The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1890. THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2132, 2 December 1890, Page 2

The Temuka Leader TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1890. THE ELECTIONS.

"We have not taken any decided side in the present election for several reasons. Ihe first is, this is practically the only paper in the district at the present time, and under such circumstances it becomes us to be as fair and impartial as we possibly can. The Timaru Herald has for the time being deserted the party for whom it has worked for years, and developed into a nondescript sort of an affair, which is neither fish, fowl, nor good red-herring. As an instance of the acrobatic performances which the Herald has been going through lately we may point to its actions with regard to the Private Schools Bill. When Bishop Grimes visited Timaru sometime ago, the Herald subjected him to the grossest abuse because he said something on the question of education, and yet now the Herald has turned round and become a most ardent supporter of the Private Schools Bill. Of course our old friend will change again, and fall into its old habits after Friday next, but meantime it has deserted its friends, and left them in the lurch. Practically, therefore, we are monarch of all we survey, and since that is the case we regard it as our duty to be perfectly impartial. We have done our duty for many a year, and if our readers do net know the side with which we sympathise it is certainly time they did. Our second reason for adopting a policy of neutrality is, that we find the election is being fought out fairly and honorably. A few have tried to make a noise about nothing at all, but sensible men will only laugh at all this. Nothing unfair has been done on either side, and the election is being fought out honorably. On one side there is a great command of wealth, but that it is not being used, openly, at any rate, to any objectionable extent. It would have been very easy to get a third candidate in the field to split votes, but that has not been done, and, consequently, we think that when every thingis being conducted so fairly, it is our business to be neutral and let the candidates fight it out themselves. We have to congratulate both sides on the pleasant, good-tempered, and honorable mannerin which they are fighting the duel. We sincerely hope they will continue to do so to the last, and that whoever is defeated will accept the result with a good grace and submit to the will of the majority. We have elected to be governed by majorities, and so long as that is our form of government the minority has no right to complain because of being defeated. We must respect each others opinions and prejudices with a tolerant spirit. If we did not do so the country would not be worth living in, and our Jives would be a misery to us. The two candidates are fair representatives of the two parties, and the whole question is? Which of the two parties has the confidence of the people. We leave the people themselves to answer this question at the polling booth next Friday, and we have no doubt they will do so intelligently and honestly. This isthe only opportunity they will have of exercising any influence on legislation for the next three years and consequently it behoves them to weigh carefully their actions, and vote for the candidate whose views harmonise most with their own.