FINAL REPLY TO MR LINTON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1727, 7 June 1886, Page 2

FINAL REPLY TO MR LINTON.

(to the editor daily standard.) i Sir, — It was not ray intention to again, you on the vexed school election matter. Bat as Mr Liaton has had one "innings" more than myself, I must bowl him out. The mystery corineoted with Mr Linton's pereiste'nt defence of Mr Wright has now been solved, for he ihas notified his intention of standing at the next election of school committee. I am pleased to hear it. My reference to his mild egotism has been the means of isending him off like a ten-pounder. Betijten on all points with reference to Mr :Wright ? s action, he has rambled away from the subject under discussion and attacks me m a most uncremonious ;manner, accusing me ot stubbornness, blindness, superabundance of egotism ; and worst of all, bigotry. As a rival •candidate for the forthcoming honors I can make allowance for a little mudslinging at myself, and his earnest advocacy of Mr Wright and his cliquje. jMr Linton says "there are men who wjill j| not see because of their stubbornness, whilst there are others who cannot see because of their blindness." The latter expression* I can understand, for a' man must be blind if he cannot see ; but I was not aware that stubbornness constituted blindness. If ever stubborn blindness or blind blindess existed m the world, Mr Linton suffers from the complaint, arid all my efforts to convince him, or open his eyes, have proved fruitless. He «an hold his opinions firmly and wel■cpme. I never inferred for one moment that newspaper reports of the late election were untruthful. I simply said they differ ; and at the same gave Mr Linton to understand that he could not support his statements from such sources, and 'he has failed to do so. This has evidently disquieted him, and he makes an uncalled for and uncharitable attack with reference to the cause I have openly and fearlessly espoused and worked for, without any attempt at bigotry or doctrinal teachings, or denial to my f ellow.men of the privileges I claim to possess. Mr Linton's ideas of freedom of thouerht are sest known to himself, and if popular 1 would no doubt be more freely expressed. The unpopularity of the position T have'taken up, and the difficulties which beset my path, have not deterred me m the least, Mr Linton has nevertheless accused me of baating an ignominious retreat. He is welcome to think so if it pleases him. He also says, "as an apostle of freedom m thought and speech m their broadest dimensions, I should be careful m my actions, because the man who teaches any pattjouja.r (loofcrine ought to try and. put ft into toniiitw

practice himself." This is judgment without evidence, and I can only thank Mr Linton for the uncalled for and gratuitous advice, which is quite foreign to the subject under discussion. And I challenge him to point to one inconsistent act of mine during this school election campaign ; this is not egotism, but ruth. Mr Liuton has been pleased to charge me with gross abuse of his beau ideal, Mr Wright. It is is almost needless for me to take notice of this. Public opinion has been unanimous m the matter. The action taken by Mr Wright was condemned by the deputation he inveigled to Palmerslon ; -strongly, condemned by his fellow committee-tnen, whom h« unwarrantably ignored; by the individuals whom he accused of illegal' voting ; and ccnlemned m no measured terms by the Press, not only of Palmerston but elsewhere. He has therefore brought upon himself an unenviable notoriety, and to test the truth of it let him endeavour to secure a. seat .on the Palmerston School Committee on the night of the 11th of June. Why, I ask, is he not eoing to do so ? EoSo answers, Why 1 Mr Wright's action all through has been most reprehensible, and had he exercised more courtesy and less vindictiyeness not one word of reproach would have been uttered against him. Mr Linton may rest assured that as a so-called " apostle of freedom " i shall ever continue to denounce abuses and condemn inconsistencies ; at the same time I am fully aware that such a course is neither popular nor profitable. There are other little cliques to be disturbed, and petty tyrannies to be done away with. The hammer of the Iconoclast will yet be heard and felt to advantage m Palmer - ston North. Thanking you, Mr Editor, for permitting this lengthy, but I trust beneficial, correspondence. — I am, &c. T. Ri Waltos.. Palmerston North, , ... June 4th, 1886._ . ;