The Otautau Standard AND WALLACE COUNTY CHRONICLE Tuesday, Decembner 12th, 1905. THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 33, 12 December 1905, Page 2

The Otautau Standard AND WALLACE COUNTY CHRONICLE Tuesday, Decembner 12th, 1905. THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE.

No great battle was ever more decisive and overwhelming than the battle of the ballot box on Wednesday last. The result is so decided that it admits of no doubt as to the people's choice of leaders. The policy of the party m power for the past 16 years has received the indelible stamp of public approval, and the party is cemented to a continuance of the progressive legislation whioh has marked"this colony out for recognition by the older countries of the world. The great perceptive faculties possessed by the Hon. R. J. Seddon We?e never more prominent than .m the contest just closed. The generalship that has foreseen and guided tie political steed up to the eve of tho fight, and that had gauged the wish of the people so accurately, marks the Leader of the House as a unique reader of the minds of the people. Great lessons are to be learned from the result, and* one is the utter futility of the Opposition as existing up to now to continue the tactics of the past. That Party must perforce shake off the shackles of conservatism and remodel the whole of its policy to come more into line with modern thought and ambition. That an Opposition will be created no. one doubts. Seventy-six men, the chosen of the people, aad therefore stamped and credited with reasoning faculties above their fellows, cannot meet m Parliament without cleaving into two parties. I one of which must be Opposition. But the Opposition of the pa«t is as dead as Julius Caesar, and its funeral was attended last Wednesday by the whole populace. The Premier of this colony has, m the past, shown himself a great man and a great leader, and at no time m nis history has the opportunity been greater than the present a&magnifying, that gr -at ness. In the hour of triumph and' the zenith of prosperity, the true greatness of a . man's mind is tested, and such is the hour arrived to Mr Seddon. That he recognises the increased j-esponsibility resting upon him is manifest from his address to the electors at Wellington on the night of his victory. The Premier is placed m the position of an absolute autocrat. He has been returned to power with a crushing majority, with only the semblance of the tail of an Opposition, and is thus confronted with the duty of so acting: as to hold the balanoe even, and act I justly to political friend and foe alike. The responsibility is enormous, the; opportunity outstanding, and the position without precedent. The colony has shown its confidence m Mr Seddon as it has done m no previous Premier, and the colony expects m re turn the exhibition of those qualities whioh portray greatness of mind and heart. In the struggle the inevitable has happened. A great victory also means a grea,t defeat, and the present conflict has resulted m the almost entire annihilation of the old Opposition. All the great generals of that party have fallen, and the remnant is but a spineless, headless wekln g r which will require parefijl and judicious nursing to save it from premature

d-eafch. FoßfouraWer foemen hayg gfln 3 down before the all conquering army of progress, and veterans who have hum \n, the forefront for more than one decade have been relegated to private life. Qonapassion and sentimental consideration ' are not looked for and not expected m a, determined war, and would be spurned, but chivalry and generosity towards an opponent are appreciated by all right thinkers, and; an act of chivalry that would commend itself to the entire colony, would be that the victor m the fight, the Hon. R. J. Seddon, would a,t' once call to the Legislative Council his erstwhile opponent and confrere, Sir William Russell, whose personality and courteousness have been so marked m tb,eir influence for maintaining the high character and dignity of the House.