THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3475, 13 February 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT YOUR FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1880.

The circumstances which led to the dismemberment and demoralization of the Liberal party after the retirement of Sir George Grey from the leadership are well known, and the secession of the four Auckland members from their party at that critical period—the eve of the great test of strength betwfen the two sections of the legislature—has been severally and diversely criticised. Many excuses have been made for their desertion, amongst others being the aversion of the Aucklanders to Macandrew as leader, and the liberal promises made by the Hall party of justice to Auckland. In his speech the other night Sir George Grey somewhat enigmatically referred to another cause—that if the deadlock was not terminated certain contractors would be ruined, as they could not get their bills paid. If such paltry consideration led the Auckland men to take the course they did their constituents should never forgive them for . their desertion. But another phase of the pretty little political drama has cropped up. We learn on good authority that the deserters are beginning to see the fatal mistake they made in leaving the ranks of the Liberal party, and are even now making arrangements to return to their old love. They find that, like the dog in the fable, they have deserted the substance for the shadow, inasmuch as not one particle of the compact or the agreement entered into with the Government (unless it be the satisfying of private ends) has been carried out. They are looked on with indignant disgust by thei r own constituents, not.to mention the province at large, and altogether they find their' position most unenviable. They feel sorry for the little mistake which so powerfully shook the organisation of their whilom friends* and so ruined the prospects of their district. If these statements are true, and we have every reason to believe that such is the case,, the next session of Parliament may see the Liberal party in power, with its grand old captain guiding the voyage of the ship of State, and while the past cannot perhaps be undone, yet the experience gained may be of so much value in directing legislation, that the future may in a great measure atone for the neglect and injustice under which we are now suffering.