TO THE ELECTORS OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5273, 16 February 1878, Page 3

TO THE ELECTORS OF WELLINGTON.

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TO THK EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. SIR, —Would you permit me to give publicity to the following address : Gentlemen, —The only objection the Press have to urge against my father’s candidature is “that it is a farce,” by which doubtless they wish to convey that he is a person of so little note that his nomination would be an insult to the electors. How can those journalists so ignore the facts ? 1. Are they ignorant that Mr. Barton was for years a member for the City of Melbourne ? Surely, Melbourne is not a less important constituency than Wellington ? 2. Are they ignorant that Mr. Barton represented Dunedin in the Otago Provincial Council ? Surely, Dunedin is an important constituency. 3. Are they ignorant of his position at the Bar? They themselves acknowledge his ability as a speaker, the soundness of his political principles (with which they say no fault can be found), his integrity and amiability of character. Can higher qualifications than these exist in any Parliamentary candidate ? Electors 1 This is a battle of principle, not of persons. It is your own battle as much as it is my father’s. I ask you not to allow your votes to be affected by the fact that my father’s imprisonment has prevented him from making a personal canvass, and has deprived him of the advantage of addressing you in a public meeting. Do not be misled by the assertion that he has only to apologise to the Judges, and be released at once. Apology would mean slavery. It would nullify all my father has done and suffered. It would mean that he could never again plead in these Courts, and succeed for his client. It would mean ruin to them, and dishonor to himself. Finally, it would mean that those who have so long and so earnestly striven to drive him from the country should at last succeed. The land rings, the contractors’ rings, the judicial rings, and all the other rings would triumph in such apology. They have all met him in the Courts, and they dread to meet him in the Parliament. I am, gentlemen, Your Moat Obedient Servant, Elliott I/Estrange Barton. Feb. 15th, 1878.