound to condemn no less strongly the offensive and unmannerly introduction by one journalistic supporter of the Government of a lady’s name in association with the action taken by Mr. Ormond. These gross offences against social decencies cannot he too firmly di. countenanced, and we hope that public propriety will not again be similarly offended. There is no doubt that a large amount of needless bitterness of feeling has been imported into the party struggle throng lithe peculiar course adopted 1 y Mr. Ormond. lie had distinctly declared—deny it now as he may—that lie did not desire to disturb the present ■Ministry before the general election. He has always allowed’ himself to be regarded as generally friendly to the Government, and has voted with them whenever their official existence has been at all endangered. Under all the accepted canons of party waifaro he should at least have given some intimation to his leader that lie intended suddenly to deserthimand lead the attack on beha'f of Sir George Grey. Had Mr. Ormond even given Mr. Hall fair warning of his intention to turn on him and turn him out if possible, them at least ho would not have come under the imputation which now vests on him of being concerned in a treacherous intrigue with that old archplotter, Sir George Grey, and his Mephistophelean henchman, Mr Sheehan. It has often been said that political misfortune associates strange bedfellows. But surely never was seen so utterly inconginous and groteque a bcdfcllowsliip ns that between Mr Ormond and Sir George Grey. It is, indeed, a strange revenge, brought about by the whirligig of time, that Sir George Grey should be able to employ Mr Ormond, his bitterest enemy, to do his dirty work for him, and to burn his fingers in pulling out of the fire the chestnuts for his new master’s delectation. How are the mighty fallen ! In Saturday's issue it says that Mr Ormond's present position is by no means an enviable one. He has deserted his own traditional friends to become the mere tool of Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan. His personal conceit led him to imagine he could go over as conquering ally, taking with him some of the most trusted and valued members of his late party. But he reckoned without his host. Those who would have worked hard and heartily with him in a sincere and honest effort to amend the Government proposals, shrank back with disgust from his side when they found him out, and understood the paltry intrigue for place and power in which lie desired to make them his accomplices. Mr Ormond lias joined a party of men with whose ideas and aspirations lie never had or can have the smallest sympathy, and between whose leader and himself there is a bitter and long-standing feud. Mr Ormond is acting for the nonce as leader of the Grey party, who will readily follow him .—laughing in their sieves at him all the time—in the hope that he may enable them tosnatchadivision. That once accomplished they would instantly east him ’ off with the scorn and derision which turncoats usually find to be their only wages. Mr Ormond stands absolutely alone in his new-born Greyism. His present political associates are all ultra-Greyitcs, and it is now abundantly clear that were lie to be sent for to form a Ministry, in the improbable event of his securing a majority against the Government, he would be forced to relinquish the task to Sir George Grey. That, then, is what the colony has to (head in the event of this paltry intrigue and most unholy alliance securing a temporary advantage — a restoration of Greyism. with all its corruption, extravagance, recklessness, and incompetence.