THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, November 22, 1860.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 218, 22 November 1860, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER . “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, November 22, 1860.

The monosyllable “no ” is very easily pro- ’ _ noju^pe^.but Eas said,‘that while ’is'necessary to a man’s I‘'coinfort'ansuccess1 ‘'coinfort'ansuccess in life, there is no word in the'English language the use of which it is ; ' more difficult to learn. A striking example of this is found iii the doings of the present ministry, whose fatal facility in saying “yes” when they should have said “ no,” has brought them into a few unpleasant predicaments during fhe ..past] Session. : " - For instance, when fault was found with them for increasing; the expenditure for steam communication .so greatly above what had been authorized, all the justification they couid, . . or; at least attempted to give, was, that there . ~was a great outcry on the part of the people for an increase of postal and other communica . tipn,,and that with this demand they com- (. plied..AiidfWhen their easy assent is,given to a measure which the G overnor or Native minister thinks necessary, although it is opposed.tp their own better judgment, and they afterwards find that there is ; a strong popular feeling against it,.they outrun the current of public opinion ;-and, as in the case of the Arms bill, they would make doubly stringent a regulation which they had not long , before consented to relax. They cannot say “ no” to the Governor, and they cannot say “ no” to the, people ; and so they oscillate between two extremes, and their legislation is an evasion of principle, and .a tiding over present diffi culties as best they may. They are as reeds shaken with, the wind. A southerly “ buster” is the only breeze they endeavour to resist; and as they will not bend, they must break, before its irresistible, force. In 1858, through

some curious and inexplicable undercurrent, the little vessel which carried the mandate for the letting loose of this cutting wind—“ creber proccllis” —arrived at its destination too late. But during the past few weeks its strength has tried the ministry ; and it is no , wonder that they dread it, and do what they can to shield themselves from its violence. Thus, although

so facile in giving assent generally, there is hut the one answer,, “ no,” - to any- demand made on behalf.of .Wellington province. Their animu.?, indeed, against , this .Province is obvious and strong. But for them, land would „ have been bought, roads formed a greater extent, and many, improvements made , which-the /Superintendent has at heart, Bu‘ for them, the working men in the province Would have been fully employed; that emi j gration which, has been going on for some months past would not have been ; and general prosperity would have, shed its blessings on agriculturist and merchant. It behoves us, then, to show that we appreciate the efforts of those who have fought our battle so well during the past session of the General Assembly. If the electors are true to themselves, next session is likely to see, as occupants of the Treasury Benches, men who will do justice to this province. jTJie same representatives, or men of similar views, are expected to be sent up from, the other provinces, and the members "for"the ‘new constituencies are more likely to be against, than for, the extreme centralising policy of the present ministry. By keeping together during the past session on all the ! great ; questions dfscussed, the Wellington members have done good service to the Province, and to the general interests, of the country. As will be seen from our Wellington 'Correspondents letter, there is the... likelihood of the late member’s for the southern districts being again returned ;..ami it is to be presumed that here,' we, .can .get no better, as ceVtaiuly we can get no more talented, or more influrepresentative than Mr. Fox. What

Iris views may;Jb,e,'as;,to,rtg?iin offering his services to this constituency we ka w not ; 4>h.t lie will no 'ilohbt'sbon Vhe lieFe 'iii person to inform the electors of this, and of his proceedings during the past session. His immediate neighbours in /Jaugitikei have a considerable claim on him ; but we should think that he Would still prefer thenom. de. guerre ‘by which he lias been so long known-—“ the; lion, member for Wanganui.”. In:, either; case ; a new member is required for the district, now forming two constituencies and -it ia desirable, seeing that the elections come on so soon, that some steps should be taken to secure-the services of a gentleman qualified Tor the -post, . who may represent the opinions of his constituents as faithfully as our present member, and go along with him in furthering measures brought forward" for' the general or provincial weal. For this purpose a man of sound and independent judgment is wanted, rather than a fluent speaker. We regret to see, iii' "the public prints, some members of the house spoken of derisively because ' they do -‘not make long, harangues on its floor. Each individual has his own gift; and it is no discredit to any man that he is not a Pitt, a Brougham, or a Gladstone. Men who do not speak are not the least influential. In the greatest " political revolution of modern times, Aieyes, who was 110 orator, and who doubted his capacity even for writing, did more- to direct-the movement than the popular and gifted Mirabeau. The former thought and plarlied, and, where he was opposed to Mirabeau, prevailed. In the greatest question respecting the liberties of mankind agitated iii modern times, Joseph Sturge, the plain Quaker, who could scarcely utter in public a few short and common-place sentences, exerted an influence not. inferior to that of the sweetly eloquent Wilberforce, and much greater than : Wilberforce’s suoeessor iii the house, Fowell Buxton. Wanganui or Rangitikei ,wiil, therefore, do itself no disgrace in sending to the Assembly a man: who, though he should never utter a word in public, may be able by his assiduous attendance on business, his wise counsel-in committees, ; and his judicious votes, to exert a.,most beneficial influence in the house. . '