The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 453, 27 August 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1879.

It was a pleasant surprise to many of our townsfolk and settlers to find that Sir W. Fox would hold a meeting in Carlyle. His well-known powers as a public speaker, his long and honorable career, his present position as leader of the powerful Opposition that ousted the Government, and perhaps also the late honorable addition to his name, combined to Tender him an object at once of interest and of curiosity, so that notwithstanding the short notice given, the Hall was quite filled. There was also an idea in the minds of many that there would be a wonderful exhibition of jumping, thumping, stamping, yelling, squeeling, snorting, and of everything that is ridiculous, undignified, and absurd. Some who believe everything that is printed, went to the meeting on Monday night with the impression that Sir William, while orating, is a spectacular rather than an oracular phenomenon. They were soon undeceived ; they saw only a dignified gentleman, well acquainted with his mother tongue, who had something to say and said it. There was also a feeling akin to hostility stirred up in the minds of many electors by the rumor that Sir William came to Carlyle to support Major Atkinson. It was not desired either by the supporters or the opponents of the Major that any such assistance should be volunteered. All apprehensions on that score, however, were set at rest by the distinct and fair statement of Sir William that he appeared in his own interest solely. It was stated that over forty electors of the Wanganui district reside in the Patea County, and it was with the idea of gaining their ear that ho wished to hold a meeting in Carlyle. Sir William entered at some length into the early history of the colony, where his memory apparently served him well, and where few would be able to take him to task. Some statements that he made respecting Lord Grey are particularly interesting just now, namely, that he first proposed giving representative institutions and responsible Government to the colonies, or at least to New Zealand. Strange to say, Lord Grey, in writing on the subject of Colonial Constitutions a few months ago, deprecated the granting of those constitutions as a great blunder. But it was the other Grey, not yet a lord, round whom the interest was made to gather. He, ivho from his youth had felt called upon to emancipate the human race, gave to the Colonial Office what was meant for mankind, and began his training for his future career as liberator, by playing the despot in several colonies, including New Zealand. He, who is now the champion of the people, was then a James 11. on a small scale. It was in those early days, before most of his hearers were born, that the antagonism between Mr Fox and Sir George began. In those times Mr Fox was the champion of the colony against a tyrant who used all the means in his power to make the Government of New Zealand a despotism. For nearly forty years Sir William has kept his face steadily in the same direction, and has assisted in every extension of the franchise that has taken place in the colony. When his party was last in office, they had in preparation a Bill for the granting of Manhood Suffrage, but the Government and the Bill fell together. On these grounds Sir William claims to be a champion of the people, and a practical Liberal. But his breath is taken away by finding Saul, who aforetime persecuted, preaching the faith. Sir George being trained in the school of despotism till all the elasticity of his mind, one would think, was gone, and feeling no doubt that the time left for serving mankind was short, suddenly out-Herods Herod with his Liberalism—in words; but in action old habit is too strong, and he either opposes every liberal measure, or damns it with faint support. Sir William docs not take kindly to the reversal of position 1 hat his brother knight would force upon him regarding the question of the franchise. After long and consistent advocacy of liberal legislation in the matter, after having helped to give the people of New Zealand all the political power they have, he justly objects to be rated for illiberal tendencies by a man who is a despot in heart to this hour. Sir William and many others cannot understand how the change conld have taken place. It is true that the Premier of the Empire began as a Liberal, and became the sub-, ject of some remarks from Dan 0 Connell for turning Tory. It is true that the ex-Premier of the Empire began as a Tory, and a defender of Apostolical Succession, and ended by being the greatest Liberal of the age, and by disestablishing a church. But then there has

been in both cases a change of actions as well as of words, so that the beginning was consistent with itself, and the end is also consistent with itself. In Sir George Grey the action is one throughout, but the words are different. From the time that he fought against representative institutions for New Zealand to the time of bis ejecting a colleague on a paltry pretence, his actions have been thoroughly consistent. In his utterances, however, he has practised the art of blowing hot and cold, of saying one thing, writing another, and doing a third. It is very natural then that the most devoted admirers of the policy he announces should distrust him, and wish to see a more reliable man in his place. It was on this ground that Sir William appealed to electors. He did not propose a fresh policy, although he entered a protest against the. Land Tax, and against the Native Policy. The Native Policy which Sir William advocated, may be very briefly stated :—Don’t court a native; don’t bounce about land, and make him submit to the law. The applause that followed the latter portion of this common sense policy showed distinctly that the burning question had been touched. The Native Difficulty in the practical minds of the settlors is not a question of a few shillings per acre for the Waimate, or of liberal reserves, but it is a question of submission to the law of the laud. Every man’s strong arm is a part of the force upon which the law depends for its strength, and every man feels himself degraded, insulted, and defied while the law is sot at naught.

Throughout the whole of the lengthy, ami we are bound to say very able speech which Sir William delivered, he evidently had the sympathy of a large majority of his hearers. In his main points he had ours; there were of course a few little exaggerations used for convenience or to adorn the oration. Wo refer to such expressions ao that used respecting Sir George Grey’s leaving this colony for the Cape, ‘‘he bolted.” This, of course, is only the oratorical way of saying “ he got another appointment.” Again, speaking of last Session, Sir William said that Sir George had a majority of twenty, and had only to lift his finger and they would follow. It occurred to ns that there must have been an enormous number of rats to convert a majority of twenty into a minority of fourteen. We doubt whether Sir George ever had the confidence of the House to the extent represented, or how could two of the three measures by which he proposed to stand or fall have been rejected ? Even if such a majority ever voted with him, it was not a sign of confidence or of a strong Government. It was only on trivial matters that he had a majority; and that majority was made up of those who were giving him a trial to satisfy their constituents, and ot those who followed him because there was no other leader. Although in these min or matters we differ with Sir William, or, at least, would put them in another form, we have no doubt that his main principles will commend him to the majority of the electors whose suffrages he seeks.