AN ELECTIONEERING EPISODE

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 37, 3 October 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN ELECTIONEERING EPISODE

Tin-: following anccloto is related by the writer of *' These and Those Memories," which have been recently published. It refers to Captain Peic.y Morgan, who won the seat for Wc-t Mea'.h so.no forty

years ago. After the poll he went to diun with the clerical members of his election committee. Besides the host, a venerable V.F. of the dioersa and nine priests made up the parly. After dinner a very active and eloquent cleric-, who lived to regret and atone for much ill-advised political -.voiles, propovd the health o£ Morgan, " a gentleman who had pledged himself nt-v.r to vote with any (lOvernment which was not prepared to accept the principles of tenant right, and to carry tho repeal of Lord John linssell's iniquitous Kcolcsinstical Titles Dill." The toast was drunk with unanimous enthusiasm. Morgan replied briefly and quite effectively, saying :—•' (Hi mv weid of honour, I shall keep that pledge which you so warmly mark with individual approval. How diiHoult that might liave been, if my pledge" had not (.-ecu ratified by your social comfirmation and your i.earty cheers, must come home to you, my trusty, eloiical supporters, by I lie perusal of eight letters which, within this week, i Jinvc bad tho honour to receive from eight gentlemen of the company now .seated at. I his I able ; especially if these eight letters were written with Iho graceful purpose of confining my pledges to represent our county as an unfettered man, and without inducement to prostitute my vote in the llouso at the price of Ministerial favour/' He paused, took out tho letters, sorted them and passed them about, but no letter to its writer.

'• Father John, that's your neighbour father Tern's letter: This is yours. Vou can read his. and lie yours. Dr. li . the reverend gentleman at my left, can perns) your note about the tide waitership for your nephew. IJero is his own about tho sub-iuupcctoi's place i:i tho revenue police, which lie wants for hi-i worthy cousin." And so Morgan showed the letters among the 11 political clerics, eight of whom had already '• made pltty " for sumo ofliee for his own clients. - '