The Westport Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1873.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1133, 16 December 1873, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1873.

Anticipating by a few hours the official announcement that Mr Oswald Curtis has been duly and legally re-elected Superintendent of the Province, the public may be congratulated upon the almost instant cessation of antagonistic party feeling incident, in great or less degree, to all political contests, but especially marking the election just ended Whatever might have been the special influences at work causing the contest to wax at times almost bitterly, the climax of the strife once reached each party has been Willing to admit the soundness of the philosophy maintaining that whatever is is best. To the supporters of Mr Curtis the satisfaction of having achieved success will no doubt be tempered with regret that they have achieved so much. A " triumphant majority" was not so much desired as a bare majority, which, while sufficient to reinstate Mr Curtis in office, would have shown that the demerits of his rival rather than any particular merits of his own had influenced exertions in his behalf. A negative rather than a pronounced victory would have best satisfied the majority of electors who voted for Mr Curtis. Having, in advocating his cause, acted alone on the principle of doing what seemed best and right for the Province as a whole, rather than what might be considered expedient in behalf of individuals or localities, we must now revert to the position heretofore maintained of antagonism to all provincial rule that is not at once active and persistent in raising the Province from the present most undignified position of being a laggard in the race for prosperity. The number of votes polled against Mr Curtis in the Blind Bay districts should convince him of the dissatisfaction thereexisting, and he need not " lay the flattering unction to his soul " that because an influential section of the goldfields community has worked to secure his election, that any willing, ness exists on the part of the community or individuals to condone his many past offences, or look with more lenient eye upon his future actions. In again obtaining permission to assume the chair of Superintendent Mr Oswald Curtis has placed himself at the bar of public opinion, and will be expected to show by instant and energetic action that he is prepared and auxious to fulfil the responsibilities of the trust committed to his keeping. The days of a do-nothing policy are numbered ; the people will no longer submit to it. They have elected a Council wherein new and vigorous blood has been infused, and they have re-elected as Superintendent one, who had- a better man opposed him, they would have willingly permitted to retire to the obscurity of private life. They have faith in him to the extent of believing that he has the ability to wisely govern if he but choses to exercise it, and they will now insist, that working hand in hand with the new Council, he shall put forth his utmost energies to retrieve past errors.