WHAT THE OPPOSITIONISTS THINK OF MR. FOX.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 149, 28 June 1869, Page 2

WHAT THE OPPOSITIONISTS THINK OF MR. FOX.

o The Taranaki Herald, a journal which has persistently opposed the Stafford Ministry, writes thus of Mr. Fox: — Although we feel that the present Ministry, as now constituted, have shown their thorough incompetency to steer the state barque, yet we should be sorry to see the member for Rangitiki with his hand on the tiller, remembering how miserably he carried out his "face to face" policy in 1862. We are sure that~ there «re many who remember Mr. Fox's boasts on that occasion. In fact, the Assembly was led |to believe that that gentleman's name was of such power with the natives, that they had only to place him at the head of the State, and the natives would immediately lay down their arms at his feet. But what was the result? The natives did not put their heads under his feet, but at once prepared for vigorous warfare. The gentlemen on the Opposition benches who have really the interest of the Colony at heart, may make use of Mr. Fox to attain their purpose, but are not likely to be influenced by his inflated speeches, or to accept him as a leader when their object is effected. It was a saying of Bias —that office discovers what a man is like. For as empty vessels, though they have some cracks in them, while they are empty do not discover their flaws; but, when they are filled with liquor, immediately show their defects. So happens it with those who are most apt in pointing out the wrongs in others; their failings are not found out till they are themselves in power.