THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 270, 20 August 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1872.

To-morrow a grand pitcli battle is to be fought on the floor of the House between the Vogelites on the one side and the Staffordites on the other. The “ odds ” appear to be in favour of the latter, but the “honourable Julius” is no fool, and contemplates a flank movement to-night which may turn the tide against the enemy. In other words the financial statement is to be made this evening, and we have no doubt it will be made attractive by promising everything to everybody. In this last throw of the political, dice the skilful gamester may win, but the chances are the other way. A large proportion of the expectations and promises of last session have not been realised, and the look-out-a-head is not at all satisfactory. The probabilities, therefore, are that the Fox-cum-Vogel dynasty is near its end. We don’t at all envy their successors in office. To a certain extent they must be heirs to the blunders of their predecessors, and if tney go honestly to work to do the best they caff for the country, they will have a very invidious and difficult task before them. They will have to reduce expenditure, and to give the “ sack ” to many useless officials, which is hot a pleasant thing to do, and they will have but little to give away to. . their supporters. The Vogel schemes in reference to railways, mail service, immigiation, and many other subjects, will have to be greatly modified. A vast deal of blame is sure to be heaped upon them for what really results from the fault of their predecessors, but' if, nevertheless, they stick to their work, and to some extent bring the country out of debt and difficulty, they will have done the State a lasting service. They will, however, have up-hill work, and will be liable to much badgering by the opposite party. After all the financial statement movement may succeed, and the present occupants of the Government benches retain tlieir seats, but, as we have pointed out, the probabilities are against such a contingency. It seems pretty clear that the Governor will not be induced to consent to a dissolution should the Vogelites suggest this course to bis Excellency, and even if there were a dissolution, it would hot, in our opinion, improve the pos.tiou of the Government, as the voice of the majority of the electors throughout the country would, we believe, be against them. It is not likely that Mr Stafford will propose a dissolution, and should he now take office again he may experience a difficulty in finding a working majority in the House. In our telegrams received last evening it is stated that the financial statement to be made to-night will be telegraphed to the papers to-day, and we shall therefore be able to lay it before our readers in our next issue. W e have no doubt it Will be skilfully worded with a view to weaken the ranks of the Opposition, and how far the move will succeed remains to be seen. People will be glad when the battle is over, and the business of the session is permitted to proceed.