The Westport Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1125, 18 November 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1873.

.As words cast to the winds, as drops fit" water on ilio ebbing tide, has been the advice tendered to electors that no excess of zeal should mark their actions during the contest tor the office of Superintendent, hut that eae • elector, relying on his own deliberate opinion, should honestly record his vote for the best man of the two aspiring candidates, free from all personal prejudice or party pressure. We had entertained the hope that, so far as concerned this journal, wo might have been permitted to hold neutral ground and that between the one candidate—whose past aduiiuistiatiou we have, in

giving voice to public opinion, ho often condemned—and t >o other, who j»h a "local" man claims the suffrages of the electors—albeit his qualifications for the office he aspires to are hut doubtful —we might, have beei) credited with tho good intention ot h dding the balance impartially, and while throw* inn open our columns to free expression of opinions by the. friends of bot'i candidates, yet influencing neither. But this privilege is denied us. The O'Conor |>arty in "Westport has suddenly become rampant, and, declaring that if not with them we are agaiust them, now actually threaten coercive measures and retaliation ! We may be bent, but certainly not broken, and with a profound contempt for all blustering threats, while regretting dissension with those we have endeavoured to serve faithfully, we tell them plainly and deliberately that we will not support Mr O'ppnqr, but, in common with every other section of the New Zealand press, giving utterance to opinions on the subject, we maintain that of the two candidates he is the least desirable, possessing neither the training, ability, or, so far as his past actions have proved, integrity 0 f purpose to fulfil the duties of Superintendent with honor to himself or benefit to the province. It is possible that he may be elected, the chances in favor of either candidate are as the hazard of a die, and, should his ambition be gratified, this journal, out of respect to his high office, and in the interests of this commuTiiiy will with all earnestness of purpose strive to uphold the dignity of his position and do all that humble help may do to aid any efforts of Mr O'Conor for the public good. Not out of respect for the man, for we have none ; not in confidence, for that feeling towards him has long since do parted; but in respect to the power entrusted to him in controlling the destinies of the province wherein our lot has fallen. So too if Mr Curtis is re-elected, as we fervently hope he may be rather than Mr O'Oonor, having some faith in his promise to work with more energy and directness of purpose than has hitherto prevailed,this journal, to the modest extent of its power will support him. And if the new Superintendent, whoever he may be, offends against public opinion, we shall as before be nothing backward in giving full exnression to that opinion. And now having, we hope unmistakeably, given utterance to our sentiments, which, in deference to the opinions of others, we would have fain withheld, had not such declaration been wrung from us, we would refer to this threat of retaliation ! The O'Conor partizans declare that if the Westport, Times will uot support their candidate they will wipe the Westport Times out of existence. Mr O'Conor dabbling in trade, as in politics, has become the happy possessor of a white elephant, a printing plant which, being troubled like Mrs Toodles with "a confounded itch for buying bargains," he has rescued from the oblivion of a marine store. Shrewd man of business, eunuing in trade as in fencing with argument, he seizes his opportunity. He wants an organ, a mouth organ, one that will play whatever tunc he chooses, but he chooses not himself to pay the piper. His supporters, his admirers, his dupe?, his expectant partners in the spoils of office, shall become the happy possessors of the white elephant. They shall set it to work to grind out tunes for his glorification. If Eugene O'Conor becomes " His Honor," he then will supply it with provender. If not it matters little, the beast will be ofF his hands and some one else must keep it. His party, the O'Conor party, carried away by the excess of zeal, against which we have vainly spoken, fall willingly into the snare and raise the cry for an " independent " paper. Heaven save the mark, if it be as tho last paper Mr O'Conor controlled! But unable to stifle recollection that the Westport Times, under present management, has done them some service, furthered their intents, expressed their views, upheld their interests, borne in their misfortunes, and worked for scanty gain in hope of shariug in their better days. We say, unable to stifle remembrance, they cast about for some pretext, some plausible excuse for their opposition. They raise the cry first that the proprietors of the Westport Times will not support Mr O'Conor by reason of personal enmity against him. Secondly, that the Westport Times is not an independent "Westport" paper, because it is owned by a proprietary publishing papers also at Charleston and Greymouth. To those objections we must perforce make brief reply. The proprietors of the Westport Times feel no enmity against Eugene Joseph O'Couor, expectant Superintendent. The feeling is of contempt, an utter want, of respect for or faith in his principles, either as a politician or man of business ; a positive conviction, based on stern experience and knowledge of the man under many phases of his career, both public and private, that he will do no credit to the office he aspires to. Now with regard to the second charge. Abandoning any false delicacy, we uuist tell our Westport friends that for the past twelvemonths the very existence of the Westport Times has been dependent on the circumstance of the proprietors having three or more strings to their bow. Without frequent help from the othi r branches of their business, the Westport branch, if depending solely on the meagre support given in Westport, must have succumbed. Having faith in the f'uiure prosperity of Westport, we have worked hard and battled with

dull times like our neighbors, and in plain words, sunk much capital. Tho same business organization that has enabled us, so far, to give our Westport constituents a decently conducted journal, no matter how dull the times or scarce the circulating me Hum, will enable us, we venture to think, to hold our own and live down any present illuatured opposition. Of course, arguments and appeals to common sense are just now useless, or we might show the O'Conor party that in ordinary trade competition no sooner will a chance arise of a second paper living in Westport than the void will be filled by legitimate members of tho printing craft,withoutauy interference from amateur publishers, and iu the interest of Westport the proprietors of this paper will not repine at seeing the day arrive when a second paper may find legitimate support here. Its presence will be an evidence of prosperity to which tho place has been long a stranger. But anything said in this respect to our sudden adversaries will, for the next two or three weeks, fall on deadened ears. Their mandate is " kneel down and worship the brazen image we have set up or we'll send you through the fire even unto perdition! " We reply respectfully, but emphatically, Messieurs the O'Conorites, pile on your firebrands ! Start an " independent" press as soon as you like, we are glad, exceedingly glad, to know there is so much spare cash in Westport as is needed to run a joint stock paper.