THE PREMIER AT THE THAMES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5541, 31 December 1878, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT THE THAMES.

1 Th. PrimfcrVsel?<A to tho Thames el*c■f«£h ™?h an eSSwduutfy production 'that t™ toVoat it. A good Jr,™v it merely as a screaming '■.. of a facetious old gentleman '•"' £,V?fnr Wot of anything better to do chooses £»(*•*» at ths colon y of New Zealancl- - that the Premier mu3t \J/e soms deeply-laid scheme in his mind, jSd that like the Komaii of old, he is passing /'himself off for an imbecile in order to disarm the%iaplcions of his antagonists. There are aba 'many who are beginning to think" that, after all, there it nothing in Sir George Grey; and who believe that this foeblo, inconsequential hash of stale declamation and thunder and small beer, is really the best that he is capable ol now. Regard the speech how we may, however, it is impossible not to 'condemn it ■utterly, ot>'* to consider it an insult to the intelligence and self-respect of colony. If it is intended for a joke, it is certainly a precious poor one, and one moreover, that the public are in no humor just now to have played off upon them. The speech of the Premier to his constituents is commonly looked upon as the most important political address of the year. It is understood to convey the opinions of the Government on the events of the last session, to furnish authoritative information as to the present Btate of the country, and to forshadow the policy of the future. The public have a right, indeed, to expect that it shall do all this in a greater or loss degree. They have been accustomed for many years, and by. a succession of Premiers tp Save those conditions fulfilled ; and they are sura to resent a sudden and rude dejarture from so useful and highly valued « custom. Sir George Grey's speech dries not attempt to deal intelligibly with the j/ast, the present, or the future. It is a jumble """of worn-out stump platitudes, of which everybody has long bean heartily sick, with claptrap appeals to the worst passions of an unthinking mob, garnished here and there with tho most preposterous assertions, alternating •r-with puerile stories about irrelevant matters. The whole of it, however, revolting as it is in point of taste, and superbly contemptiblein point of political ability, is yet arranged with the utmost ingenuity, in Buch a manner as to leave nothing that can Be taken hold, nothing In the shape of a tangible expression of opinion about anything. It is full of covert threats and covert promises ; all of which are calculated to make a strong impression in the direc- ,. tion. to which they are addressed ; yet any of which may be disclaimed or repudiated or explained away with the greatest ease. The speech, in short, displays a mixture of vindictiveness, and senile obscurity ; tinged throughout by a treacherous cunning, that is perfectly appalling to any honest mind. Compared with those manly, enlightened, exhaustive, farseeing, unselfish speeches with which Mr. Stafierd used to guide and encourage the colony, this thing seems the work of Borne superannuated vestryman. Compared with those elaborate, sanguine, fearless orations with which Sir Julius Vogel was wont periodically to astonish and dazzle the people, this speech seems the sinister grumbling of some malignant dwarf. Compared even with Major Atkinson's cold, narrow, and unsympathetic, yet logical, accurate and outspoken statements, this seems the wandering of one demented, with just wits enough left to maintain tho trick of deception. The Premier not only gives the public no information whatever about public affairs, but he does not appear to know any thing about them himself. Public affairs, indeed, in the broad sense of the term, are entirely left out of sight in his speech, which treats only of a few subjects, some of them exceedingly paltry, in which he happens to be personally involved. It is satisfactory to learn from him that he knows he is generally regarded as a thorough actor, but it w nevertheless strange that he should freely admit it himself. It is, however, one of the most singular traits in his singular character that he has not the smallest shame of parading vices which ninety-nine men out of a hundred would blush to be suspected of. In his introductory remarks on what he is pleased to call his general policy, he said, "In entering on this subject Z will say we have heard Buch language as ' Grey will make a fine Bpeech for you, but that is all' —l do not consider you so weak in intellect that you will be led astray by a fine speech. God has endowed every one of us with different faculties, and if a man makes a good speech, the power is not his own, but the gift of God." If the Thames electors .were led astray by blasphemous twaddle like that, they must indeed be weak in intellect, or what the vulgar call " green." It surely can. not be the Deity who inspires the Premier's utterances. On this occasion certainly " Grey" did not make a fine speech, or a speech that She* ~~

.they were" particularly willing to go astray. It Was without'exception the weakest and worat speech that he ever made ; -and if he quakes many more like it, be will unquestionably lose the laat shred of reputation that he Btdl enjoys, namely, the reputation of being a good public speaker. We have delayed our comments upon it because we wish to observe the opinions of many others first. We- find that even the Premier's ordinary clacqutun cannot praise it, trat are driven to apologise for it; while the tone of the independent Press concerning it varies from bewilderment to indignation and disgust. We shall presently endeavor so frankly and carefully.to examine it that our readers may know unmistakeably what manner of politician is now at the head of affairs in New Zealand.