South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1880.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2238, 20 May 1880, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1880.

The speech of Sir George Grey to the electors of Christchurch, if impartially reviewed, must bo assigned a place among his finest and most powerful rhetorical efforts. Partisans whose vision has become jaundiced and treacherous, will doubtless be able to perceive many glaring imperfections in its style and composition ; but honest criticism must adjudge it the merit of being in several respects one of the grandest efforts of an experienced and gifted statesman. Trenchant, vigorous, argumentative, in language simple, in sentiment lofty and attractive, it is just such an address as might be calculated to arouse popular enthusiasm, and make an indelible impression on the public mind. While, however, we may admire the speech, because of its undoubted excellencies of composition, we cannot help thinking that in the light of surrounding circumstances it fails completely as a vindication of the party of which Sir George is still the acknowledged head. We admit that it is an eloquent harangue against the constitution of the colony, and it paints in vivid colors the sins of the existing Cabinet. But as a defence of the party with which Sir George has been identified it must be acknowledged to be terribly incomplete. The faults of our system of Government, and the sad imperfections of the Hall Ministry have been painted in hues of the loudest description, but the brush has either avoided altogether the transgressions of their predecessors, or the film has been too thin and transparent to hide their blemishes.

With much that Sir George has said concerning the shortcomings of the present Government, the people as a body will concur. But his speech on the whole is disappointing. The peculiar weakness of Ministerialists and Oppositionists at this unfortunate juncture in our political history, is that they have to rely almost entirely on abuse. Now, abuse is at best a poor weapon. Its employment is usually accepted, as indicating a bad case. In his address to the electors of Christchurch Sir George has evidently relied too much on the power of abuse. He has held the faults of the ministry—faults that we neither intend to defend or deny—up to the light; but he has avoided the soiled linen of the Grey party. On this, as on every occasion when Sir George Grey has spoken in public, he has been brimful of good intentions. If his word can be accepted, had his intentions not been frustrated when he w'as at the head of affairs, New Zealand would not now be the sorely oppressed and sadly misgoverned colony that he describes. We do not question his sincerity, but we regard his speech as eminently unsatisfactory because it is incomplete. Can it be said that he has taken the electors into bis confidence, or, that while he has made out a bad case for the Hall Ministry, he has made out a good one for the opposition ? We think not. We have no intention of imputing to Sir George Grey the sins of his colleagues, but we say unhesitatingly that the party to which he belonged, have as a body, forfeited the confidence of the colony. While we may be able to admire Sir George Grey individually, wo certainly do not admire the Cabinet to which he belonged. When he referred to the parasites that cluster around the «occupants of place and power, he aptly described the kind of liberals to which the Grey Government owed much of their support. The Grey Ministry was by no means a happy family. It contained within itself the germs of early decay. No Government could possibly be more badly assorted. The Cabinet was constantly at sixes and sevens —torn asunder by internal dissensions, The Native Minister —Mr John Sheehan—was clever, but unscrupulous and extravagant—a political spendthrift, and about the last man in New Zealand that should have been chosen to preside over a partially civilized and and inferior race. Mr Balance was an able Treasurer, but his impetuosity placed a gulph between him and his Premier. Mr Macandrew, as Minister of Works, had excellent qualities, but his over-sanguine temperament helped to place the Colony in its present embarrasing condition. There

were few questions of moment on which the Cabinet was not seriously divided. Before the Grey Government went to the wall, the Liberal party was utterly disorganised Und demoralised. Disorder reigned supreme where harmony should have existed. The deposition of Sir George Grey and the attempt to resuscitate the old Government under a new leader put a final extinguisher on the hopes of a nest of intriguers. If Sir George Grey means to advance the interests of New Zealand he must isolate himself from treacherous associates, and endeavor, with new material, to organise a political party which, howeA r er small in number at first, will contain within itself that great clement of strength—unity of purpose. If we understand the feeling of the people of New Zealand aright, they have quite as much confidence in the Ministry as they have in the opposition, and that, we submit, says but little for either.