ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 583, 5 March 1851, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the “New Zealand Spectator.’’ Wellington, March 3rd, 1851. Sir, —The editor of the Independent, the “ Mrs. Harris” of Wellington, complains grievously of the coarse and vulgar names Faoin. Fogs, Scouse, &c., which have lately appeared in the columns of the Spectator." lhese names and the &c., seem to me innocent and euphonious enough, the coarseness and vulgarity must be in those to whom they seem applied, and in this view of the subject I fully agree with Mrs. Harris. But she farther laments the introduction of personalities into political discussion ; —here again I agree with Mrs. Harris, and rejoice to see in her such signs of repentance. Who, let me ask, introduced personalities ; nay, not introduced them only, but followed them up to such an extent as entirely to lose sight of politics in the most virulent abuse of all opposed to them ? When, twice in every week, the gentlemen who had accepted seats in Council, gentlemen, any one of whom has more honest worth and ability than the best of the Faction, or than all the Faction together,— when these men were assailed in the gros>est terms which even Mr. Fox or Dr. Featherston could find, —when, with that total want of delicacy which stamps the blackguard, ladies too were attacked by them ; did we then hear of this fastidiousness in Mrs. Harris? «« i — /—_ _ _c\ t_: _i ” uvu txiau iu latuci vt»u vi j UiS pidCt as chairman of a public meeting denounced his opponents as rogues, fools, or liars, — did these refined people censure and disown him? Not at all: they at once appointed him their pepetual chairman. But it is useless to particularize. For two years they have given the fullest license to their most licentious pens—not a single epithet of abuse which could be printed was spared ; the Governor, the Council, the officers of Government, yourself, and such of the colonists as were known or suspected as supporters of moderate measures, have all been vilified in a manner only practicable where the proprietors of a paper are as little worth powder and shot as the writers in it are worth powder and ball. Into our social institutions and private life they brought and cherished the same demon of discord ; their so-called politics have been thrust into the Mechanics’ Institute and Savings’ Bank, and have run rampant among the cabbages of the Horticultural Society.

Meantime their work was easy : simple opposition. But the time came when they were to “write a book,” when they were at least obliged to initiate something ; they have given us “their measure,” and what a measure • To discuss it logically were “to break a butterfly upon a wheelsatire and ridicule are the only arguments it merits, and satire and ridicule have been, in a gentlemanly way, applied to it and its originators. Then comes the outcry ; these wonderful men, these “leaders of public opinion,” this selfelected “ committee to represent the settlers ” are held up to the ridicule they have so richly deserved. Poor Mrs. Harris nearly faints with horror ; and while she still continues in her old strain of invective, finds out that however coarse, however scurrilous, however absurdly incapable these gods of hers have proved themselves; they, forsooth, must be treated with the gentlest courtesy, and, delicate beings as they are, must on no account be called “Scouse,” &c. As to laughing—flat blasphemy ! No, my dear Mrs. Harris (though for aught I know you, in your anonymousness, may be one of these very individuals) laugh I must. Have I not paid for my admission, and must I sit gravely and grimly while these charming comedians are cutting all sorts of mirth-provoking capers ; while comic songs come in so aggravatingly apropos ; knowing all the while that the farce is nearly over ; and that if I don’t chuckle now, I may never have such another chance in the tranquil times of old fiiendliness and good feeling which are drawing on ? No, no ; so long as you and your friends parade your ignorance, conceit, and assumption ; — so long as you and they have nought but freedom in your mouths, and nought but tyranny in your actions ; so long as men are to be found with tale,nt to expose the one and spirit to resist the other—so long will I laugh, aye, and hundreds beside me.

And, a parting word with you ; think yourselves fortunate, and thank our forbearance if we only laugh. “ There is a skeleton in every house” and, as you have dared to drag to light all of ours which you could discover, thank our forbearance, I say, that we do not retaliate in kind (and you have some, ugly skeletons among you) ; and thank heaven that you have for antagonists gentlemen who, in measuring out what is due to you, will not easily forget what is due. to themselves.

I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, N. B. P-S.—Does Mrs. Harris read Punch ? I fear not or she could not be so stupid—Lat her turn to Vol. 9, p. 1, and when found make a note of it.