The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 770, 31 January 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 1871.

Of the three candidates who have presented themselves for election to represent the district in the Colonial Parliament, two, Mr Donne and Mr O'Conor, have addressed public meetings at Westport and elsewhere, and have given expression to their opinions upon the various niatiers likely to engage the attention of the Legis lature. Mr O'Conor's address did not go very far towards enlightening his hearers as to the means of remedying the evils which he so loudly denounced. He would favor the immediate abolition of the export duty on gold, but it was in no way suggested how he would make up the large deficiency in the revenue which would follow upon the abolition of so fruitful a source of income. Mr O'Conor possesses, in.an eminent degree, the will to destroy but he would appear either to have given little or no thought to the various matters referred to in his address, or to be totally unable to devise any scheme by which the defective legislation and the forms of taxation that press unduly upon certain classes of the community may be amended. Mr O'Conor avows himself the champion of the working classes and the miner par excellence, but, at the same time, he much mistakes the claps whose support he seeks to secure in assuming that they are an ignorant dissatisfied mob, who will be led away by hustings clap trap and record their votes before coming to a careful and deliberate decision as to the practicability and soundness of the views expressed by the opposing candidates.

We must confess to observing in lam also a very objectionable plasticity upon some questions involving very large interests. MrO'Conor declared himself at once a protectionist, and a freetrader. liftne matter of breadstuff's and articles of general consumption be was, in the fullest sense, a free trader, but lie was also in favor of protecting native industries so long as such protection was not at the expense of the consumer or prejudicial to any other industry. What the speaker desired to convey by the latter portion of tbe remark is not very intelligible, as it must at once strike all men who will both read and think that the protection of any industry means an increased cost to the consumer of the article produced. Possibly Mr O'Conor may have desired to say that any temporary disadvantage, entailed by the protection of certain industries, would be more tban counterbalanced by their quickly obtaining such a footing as would enable the manufacturer of certain articles of consumption to compete successfully with those imported from foreign countries. When, however, Mr O'Conor gravely informs his audience that protection may be applied so as not to prejudice the consumer, he evidences a want of understanding on his own part or assumes its absence on the part of his hearers. Equally contradictory and unintelligible are Mr O'Conor's views on the govermental financial scheme. He is not opposed to loans but he is particularly opposed to increased taxation, yet he suggests no method by which the proposed loan ma\ be expended so as to reduce the taxation per head of the population. Mr expressed himself in favor of the goldfields' water supply scheme, passed during the last session of Parliament, and he also stated his antagonism to the continuance of provincial institutions.

If, even the views advanced by Mr O'Coiior had induced a small degree of support in this portion of the constituency, his exhibitions in arid out of the Council as member for Westport, the experience his fellowcitizens have gained of him, while connected with various local public bodies, and. his behaviour during the present election, should more than suffice to alienate from him any man having the slightest pretension to good-feeling, decency, or who is possessed of ordinary intelligence. What possible benefit can these goldfields derive from forwarding Mr O'Conor to the Assembly as their representative ? Is it probable that his presence will be less likely to obstruct the business of the Assembly than it did of that of the Provincial Council; or is it less likely that he will indulge in the low personalities and full-flavored abuse which have characterised his proceedings on every local committee of which he has been a member, and which have been paraded with ostentatious vulgarity on every opportunity ? During the coming session some of the most important questions, as affecting the goldfields of the entire colony, will be submitted to consideration ; and veiy likely the fate of the provinces may also be decided upon. In the event of the latter being swept away, provision would have to be made securing to communities, such as this, the advantages of local self government, and furnishing them with the means of giving effect to such an institution. We ask,would M r O'Conor, under any circumstances, be calculated to secure any advantage for us? would he exercise anyinfluonce ? would he be listened to with patience, much less respect ? We cannot but regard it as a calamity if the community were to return, as their member, one who never condescends to be bound by the rules of Parliament, the decorum of debate, or the etiquette of a gentleman.