GOVERNMENT FOES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1130, 25 August 1882, Page 4

GOVERNMENT FOES.

“Cms” thus writes in the Otago Witness : —“ One of the greatest diffi cutties which the present Government have had to contend with has been that of counting their foes. One is reminded of the old story of a nigger who was set to count the cattle, and in reporting the result, declared that he had counted them all but one, and him he couldn’t count 'cause him run about so. The Government have had not one, but three wild cattle to look after. There was Mr Fish, for instance, who for some time ‘ sat upon a railand Mr Weston, who was looked upon as nearly safe ; and Mr M. W. Green, with that troublesome conscience of his. They were all ‘kittle cattle,’ but were at first counted as pretty certain to give an ‘ independent support to the Government. They have all gone over now, and why ? Well, you see, the Opposition got stronger by gaining two if not three seats —Mr Pilliet is still a little doubtful, —and a week ago it looked very much as if they would score a win. They didn’t, but it looked like it, and it is always well to be on the winning side, especially when there are cakes and ale to be shared by the victors. Mr Stout tells us that conscience is developed by our surroundings. Can it be that, remembering Napoleon’s motto, ‘ Providence favors the biggest battalions,’ the conscience of our M. W. G. went in the same direction as Providence? He ‘went with the multitude,’ not, of course to *do evil,’ but to serve his country, He was rudely told by Mr Bryce that the House did not want to hear so much about his conscience, but who can wonder that Mr M. W. G. has a little pardonable pride in the Sossession of so rare a commodity ? •id he make that weighty decision a “ matter of prayer,” as he is said to have done the question of leaving his little flock here in the wilderness, as sheep without a shepherd ? If he did, the oracle in each case answered, I have not the least doubt, according to his desires. The answer of his conscience was developed out of his circumstances and surroundings, as Mr Stout says the organ itself is. There is an unfortunate suggestion in all this of the immoral Pecksniff. “If ever man combined within himself all the mild qualities of the lamb with a considerable touch of the dove, and not a dash of the crocodile, and not the least possible suggestion of the very mildest seasoning of the serpent, that man was Mr Pecksniff, 1 the messenger of peace. ’" I fear M. W. G. is too good altogether for that very sinful House. Fancy so holy a man rubbing shoulders with sinners like Mr Sheehan, Mr Fish and Mr Vincent Pyke, and with sundry freethinkers of Mr Stout’s school And from all appearance tho Government will survive his defection after all, which will be the unkindest cut of all." Can his oracle for once have misled him when he inquired “ shall I go up and smite these Philistines,” and received for answer, “ Go up.”