Sir George Grey's Address.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2157, 2 December 1875, Page 3

Sir George Grey's Address.

THE AUCKLAND STAR AND THE

N.Z. HERALD

The Herald has trimmed again. Now it'fmtposes Separation. We would say tlia<jrth.is shuffling was disgraceful, but that we know the heavy pressure that has long been laid upon our contemporary to throw over Sir George Grey.. That journal was, with'us, the means of bringing forth Sir George Grey from retirement to fight the battles of the people. With us it has defended him and lauded him, but never till this day* do we know the hour.when the dark hand may not be put forth out of the screen behind and give the deadly stab. On the same day with ourselves the Herald launched the theory of "Separation" as the only panacea for the ills of the North Island. Again and again and again has it returned to the subject, explaining away the alleged difficulties in the way of the Separation of the Islands, and showing, the unquestionable advantages sure to arise from our having the management of our own affairs in pur own hands. But the edict has gone forth, and from that dark mysterious power outside, which has done so much to damn that fine newspaper in tlie eyes of the people, the order has been given to'bout ship and throw Sir George Greyoverboard. I his morning the work begins, and that journal which has heretofore been the loudest in [New Zealand in favour of Separation, discourses in this wise: ". We must notbe regarded as declining to take part iv an

agitation for some such change as indicated by Sir George Grey if we point out some of the difficulties in the way of the attainment of any such purpose.'' And this is what it has come to. The Herald guards itself against being supposed to be opposed to these views. The bare idea of making such a caveat shows the new hand at the bellows, and the consciousness that the black-hearted treason will reveal itself, " pointing out difficulties " indeed ! Hitherto the Herald has been explaining and removing difficulties when pointed out by others. Now, forsooth, it apologises for taking the other side. "We are afraid that must be dismissed" as impracticable " says our contemporary, referring to one of the alternative proposals of the Leader of the Opposition. "But there is no use in disguising the fact that there are difficulties in the way,'' it 'adds, referring to the other, namely, Separation. Whatever are we to make of the Herald? Some three or four months ago, after enthusiastically supporting the Opposition, it suddenly came out one morning with the astounding statement that the Opposition should give up the struggle and not obstruct the business of the country. In a moment the Herald corrected its blunder. Everyone knew that the dark power behind had siezed the bellows for an instant. Tue same has evidently occurred this morning, and we call on the Herald in the nnme of the public to shake off this damning influence that is making it laughable in the eyes of the people. The conduct of the Cross is far more hono^a'ile. It lives to defend the villanies of the Government, and it does it honestly and well. Black is white and white is black with a consistency that no one can fail to admire. But the Herald, by brave and noble words, wins the confidence of the people only to abuse it when the moment of trial comes. Better far to go over holus bolus to the defence of Piako Swamps and other iniquities than one moment gam the affections of the people by defending him who is sweeping out the Augean stables, and then mislead those feelings by undermining him. But we know that the instincts of the Herald are right, and off the side of honesty, liberty, and the people. And we call on our contemporary, in the name of public liberty and right, to shake from it this damnable power that is ruining it as a public journal and. making it laughed at by the people. We call on the Herald to be true to itself and to its own honest instincts, and laugh to scorn the threat that it will be turned about and made to fight against the popular cause in the pending election.—Star, Nov. 30.