The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 2, 30 October 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1878.

In another column will be found a lengthy correspondence which has been forwarded us by Mr Francis Loudon, of Foxton, the publication of which had been refused by. the Manawatu Herald, but as we wish to deal fairly and impartially between both parties, we clip the following reason given for its rejection by the editor : — "On Saturday afternoon, Mr Francis Loudon called at our office, with a letter, the length of nine and a-hilf closely- written (tides of foolscap. tJpon looking over it, we pointed out to Mr Lou don that the letter was far beyond the length allowed to correspondents. Six pa^es of th£ nine were occupied m copies of -correspondence which has passed between Mr LouDO.tr «nd the Qounty Council; and also some bnsiness letters Hrith the proprietors of -the H&rtfld, regarding the withdrawal of Mr Loudon's advertisements, and the payment of his account. We pointed out to Mr Loudon that these thmgv m no way affected what we had said regarding him, and he could not fairly expect as to give up so Urge » portion, of our ipac* m w»i

necessary for the publication of the correspondence m his letter. We offered to publish all the other part of his letter, which contained his defence. Every word of it. But told him, if the letters were put m, we should be compelled to charge him our usual advertising rates." Hitherto we have studiously held aloof from the quarrel between Mr Loudon and our contemporary, and were its columns still open to him, we should have continued that course. With the minor causes of dispute between Mr Loudon and the Manatoatii Herald, we have nothing whatever to do, further than iv justice to that gentleman placing our columns at his disposal ; but as Mr Loudon has come forward as a public man, and as he has been attacked for so doing, we would like to say a few words on the matter. Those who read the, correspondence m another column will learn that Mr Loudon while a member of the County Council was guilty of a most reprehensible act ; they will learn why he was so, and what were the consequences ; and they will moreover learn the reparation Mr Loudon made m atonement of his offence. We are m a position to claim credit for dealing with the matter m no biassed manner when we state that we had a good deal to do m sheeting the offence home to Mr Loudon. But while we agree with all m condemning the mean manner m which he at first sought to evade the consequences of his positiveness, we have no words to express our admiration for the manly and courageous apology and atonement he afterwards made. Perhaps not one man m a hundred would have been guilty of the dishonorable act committted by Mr Loudon, but we feel convinced that there is not one man m a thousand, who having done so, would have the moral courage to make such ample atonement; and to those who can appreciate a high-minded and noble act, the heroism of the atonement far outweighed the gravity of the offence. Mr Loudon's dishonor has been condemned, commented on, and: published far and wide ; but there is one little transaction connected therewith which shows that there are people who instead of appreciating a noble action, seize upon it as a means of wreaking private spite. We allude to the use which has been made of Mr Loudon's apology by the County Chairman. We happened to be present when Mr Thynne announced to the Council that he had received a letter from Mr London, but that it was to be read to Councillors privately. Several members agreed that as it had not been sent to the Council m the usual way and for the usual purpose, it should not be received, but be returned to the writer un» read. The Chairman, however, urged that it was most important that it should become the property of the Council, and that could not be effected unless it were read as a public document. The majority of the Council were averse to the proceeding, but Councillor Rockstrow — the only councillor who advocated such a course — thought it would be as well to hear the contents, whereupon the Chairman, m violation of the conditions upon whioh it was received, read the letter m presence of the Press and the Public. Was that an honorable proceeding? We think not; and we thought not at the time, for on being requested not to- make any public reference to the matter, the editor of tins journal stood up m the Council and protested against the action m the follow* ing words : " It is not at all necessary to request me to not publish the letter, as I consider the Chairman had no right whatever to break the condition upon which ho had received the letter, and read it publicly." It will be borne m mind that at that time Mr Loudon and the editor of the Manawatu Times were upon anything but friendly terms, and as we have stated, he had furnished a link m the chain of evidence which had made the tampering evident. Moreover, this journal had not been sparing of its censure upon Mr Loudon whea he made statements which were deemed unwarrantable. We ask, knowing that Mr Loudon was down — " shamefully down," as has been said of him — was it manly, was it generous, was it at all honorable m the chairman to act as he did with his letter ? Would it not be expected from such an honorable gentleman that he would have said to Cr. Rockstbow : — " Sir, I received this letter on the distinct promise that it was to be read m private ; if you will not accept it on those terms you may reject it, but I have no liberty to make it public until I consult the writer and obtain his leave." Did he do so ? No I But when it was proposed to return the letter to the writer, he pointed out the im* policy of parting with it, and the moment he found anyone ready to give him the slightest pretence for committing a breach of faith he availed him* self of it, and secured the letter as the property of the Council, to be held as a rod over the writer. The ground taken up by Mr Loudon's political opponents, that he should be relegated into exile for a couple of years, is as silly as it is illogical, for we hold that by the selfinflicted chastisement which he has undergone, he has washed away his offence far more efficaciously than if he were to have adopted the proposed oourse — make no admission of his wrong-doing, and lie quietly by until it should have passed out of men's minds. He has proved himself to have been an able, earnest, and energetic representative m the past, ho made one grave mistake, he paid a heavy penalty for his transgression, and m our opinion, and the opinion of most men, he is now a far more fitting candidate than those who made such a disreputable use of an admission which should commend the writer to the sympathies of all honorable men. The whirligig Qf time brings about queer things, and it is just possible that Mr Loudon may sit m judgment upon some of those censorious gentlemen who have held up their hands m pious horror of his misdeed.