Untitled

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2695, 19 October 1889, Page 2

Mn H. Rochk, as will be seen from hia tetter in another column, writes in very much the same strain with reference to Mr Bryce's candidature for the Waipa seat, as did Mr J. D. Hill, of Alexandra, in a recent issue. Both gentlemen take a sensible view of the matter, and we are convinced they represent the intelligent portion of the constituency. Wo quite agree with them that, before we can finally determine to elect Mr Bryce, it will be nccessary for him to place his opinions on leading political questions of the hour before the electors. The electors have a perfect right to expect that, it can never be imagined for a moment that they will be so callous of their privileges and suffrages as to elect eveu so capable and superior man as Mr Bryce without first receiving a political declaration from him. Nor must it be supposed that Mr Bryce is the man to commit so gross a breach of courtesy ; he is too experienced in political life not to know what is duo to a body of people who seek todo honour to his undoubted talents by choosing him as their representative in Parliament, provided his views meet with their approval. It must be borne in miud that when first approached to become a candidate Mr Bryce at once recognised the delicacy of the position and refused the request because he feared he could not personally visit the district and conte»t the election. Even now he can scarcely be considered a candidate, for he has stated that he is willing to be nominated provided he is satisfied the requisition he will be presented with h sufficiently indicative of the wish of

the electora'e that he should stand. When he is in possession of the requisition, and finite it is a strong and infl inntial one, he will, we are sure, lose no time in taking the electors into his confidence: and give thcin a full exposition of his opinions or: colonial affairs. Indeed, it is possible that, in deference to many of his staunch supporters who are in communication with him, he may publish an address in anticipation of the requisition, and that he will ultimately come before the Waipa electors in person. The requisition lias met with an extraordinary measure of success and, from the number of names attached to it so far, placcs the state of feeling in regard to Mr Bryce beyond question ; and no time will be lost in transmitting the requisition to him, so soon as all the sheets have been returned. There are many yet amongst us who favour a local candidate to securc " our local wants," without any clear idea of what they mean by " local wants." We have striven with all the energy at our command to lead the people away from those narrow and selfish aims which have so degraded our national spirit, corrupted our public men, demoralised our institutions, and brought disaster upon the colony. We have devoted our pen to influence men's minds to accept a broader and more elevating conception of their duty to the country and to do their part, separately and collectively, in the noble task of building up a great and proud nation. Of course, we do not expect to bring about the millenium, when all will be of one mind upon every subject ; but iit this we think we may take comfort in the thought that wc have not altogether striven in vain, nor, that, in the exercise of that trust which relicionsly belongs to the press, we have failed to correctly guage public opinion and the intelligence of our fellow-colonists. Not only do the assurances which have come form all parts of the Waipa constituency demon tr.ite that localism has given place to the higher plane of a national spirit, but expressions of public opinion in other portions of the colony shew that the selection of Mr John Brycc for the Waipa seat lias been hailed with satisfaction as pioving the determination of the colony to purge their Parliament of its evils, and to securc for it a truly national character. Reforms must coine from the people themselves, and Waipa will have an opportunity of setting the better example to the rest of the colony, when they elect Mr Bryce for his statesmanship and colonial value, free from petty local, parish hunger.