THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 186, 14 May 1872, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.

The Marlborough Express makes the following remark upon the Government and the Opposition “ Our political institutions are based on the principles of Responsible Government, and as soon as the Ministry is formed there springs into existence—we might say spontaneously—a certain body known as the Opposition. To this body all the fault-finders and malcontents immediately attach themselves, and with the unscrupulessness peculiar to their class they abuse everything the Government does or atttempts to do. If anything has been done for which their own party has been clamoring, then, forsooth, they find fault with the execution. If the Government spend money, it is ‘ extravagantif it reduces expenditure, the ‘reduction is unjust its economies are parsimonious ;’ if a public servant is discharged, it. is ‘ cruel ;’ if any appointment is made, it is ‘corrupt ;’ and so on throughout the whole

administration of public service. The public is in the meantime dunned by the advocates of each party, and the public opinion is too often misled by prejudice and party virulence. For ourselves we can honestly say that for neither party do we care a straw, being among those who at an early date pitched their tents in the wilds of a new country, and having shared in its vicissitudes and struggles, it has become to us as our home. Its real welfare and advancement means the future prosperity and worldly happiness of our sons and daughters in whose minds wc strive to inculcate the principles of the poet’s idea—‘ This is my own, my native land.’ If, therefore, we defend the action of the Government to-day, it is not because it is the Government, hut because we consider the action right; and by the same rule we should claim the light to condemn that which wc believe was inimical to the public good, heeling the crave responsibility of our position, we end avour to examine facts and analyse statements before we rush our statements into print. It would he well for the honour of some of our contemporaries, if they would adopt such a rule as the guide , of 'their conduct, as also a few public speakers we could name, who set thern- • selves up as 1 burning and shining lights.’ ’