Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DEC. 9, 1899 The Elections.

Manawatu Herald, 9 December 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DEC. 9, 1899 The Elections.

The last election has come as a great surprise to both parties in the colony, and it will be useful if it emphasises on the Opposition party the value of organisation, the want of which has been the reason for ' the terrible collapse that has taken place in their parliamentary army. We need not dwell upon the wonderful triumph the Premier has secured, or point that, notwithstanding the many charges made by the leaders ««f the Opposition, the Government has tht almost unanimous support of the country. If anything, we regret the strength of the Government and th weakness of the Opposition, as even' Government needs some check, an^ the support tendered the Premier on Wednesday was greatly owing to the vain-glorious boastings of the Opposition press that the day of Seddonism was doomed and that the election would see them thrust from power. Even those who like to see a strong hand kept upon the most powerful and popular man in the colony, were not desirous of seeing him removed from office, and they, thus led astray by the strong assertions of the Opposition took particular care that such a result should not be obtained and have thus gone almost too far. This electorate afforded a striking instance of the want of knowledge of men and politics on the part of the Opposition. Without due consideration they chose to run the sitting member with a man who had been at the last election defeated by him, trusting that the general public held the opinion that the few who organised the Opposition held, permitting the public to show very markedly that Mr Stevens had very much strengthened his position, having gained the seat with twice the majority he secured three years ago. As it may be important to hold the Government in check at the next election, those who are in sympathy with the views of the leader of the Opposition, there being but few others of that party to consider, should take to heart the lesson they have received and properly organise their forces in good time. We desire to congratulate the in-

habitants of the Manawatu Electorate [ on the very pleasant way the election t has been conducted by both candidates anJ tl.uir supporters. At every centre each candidate received a quiet hearing, and there has been no bitterness shown between the voters on either side, and we have thus offered a striking difference to the rowdyism of Wellington, Napier, and Palmerston. Mr Bruce deserves the best thanks of his supporters for the good fight he made for such a hopeless cause, and Mr Stevens also displayed the right qualities that a candidate should possess, that of energy and a thorough knowledge of the district. We may congratulate ourselves that we elected a Government supporter, as the verdict has been so certain over the colony. We rely on Mr Stevens exercising his best talent in still advancing the progress of this district.