ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 581, 22 October 1866, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

WB DO DO NOT IDENTIFY OTJBSEJJVKS IN ANY WAT WITH THB OPINIONS EXPBESSED BY OUB COBBESPONDENTS.

(TO THE EDITOR Or THE SOTTTHIiAND TIMES.) Sib, — Having been informed that , a shining light had appeared above the political horizon of Southland, a sort of sucking Gamaliel, at whose feet we might sit and obtain intellectual refreshment, I looked forward with anxiety to his first exhibition of political lore. This took place at the Theatre Koyal last Thursday evening. I attended. The sucking Gh ascended the rostrum, and immediately poured forth a tirade of abuse that would* have been creditable to a London cabman. This was all right ; it is the usual role of stump orators. It is not bad policy. By dint of abusing everybody else you may possibly get some to believe that you have the capacity to redress grievances. But having vilified everyone, his flow of eloquence seemed suddenly to be nipt in the bud. He deflared everyone was wrong, and that everything ought to be swept away ; what was the right thing to do, however, and who was to succeed those submerged by his desired moral deluge did not appear : unless, indeed, we were to conclude that he was the man who could do everything — the Admirable Crichton of the nineteenth century. Most stump orators condescend to state what they would doj explain their views, such as they are : our stump neglected this. Perhaps he was right. It is •■cry easy and simple to abuse others, particularly when you know there is no chance ofbeing answered — much easier than drawing on the bank of one's brains, when one is pretty sure the cheque would be dishonored. I went, intending to vote for Mr James M'Clure. I returned, determined to vote for Mr Toshack. I had heard, and read about " political wind-bags ;" I never realized the conception before that evening. I was improssed with one idea, however ; and it was, that Mr James M'Clure wanted a billet. — Tour's, ks Eleotoe.