Untitled

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 732, 20 April 1853, Page 2

Ft may seem useless, i not absolutely absurd, to try Mr. William Frown’s conduct by the lest of pure patriotism; and indeed there can lie little doubt that, some—who, notwithstanding, may for otier reasons be inclined to vole for him, —wotld themselves laugh at the idea of arraigiiin| his pretensions at the tribunal of unselfish uid simple love ol the country in which he las found it lor his advantage to reside, |*affic, and speculate. Still, as appearances must, if possible, be preserved, he asks the electors lo repose confidence in the “singleness ana sincerity of purpose” with which, as lie would have them believe, In aims at “the promotion of the general wo/’arc and the advancement and prosperity of our adopted country.’ Now, —without entering just at present on details demoiisrative of his special unfitness for the position as Head of the Province, to which he volunteers to aspire—we may briefly call attention to one or two considerations which, even viewed apart from all others, may suffice to show the utter hollowness of this profession. It will not be denied that it is most important tint the Superintendent, especially the first Superintendent, of the Province, should be a man who—although he may not be fortunate enough to have won the approbation anl confidence of all classes — yet at least is aot individually regarded by any numerous portion of the community with deep distnst. Vet, beyond all dispute Mr. Brown is so regarded. Fn addition lo his political opponents, (in the ordinary sense ol that term,) them are many who meddle little in mere parly Srifes, but who, on other and higher grounds, wilh the most conscientious earnestness deorecate his elevation lo any post in which 1c would have power to advance practically his own principles and opinions, —particularly to a post in which his attempts to do so would not be so directly subject to cognizance anl counter-action as they would be if he were merely a member of Council, — one amongst j number. The nature of this opposition is sieli as lo insure its permanence; it would not be overcome by Mr. Brown’s achieving success at the poll,—on ihe contrary, ils temporary discomfiture by a popular vole would probably only invest it with a character of more stern inflexibility. Taking collectively then those who, on one or another ground, consider Mr. Brown very specially unfit for the Suporinlendency, he would enter upon the office (assuming for **-o. mmyonl I L-0 ho could < r ~mi o >n obii'gl. of dus vain-glorious ambition) wilh a powerful minority in the Province, —including a large proportion of ils most thoughtful, intelligent, and influential men, of various classes, denominations, and parlies—not merely withholding from him all that confidence which would be so obviously essential to a happy and mutually advantageous administration of public affairs, but deliberately regarding his success as a public calamity to be endured only until means fur its removal could be made available. Whether such views and feelings arc well or ill-founded docs not affect our present argument. That is a point which there will be time and opportunity enough lo discuss before ihe election. The existence of the fact is sufficient for the point immediately before ns. Now, Mr. Brown knows that this is the fact. He is fully aware that these are not idle or exaggerated statements got up for electioneering purposes, or statements which would be advanced equally if oilier candidates sympathising in his general political views wore in the field. And yet wilh this knowledge, he obtrudes himself on the constituency, regardless of the deep and insuperable dissatisfaction wilh which his appearance is regarded by numbers--reckless of the results to the harmony of the IVovincc which would be likely to follow from his election—evidently looking only lo the one object of gratifying bis own ambition by obtaining a precedence over the merchants, the farmers, and the general community, and a victory over those who have been independent enough in times past lo spurn his dictation, and to think and act for themselves. If he wished to promote peace and friendliness, and yet lo maintain his own political principles, he would have brought forward some less offensive member of his parly as candidate. But no! Ft must be William Brown first and last: lie brooks no rival near his throne. Another consideration leading lo the same conclusion—that Air. Brown is eminently unfit for the Snpcrinlendeney—is to be found in the antagonistic relations which for years have subsisted between him and the Governor of the Colony. The Constitution Act vests in the Governor a large discretion with respect lo the powers lie may think proper to delegate to the Superintendent, and gives him, moreover, extensive authority over that officer as regards the allowance or disallowance of Bills, wc. At all times, and especially on the introduction of the new system of Government, scarcely anything is more essential lo the beneficial working of the complicated and hitherto untried machine than that there should be—we do not say a unity of opinion on all subjects—but some measure of mutual confidence between the Governor and the Superintendent, or at least an absence of a slate of feeling palpably the reverse. Need we add that no measure of such confidence could exist between Mr. Brown and Sir George Grey ? If Mr. Brown really believes one ilenih part of what lie and his newspaper have alleged against the Governor, there can be no confidence on his part; and, at all events, Sir George Grey must be well aware that he cannot safely approach Mr. Brown

except in the most guarded attitude, that self-preservation would dictate his keeping him at arm’s length, and treating him wi th | the coldest official formality. Hcic a 3 ai it is not necessary to our argument that we should determine who is right or who is wrong. Let an adherent of Mr. Brown maintain if he will that Sir George Grey has been always and entirely wrong, and Mr. Brown always and entirely right both in the substance of his opposition and in the manner in which it was conducted. Still theic is the fact of the antagonism standing out in undeniable distinctness. And if the Governor and the Superintendent cannot act amicably together, must not the public interests sustain loss? If they are contending, no matter where the fault lies, the people will Mr. Brown knows this also, and thciefore he knows that there is scarcely a man in the community so unlikely as himself to obtain for the Province any benefit which it may be in the Governor’s power to confer, beyond the strict limits which 11 is Excellency s , sense of dutv may prescribe. A man actuated by a real, not a feigned principle of attachment to “our country” would, we think, on a review of all these circumstances, j and of Olliers which might be suggested, j rather say—“ I will sacrifice any risings of ambition in my own bosom, and give place, so far as this office is concerned to some one who will be more generally acceptable than myself, —with regard to whom, at least there exists no special and peculiar dislike, such as I cannot but be aware—however unmerited I may deem it —exists against me , —to some one with whom all persons and classes in the community may be more willing to co-operate for the general good. I will not merely assert, but prove, my ‘sincerity and singleness of purpose’ by serving my ‘ adopted country ’ as a member of the Provincial Council or the House of Representatives, or in the other ways which maybe open to me, and in which I may advance ils welfare without risking those evil consequences to its harmony and progress which I am told are apprehended by those who declare they do not and cannot confide in me, from my successful pursuit of a post which only one man in the Province can occupy, and which therefore should be filled by one who, though he may have political opponents, yet will not be looked upon even by them with invincible distrust.” Such would be the course of a man,—conscious, it may be, of the rectitude of his motives and convinced of the soundness of his principles, but aware also of impediments in In's path of public action which would materially hinder his usefulness. An opposite course would be taken by a man who preferred self-aggrandizement and party, or rather personal triumph, to all other considerations. Which course has Mr. William Brown chosen ? Thai is a question which requires no answer; but another, and a practically important question necessarily suggests itself, —What course should the electors adopt, at once to secure their own interests, and to rebuke the vanity that would trifle with those interests to gratify its own insatiable cravings?