Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1879, Page 2

Evening Post . WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1879.

THE HOTT ELEOfIOX. ♦• The result of the Hntt election possesses more than ordinary significance, and affords a moat striking demonstration oi the feeling entertained towards the present Premier, Sir George Obey. Only two months ago Mr. Henry Jackson -was returned for that district, as successor to Sir William Fitzhekbubt, by a majority of 99 over Mr. 'Ihomas fIdASON. Both gentlemen then professed similar views, acqepting the Liberal programme with the exception of the land tax and representation on a population basis, both' of which measures they thoroughly agreed in condemoing. The. two month* have pasaed, Mr. Jackson has sat in Parliament during one short session; and now His constituents reject him by a majority of 27 in favor of the very opponent whom he formerly beat by 99 ~ Naturally the question arises — What did Mr. Jackson do during his brief Par* hainentary life to alienate in so marked a manner the confidence of his constituents ? The answer is very simple and easy to find— He voted for the OBEY Ministry. That action, and that alone, has Bufficed to cut short his political career, and to relegate him to private life. While for his own sake, and for many reasons, we regret that he should be lost to Parliament, of which he promised to be a very useful member, on public grounds we cannot but deem the result of the election exceedingly satisfactory just at the present juncture, as reading a useful moral lesson. ~ Messrs Jackson and Mason still professed views practically identical, excepting on the one point of Sir George Grex's leadership, which the latter opposed and the former, while in Parliament, had supported. This, and this alone, was the question' on which the election turned. Surrounding circumstances all tended to favor Mr. Jackson, even apart from the advantage he en* joyed as the previous possessor of the seat. But his conduct in declaring, by his vote on Sir W. Fox's no-confidence motion, that the Grey Ministry had nut co neglected and mismanaged the affairs of the Colony as to forfeit the confidence of the House — when it was perfectly weir known that his real views were entirely opposite— and his "trimming" in the tubsequent division, completely alienated a large number of bis former friends and supporters. The indecision he displayed in Parliament was intensified during his following election campaign. It was impossible to elicit from him any definite expression of his views on the one sole question remitted to the constituencies — Whether or not the Obey Government should continue to hold office ? Nothing could be obtained from him but a string of most laudable sentiments on various Liberal measures, which were not submitted to the 'country at all, forjhe simple reason that nobody disputed ' their propriety even in the late Parliament, whera, indeed, they must inevitably have been carried had not Sir George Gkev in the former session deliberately sacrificed them when he fonnd that they were sure to be passed. The question ¥*9 whether such a man as Sir Geobgk Gbkv, whose whole life had been a orusade against true Liberalism, should be entrusted with the leadership of the Liberal party, whose interests he had so ruthlessly sacrificed to his personal ambition or prejudices. On this issue — the only one submitted — Mr. Jackson declined to make any plain and straightforward declaration, and the electors very properly refused to leave so all- \ important a matter to the unfettered discretion of one who by voting in Parliament alternately on either side had demonstrated an absence of definite political principles very undesirable in a representative. It It was on this ground that we found ourselves compelled to withhold our support from Mr. Jackson during the contest It is the veriest rubbish to talk m sonic do about " supporting Liberal measures, and leaving the question of leadership to be settled by the party." 'Everybody knows quite well that the question is simply between true liberalism and mere Greyism. If Sir George Grky were dace out oi the way, the Liberal programme would be safe to be carried, Tint if Sir Gko&OX Qvtt remain in power it is tolor-

ably certain that he will awifice lAberjjiJ,ism, and endeavour devises to defeat it in the futnre' v he : l*as done invariablyjn tiiejDast. In the interests of Liberalism, therefore, we must rejoice at the excellent moral iessoa^pf which the Hutt electors yesterday were ihe'teachera.