THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1868.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 115, 2 May 1868, Page 3

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, MAY 2, 1868.

Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all other liberties.” —MiltoS.

When the news of the attack on H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh reaches England, together with an account of the spontaneous and almost universal burst of execration and enthusiasm—Execration, against the

would-be assassin, and the foul deed he sought to commit—Enthusiasm, because the murderer had failed in his object, and the son of our Queen had escaped the fell design against his life, and that he was recovering from the effects of the attempt —When this news reaches England from New Zealand—amplified, enlarged upon, and made the most of—it will be found that the Province of Marlborough stood alone in not having made any outward loyal demonstration of rejoicing at the failure of the murderous design, and at the convalescence of the Prince ! To what can tins supineness be attributed? It is not to any want of loyalty, for when the news of the attempted assassination reached the Province, it was felt to be a public calamity, and mourned over acordingly. Possibly it may be that the feelings excited by the news were stirred too much to allow any utterance of the deep despair which apparently had settled upon the people. It is not those who make the greatest display of feelings that suffer most, and they endeavor by noisy exhibitions to cover their real want of affection. Deep down in the heart affections lie hid, and to’ expose these to the eyes of the many, would be thought by some a desecration.' To this feeling alone, can we attribute the fact, that up to the present time no public Meeting has been called to testify the abhorrence we feel at the wanton attempt upon the life of him who had promised to be our guest. After intelligence had reached us that all danger was over, and that time alone was needed to complete the cure, we expected some steps would be taken to obtain an expression of opinion, but time has gone by, and nothing has been done by our leading men. Perhaps it is another case of “ What is everybody’s business is nobody’s business,” and one has neglected to move in the matter because he thought someone else would do it, until at last it has become neglected altogether. We have endeavored by hints to arouse action, and the only response we have, elicited is the promise of a Pyrotechnic display on the Queen’s Birthday. This is something, but is not sufficient, unless advantage is taken of the time and occasion to make some reference to the matter which has so powerfully agitated the public mind. Conscious of our loyalty, we need no outward show to testify regard for our Queen’s son, but in places Where we are not known, a feeling may exist, that we are altogether indifferent to remove this idea, and it becomes necessary that we should have it placed on record, that as a Province, we publicly declare our detestation of the act which so nearly worked out such dire results. We cannot better close our remarks than by quoting a portion of a letter we have received this week from a lady resident near Blenheim. “ I have been watching in sombre silence, the apathy of the Blenheim people respecting the attack upon our beloved Prince, expecting every week to" hear of some day being set apart for a pilblic rejoicing at his escape.” From this it will be seen that the people expect some movement to be made, and we hope now we have drawn public attention to the subject, that someone in authority will take.such steps as will.satisfy the wish of ,the Province.;, -