The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1884. THE GERALDINE ELECTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1199, 3 July 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1884. THE GERALDINE ELECTION.

Wb have received a number of anonymous letters criticising the two candidates now before the Geraldine constituency. Some of them are very psrsonalj probably libellous, and, while we are always most detirous that the people should make use of our columns to express their views on public questions, we must decline these letters. The two gentlemen before the electors of Geraldine now are very old friends, bound to each other by many ties, and suspected to entertain identical views on politics. One has rendered enormous services to the colony, the other is a politician cl long experience, but more distinguished for his good-nature amiability, honesty, personal worth, and other characteristics that render him beloved by all who know him. These two gentlemen, bound together by the ties of friendship as well as identity of political interests, have thought fit to oppose each other, and it does not appear to us desirable that we should interfere between them. It looks to us next door to going between a man and his wife. Those who try to mediate between husband and wife are said to get out of it badly, and it is our opinion that the person who would go too far in interfering between Messrs Rolleston and Cox would find he had made a mistake also. On these grounds we have resolved not to interfere between them, nor allow anonymous correspondents to make use of this paper for that purpose. If any Geraldine elector has anythingio say as regards these gentlemen, let him sign the letter with his own name and we shall publish it. The people then can see who he is, and the responsibility will be lifted off our shoulders. If wo did not do this, and allowed anonymous writers space in our columns, it is possible we might be accused of having manufactured these letters and resorted to that means of expressing our views instead of standing out boldly in favor of one of the candidates, That would lay us open to be charged with having acted in a cowardly underhand manner. If we had taken any side so that the people would know who we were in favor of, we should not then hesitate to give facility to anonymous writers to express their views, but under the circumstances we feel that to do so would result in compromising our character for independence. We feel confident'also that the electors of Geraldine are able to judge for themselyes who is fit to represent them, and that they will select the one in whom they have confidence. Both canditates they know thoroughly, both have rendered them services before today, and consequently to interfere is quite unnecessary. , If there are people afraid of expressing their views publicly, we do not think that they should ask us to bear the responsibility of their convictions. It is truo that each candidate lays himself open to criticism in coming forward, but we think that those who criticise them ought to do it openly, and not under the cloak of noni de plumes.