"PUBLIC OPINION," "UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE," &c.-No.II.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 165, 10 July 1878, Page 2

"PUBLIC OPI NION," "UNIV ERSA L SUF FRAGE," & c.-No.I I.

To the Editor of the • Evening Maic' ' Sin—As a sequel.to the Itf^tvlettefeoo (Mr * subject I send you .from 4he tara& .Wuree^alh* illustration ofthe effects of " Public Opinion" in a lesser and more,private-matter.:— ■ \ «, t•, " In Glasgow, about thirty years ago,' wheff' the Chartist agitation Vivas ,al its height; & > number of shipwrights, artizans; seamen,- and factory operatives Idthled ;then*sfe'lves infosr co-operative association foe. the p^rppse'ofbuilding a large merchantman, to be placed on the Australian berth:' A-really fine veslel'' was constructed, and was named the Vic- [ toris, in honor of | Her, Majesty. When tbe I question of providing beY with officers wa« raised, the matter was put to the vote, and the choice of the shareholders fell upon a ! small grocer-as eaptein^aa^dyentar^r who.,, had subsisted on blaolrSmMi-as?tffsfc.mttfeV-a:. shifty mechanic, who had been discharged for scamping; his work^forVaeCGfidimate^an unconvicted £attle-steale*\as thii-d mhte ;'and 1 so on, and so oh." Some Vf "the raoreprud'eht ! Of the co-operatives objected to the selection, bnt vtere" overruled "by the majority, who declared that, as all of .these..men^were~. fluent speakers on the platform,.,it stood to , reason that they must know how to navigat£<f a vessel. This sort of argument was of' course conclusive. An excellent cargo having been obtained, ihe [Victoria sailed for. Port PhiUip with,a fair wind and the'bestf wishes of the shareholders. Forty-eight ~ hours after leaving the Clyde, there were signs of a heavj: gale approaching, ;and the captain immediately Called" all hands aft 'Now my lads,' said he, <L want to submitI my policy for your approval. '-. TherVs &f . storm coming, and what I propose tb'do is "to'" clap on all sail,; put the. helm hardapbrt, and broach the cargo. Such of you as are in r. favor of thia proceeding say Aye, on the ■'■ contrary No.': This resolution'/.waslcarried unanimously. Inaiew minute3 r ev,ery;atitoh-i of canvas was set, and before you "could say Jack Robinson'half a.'dpzen cases' of,* brapdy^ had been opened;, and the crew were drinking ' the captain's health,' and'-pronouncing bim to be the best fellow'upon earth. Halfanhonr r, afterwards,a roar like- thunder, was* heard in the shrouds;' the good.ship heeled"over and,/ went down with', §.veryr,soi*l t^n, board;. «poV this was the end of the. Victoria! and t the re-'*' spit of a plebiscituhi as applied to^thV'havigartiohof a'vessel."' ; : ".*.- ■: <".t V ;< tv..-.mj.i;i, ;, i When discussing with a friend the phrase |,/'{Public Opinion," and trying to find out its meaning, be used to say that if he* broke his i leg, or injured his watch; he certainly should I nbt applyii'o public opinion toiisetitHetrdh&ors: repair th 6 other. Tbe mostfrecenfe'-fofttaacei of this public opinion -was exhibited at thel commehcemenfrof the and war, when Mr Gladstone Was almoatdefled*^" shortly after,- he was mobbed. ■■•". '"a :.<..' . - j ■:■'■ i.• I am, &c, ' ■ E. TUCKEB.