PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. Wednesday, September 7, 1881.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 976, 7 September 1881, Page 2

PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY. Wednesday, September 7, 1881.

Until we perused the despatch of Sir Julius Vogel, which the Government returned to him unanswered, (and which will be found in another column) we could not imagine what so practised a diplomatist as Sir Julius Vogel could have written to the Government of a colony, of which he, himself, was merely a highly paid servant, as to require so unanswerable a reply. But all doubt on the wisdom of the Hall Cabinet is now at an end. Public curiosity is allayed, and the public mind disgusted. Sir Julius Vogel had, probably, witnessed “ Pinafore,” and, with visions of Sir Joseph Porter floating in his brain, held fast to the determination that as “ official “ utterances are generally unanswerable,” he would pen something to the Government of this colony which would be unanswerable. And he did. It was so very unanswerable that he got no reply. And now that this precious document is before us, what does it amount to ? It contains matter of the grossest contumacy, and incipient insubordination. Had the despatch been received with the usual diplomatic consideration and respect; and had the Government attempted to combat the arguments it contains, the whole army of martyrs would have been up in arms. Not a civil, nor an uncivil servant, from the messengers upwards, but would have followed their much-injured leader, and, by this time, instead of stonewalling the Representation Bill, the House would have been overwhelmed with yards of petitions setting forth their grievances. There are many things Sir Julius Vogel has done for this colony, which claim the grateful remembrance of its people. There are, also many things the Hall Government have done which, the sooner they|are fogotten the better ; but no past deeds, however lofty, or magnanimous, can justify, or condone this last error of the former, while the correct judgment of the latter is not unobserved, even by their opponents. Sir Julius Vogel has a peculiar infirmity of memory. When persons remember too much, or their memory serves them inopportunely, they cease to act with that strength of mind w’hich generally characterizes them. It is absolutely necessary, at times, to forget, or rather not to exhume, and parade before the public eye and observation, certain records of the past. But Sir Julius Vogel is above such small-minded wisdom. He cannot forget that he is the self-styled saviour of the colony ; and it is this little leaven that leaveneth the whole lump. Sir Julius Vogel candidly, but with much weakness bases his right to lecture the Government, and to “ speak to the colony,” on the fa*t that “for seven years, with the “ break only of a few weeks, he was “ continually in the Government.” He sa r s he “ cannot fail to remember ” this fact; but it is unfortunate his memory is so good, for he has undone, by this last act —this valedictory sling of contempt —more harm to the good name and fame with which he might have severed his official connection with New Zealand, than any other service he may have rendered it, will atone for.