THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1893. THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2588, 30 November 1893, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1893. THE ELECTIONS.

GROUNDLESS ATTACK

The elections are over, and the Liberals have won. The battle has lasted since Sir George Grey entered politics about 18 years ago. There was then practically only one party in Parliament, but Sir George was not long in the Hjuse before his presence was felt, and a Liberal sentiment was aroused throughout the colony. The battle has been going on, with varying success, ever since. Sir George Grey t-jok office in 1877, and j continued i i power for about two years. Sir John wall resigned his se*t in the Legislative Council, led the Opposition, and turned Sir George out. It was then that he made the compact with the Auckland rats. There were four Liberal Aucklanders who sold their votes to Sir John Hall, on condition that he ■would extend the Franchise, allow the Education Act to remaiu intact, and form Village Settlements. These were the chief features of Sir George Grey's policy, and when the Conservative Party passed them the late Mr Sheehan said they " boiled their measures in Sir George Grey's billy." In 18S4 the Stout-Vogel Government came into office, but they never had a majority in the House, and it was not until three years ago that the Liberals became sufficiently powerful to carry out measures which they deemed desirable. The result of their administration is that they have the field almost to themselves. Now the country has endorsed their actions in the most pronounce! manner, and we feel certain the country has done right. One result of the elections is that the most offensive obstructionists have not been elected, and consequently business will be transacted with greater eflieieucy in half the time. We feel certain that the present Government will continue to administer the affairs of the State as carefully as they have done in the past. It is said that a strong Opposition is necessary to keep them in check, but we cannot see it. We have faith in their honesty and good sense, and we are convinced that they will work even more carefully than if the Opposition wore stronger. The crowning act of the Liberal Party was the enfranchisement of women. Women have taken to politics as naturally and as intelligently as if to the manner born, and thero cannot be the slightest doubt, that the Liberal Party owe their victory to a groat extent to the women. We cannot conclude this brief reference to the elections without mentioning Mr Rhodes. We have never agreed with him, and it is more than likely that we never shall, but, though we disapprove of his political views, we have jno hesitation in saying that he has always conducted his elections in a most honorable and straightforward manner. He has never resorted to the mean devices which are only too frequently adopted-in contesting elections, and now that he is defeated we ungrudgingly pay this tribute to his uprightness, honor, and honesty. His defeat certainly did not surprise us. What surprised us is that he had such a firm ! hold on the confidence of the people. His political opinions are at variance with X certainly three fourths of the electors of Pareora, and it was only his personal popularity that saved hiui from a more crushing defeat. Considering the fearful odds against which he°fought—that is the intense popularity of the Government, as well as the personal popularity of Mr Flatman —we can only say that we are sur prised at the great hold he had on the people, and we feel sure that one who can ingratiate himself into their good opinion eo effectually will ' again be heard of. Personally we have the greatest wsßpect for him, and, though we have opposed him, we have never had any motive in doing so other than that we believed the line of policy he advocated was not the best calculate i to advance the interest of this colony.

In Geraldine last Monday evening Mr Cuthbertson made a violent attack on Mr Twomey, for no better reason than this paper did not support him. Amongst other things, he said a friend of bis bro«ght some clippings from other papers regarding Mr Cuthbertson's meetings in the north end of &fee constituency to Mr Twomey, and that Mr Twomey refused to imm them. Will Mr Cutkbertson kindly give us the nani? of his frfejMi ? Mr Twomey hfts .never seen a spi9uds p i9ud of Mr Cuthbertson's, and no clippings f'rdUJ any papers were refused insertion. That we think is enough to show what Mr Cuthbertson is. As for his attack, we trust Mr Twomey will be able to survive tho billingsgate of this legal Biddy Moriarty. As regards Mr Cuthbertson, this paper said nothing worse to him than that it was useless to throw away votes on him, as he had no prospect of being elected. According to the report of his speech in Geraldine, he himself said he w&% an independent. We said nothing I wOi-Sa th&n this to Mr Cuthbertson, because We" did £ hluk n 0 was worth criticising. We C*Hiofoed Mr Wright's ! speech and figures, and 11? WHght jr> a courtequ>?ly-worded letter to the ~""*" 0i; 'j replied. Mr Wright ordered tho letter' to be inserted as an advertisement. Realising that it was a fair and legitimate reply to our criticism, we inserted his letter free of charge. In Mr Wright we were dealing with a gentleman, and we treated him as such, but so far as Mr Cuthbertson was concerned we did not criticise his speech, because wo di .1 not think it wort'i it. We merely said ho had no prospect of getting elected, and the result of the poll has proved it. At first we folt disappoiutad on learning that the people of Geraldine sat down listening to Mr Cuthbertson abusing an absent man who had done nothing to deserve ib; we expected from them a higher sense of British fair play. But we felt inclined to forgive them when we loarned that Mr Cuthbertson said only for the ignorance of Mr Twomey he would have known that he (Mr Cuthberston) was a "student of social reform." It was no wonder the people laughed, and it was no wonder they enjoyed the fun. The fact that Mr Twomey did not know that Mr Cuthbertson was a student of" social reform " proves that Mr Twomey is ignorant. This would have been very funny only for the fact that in tho town of Geraldine there were 80

electors who voted for a man capable of giving expression to such drivelling idiotcy. We certainly were not surprised at people laughing at, him, but we were surprised at people giving him their votes. This is the painful part of it, and it is only this that has caused us to notice Mr Cuthbertson. He fills an unenviable position in the electorate, and we trust those who voted for him are satisfied.