The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 146, 2 September 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1876.

That great political changes wore brewing, and that Sir Julius Vogel intended to retire as soon as possible, wore facts that all who watched Parliamentary proceedings daring the present session must have been aware of, but the retirement of the late Premier at such a critical moment, for the express end of being appointed Agent-General lor the Colony, is almost beyond belief, and certainly was never anticipated by his warmest friends. To say that the course he has thought lit to take has alienated many who pinned their faith thoroughly on his honesty of purpose, as well as his unquestionable ability, would but weakly convoy the slightest impression of the shock his nnparalellcd desertion has given his late admirers, all or nearly all of whom are simply disgusted with the chicanery he has displayed, and lament with regret the ingloriously selfish termination to a hitherto brilliant career. His excuses are of the lamest, miserable subterfuges at best, and have given his old enemies reason for rejoicing at a fall, predicted by them of old, but never believed possible by hosts of friends and supporters. That his health has been indiflcrcnt is undoubted, but it is at least as good as it Avas in England, and had not the Agent-general fallen in it AA'Oiild have been good enough for him to weather the present session Avith, Anything more selfishly pusilaviranous than desertion of his post at the present juncture, at the very moment when Ins hand was needed to crown the Avork of abolition, could not have been conceived, and political treachery—for it can be regarded in no other light—of a like kind is hardly on record. In common Avith thousands of others, avo belieA T ed not only in his talents, but in his integrity; in common with these, avo find that our idol was but of clay, aiid

Snii ioii has on tliis as on other'occasions, proved an iconoclast indeed. The political career of Sir Julius Fogcl is closed. He lias gained credit for ability, lias secured knighthood, lias obtained a position that but few years ago he could never have dreamt of, and now, in the height of tlie storm that his own policy has conjured up, abandons the ship, and retires to permanent ease and £1,500 a year. Truly a profitable, but ignominious ending of such a man. It is probable that lie will make ,a very good Agent-General, if his time be not taken up too much with other ambitious projects with which he is credited, a home Parliamentary career included. To alter an extract from a Far-famed poem slightly, inspired by a soldier, who did not run in the moment of danger, but met a a glorious death gallantly— Lightly they’ll speak of the hero that’s gone, And o’er their hot whiskey unbraid him, Tint little he’ll reek if they let him stop

on, In the berth where his odd trick has laid him. The French saying, “ The King is dead, long live the King,’’ is applicable in this as in other cases, and though Sir Julius has made such an abrupt and undignified exit from the political stage, Major Atkinson lias been appointed Cabinetmaker in lus stead, and coalitions that have been spoken of for some time will now be brought about apparently. At the time ot writing we have not learnt what the final result of reconstruction will he, hut lot it ho what it may, recent occurrences bode ill for complete abolition, as contemplated and provided for, and it may be doubtful whether the whole of the chief work of the last session may not bo undone. Indeed, it is very doubtful whether any Government that may bo joined together out of the existing disturbed Parliamentary elements can stand, and it is quite on the cards that, before a Ministry capable of carrying on the business of the country be arrived at, another appeal to the constituencies may take place, and a dissolution be necessary. Whatever bo the result, what with the Obstructive policy of the Opposition during the session, and the chaotic condition that the action of the late Premier is likely to bring about, the Colony’s interests murTmost seriously suffer, though to what extent is a problem yet to be solved. Surely this should bo the last revolution ot the Parliamentary kaleidoscope for the present, and the bits of representative glass ought by pending operations, to boVuaken into the places, to be occupied for a year at least. Time only will tell, but for New Zealand’s sake it is to bo hoped so.