Mr Hobbs' Speech Reviewed.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3306, 26 July 1879, Page 2

Mr Hobbs' Speech Reviewed.

A correspondent in Wellington sends us the following upon the gpeech and late actions of the member for Franklin. It will be remembered we called in question the propriety of Mr Hobbs making certain statements about the Kopua meeting and Native Department when addressing his constituents, and it appears many others hold anything but a high opinion of the conduct of the lion, .member, though he wears the cloak of godliueis and professes to be influenced by the teachings of the great master :— I The speech of Mr Hobbs, the member

for Franklin, delivered in the House °* Representative on Thursday evening, was but a sorry exhibition; much more was expected from him by the Opposition than he gave. He spoke in a hesitating and a faltering manner as though he were doing violence to his convictions or reptlling his apostacy. Of course no fierson expects any exhibition of talent rom this gentleman who misrepresents Franklin, but there was a feeling of curiosity to observe whether he would have tho timerity to repeat to the House the fictions he invented concerning the Kopua midnight orgies and debauchery which he had heard of, but certainly could not have witnessed. Hia Courage was not equal to the occasion. There was a change, sudden and swift, in iiis condition, and the irony consequent on the exposure of deliberate falsehood, was to much for Mr Hobbs to hazard. He is one of, those men who are nothing if. .not respectable ; his respectability ii. hia fetish, to its shrine , he pays constant homage. He made a strong point as he. thought by declaring that those to whom the Government of the Colony should be entrusted should be men of good character. Of course character is a thing of varied aspect, it depends altogether from the stand point occupied !by the observer. Vices and character, are distinct things; vice impinges on men's; public character, when practised openly, but has' no effect on the esteem of a man's fellows if;unknown. The Glasgow Bank brought, this fact to light. Good character depends in a large measure on religious observance, ■ and the men: who are righteous overmuch are generally the veriest knaves. Mr Hobbs was severe on the Native Minister because he did not keep the outside of his plattter clean/ the objector, caring not if Ministers were* " wfaited sepulchres." It must, however, be borne in mind that there are vices of many kinds looked on with venial feyes by those who " thank God they are, not as others are," such as lying .and slandering counsel. So are : thefts from! widows and orphans, and those things when done by "the elect" are considered ja part and parcel of deeds included in the list,, " fpr of suck is, the Jfcingdbra pi Heaven." 1 Mr 1 Hobbs 'is guilty of . suppressing. pplitical facts, he makes thfc worst appear the better reason to serve his iowji and nis party purposes. Scruples stand not; ,in his how s could he describe events to his constituents that he never saw ; the invention of his own ov some other man's disordered imagination. Such statements as Mr Hobbs made in debate concerning the native debt are thiogs which should haye been ; left .unsaidj! or be proved capable of verijßc^tipn. ' His very respectability and his! godliness lend them; ! Weight. We're* he. denuded of these attributes all that, he might say would have no more impression on his hearers than a morning dream: ; It 1 is said that desire of office has> caused his apostacyfrom the Liberal party,' his/ constituents however will deal with him faithfully anli according to his :ie*ertion/;:He has'proved/ himself wanting" fa, !tEe, balance, of their esteem, and they will tell him when they meet him that he is found wanting in their confidence. Mehbf'Mf ;Hobb's; instability of character caßribt be allowed to represent northern constituencies, renegades, must go elsewhere to obtain seats/than in the Province of Auckland. SA man of wrong principles if steadfast in their advocacy- obtains a share of respect and confidence.from his fellow men, while the "man ; whe^obtains the 'confidence of ,;a constituency by false representations, and a declared line of action, and then abandons both his principles and his promises can lay no claim to 'vgodd J character^" anjd engenders the 'contempt of his fellow men.. y. H , : , ,-/"/, '. „ r \ ■