A DYING SWAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4872, 23 March 1887, Page 3

A DYING SWAN.

It is said that a swan prior to its dissolution " unlocks its silent throat" and sings its first and last song. "We have got at last from our dying swan, tho Stout-Vogel Ministry, a distinct utterance premonitory of its demise. Till tho other day, when the Premier spoke at Marton, we hardly knew ■whether the Ministry was to be regarded as a radical Cabinet or a coalition Cabinet. We have had on tho one sido Sir Julius Vogcl a good Conservative, and on the other, Mr Ballanco a dangerous Eadical. Tho Premier, however, has managed to pose as a sort of half Radical and half Conservative leader, and the other members of the Cabinet have been political dummies. The question of how the Ministry aro going to the country may now be considered settled. Tho Premier chanted a Radical war song at Mnrton. Ho has evidently chucked over his Conservative colleague Sir Julius and is prepared to do or die with Mr Ballance. "Wo are glad of this, because an unnatural political combination is about to be dissolved. Canterbury turned Radical to pcourc the East and "West Coast Railway, and having through the eminent strategic ability of her lender Sir Julius succeeded in tills undertaking, will probably drift back quietly to conservatism, aud break off her alliance, with Otago. The main difficulty will be what is to be done with Sir Julius. Tho Radicals don't want him, and he will have nolens rolni-i to leave their camp, and the Conservatives don't want him. At the same time, as leader of the Canterbury party, ho carries a section of the House with him. Ho cannot afford to take the position of dignified obstruction which Sir George Grey assumes because ho docs not enjoy that comfortable independence which enables the latter to live out of office. It is something, however, to be able to turn one corner at a time when wo are travelling , in tho right direction, and we may bo satisfied to know that Sir Robert Stout and Mr Ballance arc not going to the country in company with Sir Julius. — Wairarnpa Daily.