The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1884. THE TIMARU HERALD TURNING ITS COAT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1167, 19 April 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1884. THE TIMARU HERALD TURNING ITS COAT.

In Tuesday’s 'i'imaru Herald there is one of the most amusing articles vrc have seen for a long time in that somewhat lively journal. The writer does not mean to be funny. On the contrary he labors hard to give his utterances the semblance of earnestness, truthfulness and sincerity; but notwithstanding his accustomed tact the fun oozes out at every word, and the reader is served up with a most palatable melange to chuckle over. The entertainment is all produced by the Herald’s efforts to change its coat. It is well accustomed to go through that operation, but on this occasion it wanted to put on a garment it had rejected so often as too contemptibly mean to be seen in. It wanted in fact to change sides, and back up Mr Montgomery, the leader of the Opposition. Ever since Mr Montgomery cams into prominence, the Herald has lost no opportunity of pointing him out as one of the most stupid of men. According to that journal he never had an idea in his head, and it was impossible that he could form a correct opinion on any given subject. Now the Herald has found it necessary to take up Mr Montgomery’s side of politics, and it is in its efforts to do so, with something like good grace, that the reader finds all the amusement. It commences by pronouncing Mr Mongoraery’s speech at .Akaroa as the cleverest he ever made, but after making this statement it evidently felt that such a sudden conversion was liable to be analysed by captious critics, and so, to give the matter an air of earnestness, it takes a glimpse of the past career of that gentleman. It argues that Mr Montgomery never held any opinions in common with those who acknowledged him as their nominal leader ; that he was not original, and had to depend on others tor bis ideas, and always betrayed a singular want of skill and judgment in selecting sources of inspiration, as well as in apportioning to each its due share of importance.” It is most refreshing to now find the Herald telling us that Mr Mongomery’s great fault has been through life his incapacity to think for himself, and his readiness to give expression to ideas obtained from untrustworthy sources. Thus, after the abuse that journal has habitually heaped upon Mr Montgomery, it now veers round gradually to show that though he erred it was through

having been misled, and that after all he was not half a bad fellow. Here no have concealed beneath the surface of these finely rounded sentences the suggestion that if the Opposition leader takes the Heiald as “ his guide, philosopher and friend ” instead of the naughty people who have been misleading him, he is quite capable of being made a respectable politician. This is a very clever way of coming round. It is a suggestion to Mr Montgomery that if he should want a hint there is a place where he can get it ; while the general public is expected to believe -that the Herald has turned for the purpose of supplying him with what he atands so much in need of. After beating around the bush in that truly admirable style for some time, it comes back to the Akaroa speech, and finds out that it was a very good one. Somehow it appears to think that Mr Montgomery went on his own hook ” in this speech, for it says he “ has followed the turn of the tide that was so plainly indicated on a recent occasion.” It is evidently afraid to be too lavish of praise though, for it says that there was nothing new in anything Mr Montgomery said, but it excused him on the ground that “ a good copy was better than a bad original,” and thus it went 1 on handling him nice and gently in order to show him up in his new character by gradual stages. We have no doubt but that Mr Montgomery will, in the eyes of the Herald, very soon develops into a very respectable copyist, and that we shall soon be told that he has taken up the exact ideas of Sir John Hall. We congratulate the Herald on the manner it effected its change of coat. It had a tough job in getting it to fit on, but the pressing and brushing have smoothed down the wrinkles and wiped off the stains till it has become a very respectable garment. It does not much matter, however, for it will be changed for something else before long.