Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 1891. The Old, Old Story.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 27 October 1891, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCT. 27, 1891. The Old, Old Story.

Bepobk newspapers were thought of, thousands of years ago, public leaders took other means to ensure the destruction of their enemies. Balak we read, when sorely pressed by the Israelites, sent for Balaam to, " curse me this people, for they are too mighty lor me." When the elections in the Bangitikei went i against the Government at the last election, they assisted in the establishment of the Mercury at Marton, for a similar purpose to that which Balaam was employed. It is even reported that the Premier had a great deal to do in the selection of the editor. The paper has so far done credit to his judgment, but alas! the old, old story has been repeated, for though created "to curse mine enemies," behold, thou hast altogether blest them these three times." No newspaper representing a country constituency can possibly support the wonderful land tads of the Premier and the Minister of Lands and we have been pleased to see that the editor has had the independence to say so. It would not do for the Premier to seize upon this act as a cause for quarrel, and therefore another opportunity has been sought. The Premier, with an evident desire to be on the safe side, is very reticent as to the view he takes about the Central or the Stratford railway route to Auckland, and as Marton is vitally interested in the progress of the Central route, the Mercury as a sound representative paper has been going for the Premier. The Wanganui Herald remarks :— " The Mermirifs flippant and silly allusions to the Premier and this journal in connection with the question of routes aye in the worst taste, as might naturally be expected, remembering the person nelfsicjof the writer. J This is not bad considering all that the same paper has written about the Mercury and its editor, but it has properly roused a strong, and perhaps too true a reply, as in Saturday's paper appears the following: — For this it appears we have fallen into the bad graces of the Wanganui Herald, a paper, which itself conceiving that the sole duty of a journalist is to beslobber the Premier with greasy flattery, fumes and rages when any journal treats the member for Wanganui to a little independent advice or criticism It

may suit the Premier to stand by and see " which way the cat jumps," so as not to offend that patriotic pair, Messrs McGuire and E. M. Smith, nor his Auckland " faithful four," but the people of this district have nothing to do with that, and that the}' mean to exhibit their interest in the maker in a highly practical manuer is evidenced by the largelysigned petition for a public meeting. As for the concluding sentence of the Herald's leaderette, containing a most uncalled for and gratuitously offensive attack upon the editor of this paper, it needs no reply at our hands. Abuse from the editor of the Herald is considered by most people as a compliment. It is by us.