The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1879.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 206, 29 August 1879, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1879.

I Rather a neat point was made by the Cobnut yesterday, in the following words which occurred in an article on Mr Acton Adams' Epeech: — " Whatever may be thought of the line taken by Mr Adams as to the Government, it cannot well be denied that he would have done better had he abstained from referring to the attempt made by Sir George Grey iD 1877 to prevent the Land Act becoming law. Without expressing any opinion as to that irregularity, it is obvious that Mr Adams formerly attached no great importance to it, or he would not several months afterwards, when all the circumstances were fresh in the minds of the country, have moved in the Provincial Hall a vote of confidence in Sir George Grey, supporting it by a. telling speech." Now whether Mr Adams so far as he himself is concerned, would have done better in abstaining from referring to what is euphemistically described as " that irregularity " is neither here nor there, but we are exceedingly glad that he did not so abstain, for he has, however unwittingly, been the means of holding up to the electors a very timely warning against allowing themselves to be led away by the voice of the charmer. At the time that Sir George made the speech referred to Mr Adams bad had every opportunity, of which we have no doubt he fully availed himself, for he is one who carefully studies all that is going on in the political world, of making himself fully acquainted with the Premier's action in reference to the Land Bill, and there is every reason to believe that he then took the same view of the "irregularity" that he does now. But the great magician paid us a visit and cast his potent spell over all bis hearers, including Mr Adams, who was so carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment — we do not blame him for it, for be was but one of many hundreds— that he actually so far forgot for the moment his previous convictions as to move in " a telliugßpeech " a vote of confidence iv a man who, when presenting the session's Bills to the Governor for his assent, deliberately " shuffled one of them out of sight like a card from a pack." These

are Mr Adams' own words. A more convincing proof of the correctness of the assertion so often made that Sir George owes his success to his wonderful power of appealing to the emotions rather than to the reason it is scarcely possible io conceive. That Sir George himself is perfectly cognisant of possessing this almost mysterious power is clearly shown by his anxiety to personally address the e'ectors. He is not content to allow them to real his speeches and think carefully and soberly over them, but he must exercise the influence of his eloquence, and so work them up to a pitch of excitement that for the time being they are scarcely conscious of what they are doing. It is rumored that he is coming here next week, and therefore we feel the niore bound to caution those who will listen to him with delight against permitting themselves to be thrown into a trance by the great mesmerist, lest like Mr Adams they should be led to do that which on recovering their senses they must adttiit to have been both weak and wrong. Mr Adams is known as a shrewd business-man, with plenty of good common sense, and of sound discretion in the ordinary affairs of life. If he then could be beguiled into expressing approval of that which in his calmer niomeut3 he condemned, what can be expected in the case of those to whom the knowledge, experience, and advantages which he possesses in so large a degree have been denied ? ■ I ■ ■ I ......1.11.. 11l ■ _ ...... .