THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 188, 21 October 1879, Page 3

THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

(From th!\ Tablet)

Who is to blame ? the few behind the scenes who have, during the last ibui or five mouth-, manipulated certiun newspnpers. These have for months nersisteutly calumniated politically Sir Gv.r,i;e Grey, ostensibly f>r the purpose n.eu'y of getting rid of his leadership, bin really, as is now apparent, to ;.;■< vent the enactment of the Bills to •:■:'tend the franchise and re-adjust the irp'rrsaitation. Had this been honestly a.vowed from the beginning there would bo no reason to complain ; but it was not so. On the contrary, the cry cf these papers was—Sir G. Grey's parsy has no right to monopolise the title of liberal, or to claim sympathy or support in consequence of Liberal principles ; these are as loyally held by their opponents as by them. It is not likely any one is now deceived ly this party manoeuvre. In saying this we are not to be understood as advocating Sir Georges measures.. But we abhor trickery and hypocrisy. Were the opposition to Sir George Grey founded oh Conservative principles, we could respect it, perhaps even support it, for we do not believe in the soundness of all Sir George's democratic ideas, but we loathe an opposition which for party purples conceals its reals views, and wishes the public to believe it to be what it is not in reality, We think, too, Sir George Grey lias been unfairly treated, and that public writer have grossly abused their position and opportunities by persistently assailing him and endeavonring to hold him up to the contempt and ridicule of their readers. .Thereis not in New Zealand or anywhere else a public man whose political character is more spotless or whose disintesestedness is more conspicuous than Sir George Grey's. And as to his abilities, the parliament of New Zealand does not contain one man who approaches even within many degrees of him. The Parliament, however, will not have him for its prime Minister, and so much the worse for the Parliament. But though the Parliamont, as represented by a majority of two in the House, will not allow him to be Minister, there can be no doubtAvhab'ver that, be is the favourite of the country, and v'-Te it not for certain side issues, such as the Bible-in-schoo!s, which oxcrci.-< d a disturbing influence during the. recent'elections, he would have been sup'-• ."rted by an overwhelming majority ever, in the House itself. Whether Mr M'i':..:;drew succeeds or not in carrying Iks motion and ousting the Hall Ministry is \ iilatter on which it would be idle to srr-Miate, . Nor is it a matter of any gi" .- importance to the country. The o; thing nee; csary at present is that the w-i ,-k ■■f the country'-should be done qi ■: kly an:: vol!.