The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5273, 16 February 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1878.

Mb. Peaece’s Address last night to tho electors of Wellington was characteristic of the man. It was honest, plain, straightforward, and practical. It contained no vague generalities, nor covert insinuations against those who differed from him in politics. The meeting was a success, despite the efforts of a few individuals to create disorder. In connection with this, we may mention that on the previous day Mr. R. J. Duncan and Mr. John Martin waited upon Mr. Peaece, and asked him to promise an unqualified support to Sir George Geey’s Ministry, informing him that if he refused another candidate would be brought forward. Mr. Peaece acted as any other honorable man would have acted under the circumstances. He distinctly refused to dissever his connection with the party with which he hadacted for years, and whose policy had been productive of vast good to every class of tho community. He stated that he was quite willing to give Sir Geoege Geey’s Government a fair trial, but he would not pledge himself to give an unqualified support to an untried Ministry. Had Mr. Peaece acceded to tho request of the two gentlemen who waited upon him, there would not have been the shadow of an opposition to his candidature. But Mr. Peaece is no trimmer, no political wavorer who will change his views to suit the exigencies of the hour. A cry is being got up that Mr. Peaece is the representative of a class. He indignantly resented such an accusation. His interest was bound up with the general prosperity. It is an utter farce to accuse Mr, Peaece of desiring to play into tho hands of monopolists or laudsharks. As ho said himself last night, ho does not possess sufficient land to bring himself within the scope of Sir Geoeoe Geey’s

proposed tax. The fickleness of the mob ) has ever been the theme of moralists from the times of the Greek republics to the presont day. It is scarcely two years ago since the working-men of Wellington gave an enthusiastic reception to Sir J. Vogel, yet that gentleman has not long left our shores when the same people applaud the vapid utterances of the man who persistently calumniated Sir Julius Vogel and ridiculed the Public Works policy. Mr. John Martin endeavored to impress upon the meeting last night that great results had been accomplished through the Premier’s visit to the Native King. Wo are not aware that anything tangible has resulted from Sir George Grey’s interview with Tawhiao. The newspapers of the colony have contained accounts of the interview, and as these accounts were furnished by the Ministerial party, it might naturally be expected that everything would be put in the most favorable light. However, nothing has transpired to lead the greatest friend of the Ministry to infer that Sir George Grey was more successful in his interview with the Native King than was Sir Donald McLean when lie visited the Waikato. There was this difference between the two interviews : Sir George Grey excluded the representatives of the Press, whilst Sir Donald McLean was not afraid to give the utmost publicity to the proceedings. There has been considerable talk in certain quarters about the arrangements for the election, and Mr. Duncan endeavored to make a grievance of this at the meeting last night. His words might bo reasonably taken to mean that some party had been guilty of unfair practices, and presumably that the erring party was an enemy of Sir George Grey and his Ministry. Now, that, charge is in keeping with the tactics of the followers of Sir George Grey. It may afford some satisfaction to Mr. Duncan to know that all the arrangements of which he complained in such vehement language were made by his friends, the present Government, and thatneither Mr. Luarceuoi' his supporters had anything to do with the matter. As required by law, Mr. Travers’ resignation was forwarded to the Speaker of the House of Representatives ; that gentleman intimated to the Colonial Secretary that a vacancy had occurred, and Colonel Whitmore forthwith issued the necessary instructions to the Sheriff, making the writ returnable on the 21st instant. So that charge, like all others made by the same party, melts into thin air. Mr. Duncan also made a gross and wanton attack on his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby when he said he was a partisan and a tool in the hands of the Atkinson party. He was of course called to order by the Chairman, and we were glad to see that the audience strongly expressed their disapprobation of the outrage on good taste ■ and loyalty. The Marquis of Normanby is a high-minded English gentleman, of recognised ability, and held in great honor by his Sovereign, and trusted by the statesmen of the mother country. No act of his needs any defence. He has pursued a manly, upright, and impartial course since he came amongst us, and why is the Marquis of Normanby calumniated ? Because he would not be a party to the most nefarious attempt which has ever been made in this country to undermine the liberties of the people. A Bill had passed both Houses of Parliament—in fact, had been in charge of Sir George Grey’s Ministry—yet a few hours before Parliament was prorogued (without the slightest intimation to the representatives of the people) Sir George Grey treacherously endeavored to burke the Bill; but he was foiled by the firmness of the Governor. Since then no stone has been left unturned to heap dirt on the gentleman who is the representative of her Majesty in this colony. We would not notice these attacks, were it not to assure those at a distance that they meet with no approval from any right-minded and honest man amongst us, nor from anyone who has the respect of his fellows. Mr. Duncan is evidently a fit follower of Sir George Grey, who accuses Colonial Secretaries of sending out secret instructions to the Governors of colonies to get rid of obnoxious Ministers by poison. What will they say in England when they read of the last extravagance of Sir George 1 He gravely informed the largo concourse of people assembled in the Arcade on Thursday night that an influential section of English statesmen were now hatching a plot whereby the people of the colony would ‘be compelled to contribute to the support of the British fleet, and that we were to be warned by proclamation that any man who will attempt, directly or indirectly, to bring about the freedom of any colony, is to be regarded and treated as a traitor. Comment on this language is almost unnecessary. Does any sane man for an instant believe that there is any party in England holding such views, or that the free British nation would ever consent to such a system of tyranny! A hundred years ago the mother country lost America through imposing taxes on an unwilling people, and the same blunder is not likely to be repeated. British ideas of liberty have expanded since those days, and should the colonies desire to cast off the yoke which now sits so lightly upon them, England will say—“My children, go in peace.” Not a shot would be fired, not an ounce of powder would be wasted. To believe otherwise would be to suppose that the ideas of to-day will change to those of a hundred years ago, and that a blight will come over the broad, liberal, and sympathetic views which British statesmen hold in reference to the colonies. The people of Wellington are now asked to return to Parliament a man who will support a Ministry the leader of which was guilty of such nonsensical ravings as we have referred to. That such a man is not to be trusted to work out the destiny of this colony will, we feel certain, be the verdict of the majority of the electors of Wellington at the poll-ing-booth on Monday.