“NO CONFIDENCE.”

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 538, 26 June 1880, Page 2

“ NO CONFIDENCE.”

Mr Ballance says that where the present Government have made any success, it is precisely in those measures and plans which they borrowed from the late Government. In all other respects ho says they have failed. This sweeping assertion may sound well in the House, delivered in the heat of debate ; but it js poor stuff for au eminent politician to deal in. It lias been said that invective is an ornament of debate. Granted, bub invective which is palpably absurd does not convince the reason, and is always unfair. We object to this general assertion that the present Government arc incapable of originating any measure which can succeed—for that is the inference to bo drawn from Mr Ballaueo’s charge—and that all their successes are frauds. They have forged and uttered the name of another party, and are taking public credit for their unjust gains. So Mr Ballance would have it. How is it that politicians make charges against a party which they would blush to whisper against an individual? It is so in every political arena. Our notion of politics—and it is not formed in haste, nor without long «ml i c&ponolblu experience—is that public men should practise towards each other the same honorable candour, the same conscientious fairness, the same reasonable tolerance of diverse views, as gcntlmneu of the highest honor practice in private dealings. Mr Ballance occupies so responsible a position before the colony, that the public are justly entitled to expect from him the fairness towards opponents, the nice solicitude for truth; which so well becomes a leader of men. We claim for Mr Ballance a leading place among the best men in the colony, and would fain sec him fill it without reproach. If our friendly criticism appear sharp, it is sincere. It is precisely the same sort of criticism that we apply to politicians all round.