The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 52, 6 February 1869, Page 2

The Tuapeka Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1869. " Measures, not Men."

There is a strong tendency in the Australasian Colonies to adopt the worst features of American political life, without considering the lamentable experiences of the great Republic. Log-rolling, lobbying, and earwigging, terms unknown to the fortunate inhabitants of the old country, are becoming familiar in our mouths as household words, and the honest official who abstains from " pickings," is pretty generally regarded as a kind of harmless idiot. Office seekers are numerous and brazen in urging their claims, while jobbery is too common to excite the smallest indignation. To examine into the causes of this state of things would require a lengthy treatise, but even within the limits of a newspaper article, some of the more salient points may be briefly pointed out. The great curse of America is government by party — is the sinking of each man's individuality in mistaken loyalty to the platform which has been agreed to by his party. That extremes often meet, is shown by Otago suffering from an absence of party spirit, and the consequent abandonment of the Government of the Province* to a not over scrupulous clique. Although the causes seem different, they are, however, in reality the same— namely, the withdrawal of the more respectable and intelligent classes from any active part in

politics. In America, where every man must be either a Remiblican or a Democrat, there are scores of thousands of persons who, disgusted by the conduct of the leaders of both parties, virtually disfranchise themselves. In Otago, there are also many who, hopeless of air^ good result from the present cumbrous and expensive system of gorernment, abstain from taking any interest in political affaira 'A remarkable proof of this was shown by Capt. Mackenzie, in » epegch recently delivered by him, stating that the present Government absor bed all the available talent in the Provincial Council ! , Now, we are far from agreeing with this assertion, but the fact that it can be madt with even a semblance of probability, is a sufficient reason for seriouf consideration. Surely, among our population, there are men aa g<j>od as either the Superintendent or JH>. i Vogel — great though the talents of the latter undoubtedly are— --whose assistance, with anything lik» a reasonable system of government, would b» available for th# public service. The people of Otago are far from being an illiterate race, as the number of periodicals supported by a comparatively scanty population sufficiently proves. They" are I not wanting in patriotic feelings for their adopted home, and ar« perfectly convinced that if the present state of affairs is permitted to last, the shipwreck of all their hopes of future prosperity is almost reduced to a certainty, and yet they go on from day to day without making the slightest effort to better their condition. A public meeting called to consider the most important questions too often proves a beggarly array of empty benches, the only attendants being a few professional politicians, who, in imitation of the illustrious tailors of Tooleystreet, pass resolutions commendatory of themselves, in the name of the people of Otago. Contested elections are indeed reduced to matters of pure personal feeling; the tradesman voting for his customer and personal spite, the hope of benefits to come or gratitude for past services actuating men instead of principle or a desire for the general weal. All this has been commented on again and again, and at last the public appear to have realised their position. To the Tuapeka Land League the credit of exciting a healthy interest in public affairs in not the least important portion of the Province is «ntirely due, and from the action of a portion of the electors of Roslyn, thert appears to be a hope that its example will influence other communities. At Roslyn we have a notorious wirepuller, whose election would formerly have been almost a certainty, opposed on purely publi* grounds by ft gentleman who has up to this time held himself aloof from politics. The land question is made the great test, and wa feel confident that the residents of th» Roslyn district will not stultify themselves by returning a man whose private interests are entirely antagonistic to a popular solution of th« difficulty. But there is another cause almost as potent as the disgust to mixing with the persons who make politics a trade, which leads many to keep away from the polls. In our small community, every man is to a,considerable extent dependent on others, and cannot afford to offend his more influential neighbours. H# dart not givf his vot* conscientiously, for he knows to act thus would prove injurious to his prosperity, so if he be reasonably honest he refrains from voting altogether. There is but one remedy for this — a reme4r we advocate with great reluctance, and only from a firm belief t&at no other would prove efficient. W« mean voting by ballot. To this there are unquestionably strong theoretical objections, but expediency must, after all, be considered before theory; and the experiment is at all events worth a triaL lit is the only system which at oncja affords perfect security to the vdter, and virtually „ prevents bribery of any kind whatever, and as nojdoubt the necessity for its use would in the course of time pass away, it need only be looked upon ks a temporary experiment. Another great source of political indifference is the difficulty of getting 'vortliy candidates, to offer themselves, and in this | also the condition of Otago approximates to that cjf America. " Runf for Congress V 1 we once heard an [American professor cay, whose patriptism none could tloubt, and who has' a worldwide imputation as a poet and humourist, " run for Congress; I would sooner; qualify for the States Prison," and a similar feeling actuates many of our best citizens. But this difficulty might be got over by the public showing their determination

to award honours only to the deserving and meritorious — a consummation most devoutly to be wished for. We have thus touched upon a few of the causes which tend to make Otago a perfect pattern misgovernment ; and althoughrour remarks have been specially directed to that Province, they would hold good of almost any other Australasian colony. We trust, how•▼er, that a good, time ig really •oming, when the name of politician will cease to be •> reproach and a bye- word, and when the governing powfT will be entrusted to men worthy of so solemn a trust