THE SOUTHERN GROSS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVI, Issue 1242, 9 August 1859, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN GROSS.

Tuesday, August 9, 1859.

LUCEO NON ÜBO. "If I have been extinguUhed, yet there ri»e A thousand beacons from the spark I bore."

THE PROPHETS AND THE* PRESS.

Iw another Jmrfc of our columns will be found a leiding article, upon which more than ordi-

nary pains have been evidently bestowed, passing judgment upon the various members of the New Zealand Press. As the Independent, from which the article has been reprinted, is the organ of " The Wellington Prophet 3," (a designation by which the three F's were known in the House of Representatives, from the oracular style of their dicta,) the opinions expressed in it, on such a subject, can scarcely be passed by without notice. That the Prophets are right clear fellows, in their way, is admitted. But they have been always [more renowned for talent than for tact,— deficiency in which, is the necessary consequent of that intolerant spirit and overbearing disposition by which they are ?o markedly characterized. Through this deficiency they never know how to make the most of a case for themselves. They spoil all, by taking too obviously a onesided view j they look to the one side of the shield alone, and declare the material of which the whole is made, without taking the trouble to cast an eye behind, to see what there is on the reverse ; or, to borrow the Colonial Treasurer's more homely, but more graphic illustration, they are as flat-fish, with eyes on the one side of the head only. As it is with them in action, so is it in writing; they lack the art of influencing the reader. Canta bene, said Crescentini of a clever singer, ma non mi persuade. They abandon themselves entirely to what may be aptly termed " the Beauty and the Beast school " of composition. They can see no ability, or, we very much fear, even honesty, beyond their own immediate following; while for those who refuse to walk in leading strings, no terms of reprobation are coo severe. To say that they use a "goose quill dipped in gall" would do them injustice; for some of their diatribes are most amusingly written, notwithstanding their bitterness, and are read with avidity. But that they are addicted over-much to " painting pictures with a blacking brush," is acknowledged. Their eyes appear to have lost the perception of all colours, save absolute white, and black ; the first of which they appropriate for themselves and friends It was so with those remarkably clever sketches of members of the House, which were drawn by them shortly after the Session of 1856. They showed irrefutably that all the talent, all the farsightedness, all the political knowledge, and all the eloquence was on their side of the House, — and, indeed, the verborum facundia has never been denied them, — but still it remained pateut, that some how or other, perhaps from the jealousy of tho^e who object to monopolies of every description, they had failed to win. People read th.c sketches, laughed consumedly, and laid them down again, without beting influenced in the least For to borrow a phrase from the old-fashioned pleaders, the writers had neglected to make their statements colourable. The critique upon the New Zealand press, is liable to this objection, even more than were the sketches. A broad line is drawn at once, between that portion of the press which fires red hot shot at the Stafford ministry, and that which either gives support or allows fair-play. All the ability, and all the sincerity, is of course vested in the former (we presume by tin self derived necessity of the case) ; while in regard to the latter, the only wonder appears to be that they should have been permitted to drag out a lingering existence so long. Now this is very clumsy management, because it fails in its intended effect. It would be very well could people only be induced to believe all that they are told ; but wherever gladiatorial partisanship is manifested, a leaning towards the other side takes place ; wherever the case is overdrawn, incredulity springs up. A really able party advocate knows how to assume a virtue — to manifest a semblance of fairness — to hold the balance in his hand and make believe to weigh. If you desire to influence by argument,' begin by admitting that there is much to be said on both sides. We recommend to " The Prophets," as an exercise, the careful study of Gibbon, the greatest master, perhaps, of semblance that the world has seen. Look, for instance, at the consummate art displayed by the affectation of fairness with waich Le studiously examines the vision of Constantine, — by the weight which he allow 3 to evidence in favour of a miracle which nobody believes. His tact is admirable; he does nob affect to think the evidence conclusive, for his object would thus become too palpable ; but he treats it with impartiality, even with favour, by way of creating the impression of his having treated •another class of miracles, upon which he desired to cast a doubt, in a similar spirit. Far be it from us to uphold the obtaining of political influence based upon a sham. We merely indicate the manner in which it might be acquired, and shew how the Prophets have failed. For is it not a sham — a most translucent deception, from which they take their start. The garment they have donned is of too thin a texture, even to cover their nakedness

Acer et indomitus, libe?tatisqtte magister, Cretice, perluces. One of the F's, at least, a scholar, and a ripe one, will understand us. In all this colony, there was never a knot of really able men, so open-mouthed — so blatant about liberalism, who have acted in such thorough contrariety to the principles which they profess lntokrant beyond measure, their only object appears to be mercilessly to run down whatever stands in the way of their own desires. Like the early Calvinists, they uphold the right of private'judguaent, — uphold freedom of opinion, when it happens to be in precise accordance with their own. The stake is the alternative. They might possibly stretch a point so far in favour of an opponent, as to allow a choice between roasting and impalement. Why should not others be free to enjoy their own right of opinion as well as they ? It is merely this, — that they cannot and will not bear with freedom; we have yet to meet with the ultraliberal who will. Even when they came to terms, for a purpose, and formed an alliance, they shewed that they would not be satisfied until they had a rope round the neck, to drag every one else through the mir*. Yet it is just possible that the colony may contain ome few, almost as good men as themselves, and at the least as determined to maintain independence of action. j Are they able themselves to forget Dr. Fea- ' therston's speech in the House, which broko up as compact a party as ev«r was formed ? Or is the lesson read to them by the city of Wellington—once their own strong hold, but where they were at last best knowu, altogether thrown away upon them, when, after what they call the people had been made a cats- J paw for a certain time, and absolute revolt took place, twelve Wellington members the entire number allotted, (an ereoc never

beard of before in the annals of electioneering) were returned in opposition of the Provincial Government. The simple reason was, that the Prophets bad tyrannised too much and too long; they wanted the tact to kaow when to stop That they will partially recover their influence — that they will profit by the lesson that has been read them, is more than probable. Their undoubted talent, and many good qualities which are admitted by none more readily than by ourselves, must necessarily buoy them up. They cannot sink to zero. But we have one fixed opinion, which fiie cannot melt viit of us, that there is no tyrranny like that of a demagogue, and willingly seize the occasion of shewing up a case in point. May we be permitted, before leaving this part of the subject, to recommend to the perusal of " The Prophets " a work which we have ourselves been long acquainted, but which is apparently new to them j — the first famous pica, in England, for tolerance, on a comprehensive basis and on deep seated foundations, " The Liberty of Prophesying," by Jeremy Taylor, — the first, though dating bo late as 1647. But 1(347, which is to us, in the race of progress, a date belonging to the ruck, is. still in advance with Wellington ideas. Quitting generalities, we turn, with some reluctance to the observations specially directed against ourselves. Each of the journals which has not swallowed the Wellington test of orthodoxy — unswerving hostility to the Stafford ministry, must in like manner take care of itself. We are accused of being behind the times. Very possibly ; but we are at least very far before hand with the Prophets. We can perfectly recollect their school in the old country, and as perfectly recollect its decline. They belong to by-gone times, to the old-fashioned school of radicalism, represented by Hunt, member for Preston, (of blacking if not of blacking-brush notoriety,) and by some others of the same stamp This school has been long since consigned to the tomb of all th« Capulets, — superseded by the philosophical radicals, who have at least that learning which is held in such contempt at Wellington. But, like the potato root, when almost exhausted, it seems to acquire fresh vitality when transplanted into a virgin soil. But for actual experience, we could not have believed it possible that men could be found at the present day, who can jn all sincerity (which we do not doubt) take credit to themselves for enlarged views on the strength of spouting platitudes about Habeas Corpus, Bill of Rights, and Magna Charta, or engaging in childish " cuff and collar controversies" in the House. In another of their objections, the cloven foot is unconsciously protruded Fault is found with our constant endeavour to raise the tone of the colonial press. Characteristically enough, they would^bave us write down to the level of those "whose talk is of bullocks" They assume that we pass our time in "cutting blocks with a razor." This, we opine, is a very pooj 1 compliment to the intelligence of what they are pleased to term " the people." We do not treat the many with such supercilious contempt. We lay before all the best that we can offer, and believe that it is understood. But we do not, and will not write exclusively for the less educated portion of the community. We object to exclusiveness, in every form; and cannot perceive why the more highly educated class should be debarred from the occasional refreshment of an apposite quotation. This, however, carries us further into the subject, which is very gingerly touched by the prophets, who well knew what dangerous ground they were treading. incedunt per ignes Suppositos cineri doloso. For it 'is much to be feared that they have themselves a taste for garbage ; that there is more of the vulture than of the eagle about them, and that a little carrion does not come amiss It is only too easy to perceive where their real preference lies. It must even be admitted that our, critic, the 'Independent,' lapses from time to time — we are loth to write the word — into vulgarity, not only of diction, but of feeling. It is true that in the old country, the very suspicion of being "connected witht he press/ involves a certain loss of position in society but the real duty of those who arc affected by this conventionalism, is, not to adapt themselves to the lower grade, but rather to refuse acknowledgment of it, and to maintain themselves, in action, at the highest level. Why should "able editors" be objected to for insisting upon writing like gentlemen ? We are quite aware that the very word is disagreable to many who do not really know what it means, — who regard it as merely a class distinction. We believe that even our present Ministry do not understand the meaning of it, if we may judge by an expression which escaped the lips of the Colonial Secretary in the House, — that he would be " very sorry to see an Assembly composed entirely of gentlemen." We sincerely hope that after the next elections it may be composed of nothing else, — of members all alike endowed with sincerity of purpose, with kindliness of feeling, with abundant " pluck," and an instinctive abhorrence of all that is mean or paltry. But it is possible that the ColofliaF Secretary's thoughts may have been running upon "fine gentlemen" at the time ; a variety of the breed which we ourselves hold in as s-reat dislike as does the veriest Jack Cade that ever harangued a mob. The "able editor," who desires to write "like a gentleman," will not really find himself hampered or trammelled in the least degree. Without degenerating into licentiousness of expression, he will find ample opportunity for giving vent to all the exuberant virtue that may happen to boil within him. Let there be plain speaking, as much is he will, and more ; let trickery or falsehood be denounced in the most downright terms the Queen's English can ■upply ; no meal-mouth-sd reticence when either flunkeyism or snob?ery (thanks be to Carlyle and Thackeray for ;he words) lifts its head ; but still let the jommon forms, if not of courtesy, at least of lecency be preserved, when nothing more ;han difference of opinion is at issue. But the gravamen of the charge is this — mr " Politics, entirely at the service of the Stafford ministry, with an affected air of indejendence, which practically always ends in imoke Wellington has lapsed into an unfortunate labit of never, by any chance, making a fair itatement of a case. And as there is no option jut to impugn either their fairness or their mdesstanding, we take the course which will jive them the least annoyance, 'and impute their mis-statements to lack of tb© first me.nr tioned quality. They tre not so blind as tor aye been deceived : they perfectly understand .8, ai wo do them. . .

We have upheld the legislation of the Stafford ministry, with a few remarkable ex- 1 ceptions, in which they were deservedly beaten, almost throughout. We believe that the time will come when the Colony will feel that it owes to them a heavy debt of gratitude for the ! polioy which they have inaugurated, and. which the Legislative Council, that skid upon the wheel, will not consent to rescind. Moreover, were we never so factiously disposed, we could not have done otherwise than support them ; for the main features of their general policy had been long indicated in these very columns. Though not without a cross of Hibernian blood, we are still unwilling to " turn our backs upon ourselves." Take, for an instance, the New Provinces Act. There lays the sore point with Wellington ; latet imo pectore vulnns. They* have seen and disregarded the fair proportions of the Wellington Province (a part of which by the way, was arbitrarily taken | from Auckland by Governor Grey, who knew what he was about, and received by the prophets without compunction ; ) they have the most irritation grievance of all — the spretce injuria formce, to complain cf ; and cannot help bearing in mind, Jbafc while we opposed municipal theory of the Sewell ministry, as an insane attempt to rest violently from the provinces the powers that bad been unwarily conceded to them, we proposed subdivision of the provinces as the curative measure Their trumpery imputation of motives — unworthy of men of that calibre — that we desired to exalt Auckland , by the destruction of Wellington is disposed of by our known desire to sever the Iky of Islands district with the, least possible delay. But, while supporting the legislation of the Stafford ministry, we have not hesitated to denounce the equivocal part that they have played in regard to the internal affairs of the Auckland Province. It has been such as can only be accounted for by some unaccountable jealousy, or personal hostility, towards ourselves, Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge and ability, we have used them fairly throughout, bringing to bear an impartial feeling which the Prophets would have done well to assume. But, like Mulvolio, they are sick of self-love, and taste with a distempered appetite. To be generous, guileless, and of free disposition, is to take those things for bird bolts that they deem cannon bullets.