The Westport Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1874.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1160, 20 March 1874, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1874.

The petition or protest of certain ratepayers of Westport who in uncertain fashion have addressed the Borough Council is a curiosity of subtle meaning. xSo subtle indeed that to commonplace mortals it passeth understanding. To the author thereof, whoever he may bo, it may be said,

" Sir, you have an exchequer of words, and no other treasure to give your followers."

We " wonder, and in wondering still wonder" how many among the two score protestors, affixing their names to the document, troubled themselves to read, or in reading considered its purport. Will there not be found somo among them who have not entirely relinquished the right of thinking for themselves, and who seeing it in print will be ready to declare that they knew not its contents, and would, if they could, remove from themselves the imputation of having acted foolishly ? Perusal and calm consideration thereof must convince them that it lacks expression of honesty and good intent, whatever might have been the ruling motive of its production. It says much but it says nothing straightforwardly. It insinuates motives, but that which should be said in good set terms or not at all is hinted at obscurely. Instead of giving friendly counsel or suggestion it drivels over fancied grievances. In this can be traced again the evil of careless habits. Given a petition monger, with the customary assurance of his class, and a roll of paper with writing thereon, there will always be found a sufficient number of easy going individuals who will sign any kind of document presented to them. "What's it all about," they ask, and they are told just so much and no more than is supposed will suit their particular interests or passing fancies. Good easy souls ! They ask no more questions, but in perfect innocence scrawl their names to the document with an idea that they are doing a public duty. They find themselves deceived, but they are slow at learning caution. Others there are who sign their names to a document, thus presented, just as they would throw a stray coin to a beggar to vld thcrnsolvoa r>f trnublesome importunity, and others, again, sign because so and so, of their particular clique, directs them. All of which tends to bring the system of memorialising into contempt, and more so the memorialists. Upon the subject of public works or any other cognate matter there is no need to join issue, either against the Borough Council or the Council's opponents. Certain defined duties and responsibilities are eutrusted to the Council, and if thatbodyfailtoact justly therein, then are the ratepayers fully justified in raising protest, or in calling members to account. Always provided it be done in a business-like and straightforward manner, and that grievances, either real or imaginary, be explicitly set forth. Non-obser-vance of this necessarily raises the suspiciou of class or clique partizanship, and to this end the document under notice indubitably tends. It must have been concocted in hot haste, and signed unadvisedly. In its present guise it is not likely to obtain much attention from any member of the Council endued with the slightest feelings of self-respect. Passing thought! Would it bo impertinent to enquire how many there are among the individuals styling themselves " wo the ratepayers " who have not yet paid their rates, and also how many who arc not rated at all ?