THE TEMPERANCE PARTY AND THE OPPOSITION.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 163, 1 December 1896, Page 4

THE TEMPERANCE PARTY AND THE OPPOSITION.

4 The old maxim, " Divide and conquer," is being illustrated in the general eleotiou. There are some seats that may be gained by Seddonites because their opponents are divided. A minority may place a candidate in a seat. In Wellington there are five opponents of Seddonism standing, one candidate undefined, aud three nominees of Mr. Seddon. The Temperance Party have no less than four candidates in the field— Sir Robert Stout, Messrs. Atkinson, Fraser, and Powell. Mr. Fraser was late in coming out, and Mr. Powell has not been selected by the Temperance organisations. Why he should persist in standing when every vote cast for him will injure the other Temperance candidates we do not know. Temperance people have said over and over again that they have no confidence in Mr. Seddon's administration of the law. This being so, they surely ghould not so cast their Vi tes as to keep him in power. They cannot expect to return three Temperance candidates. No doubt if Mr. Fraser had come out in time the respect in which he is properly held would have brought to him large support. He was,, as we have said, late in the field, and it seems to us that all who desire good government, freedom from corruption, and obedience to the law, should vote for the Opposition candidates who are likely to win. They are Sir Robert Stout, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. Menteath. The absurd cry of Conservative cannot be raised against them. They are as Liberal and as Democraticasany candidates standing. They are not tarnished with the blight of Seddonism, and they all are men of education and ability, who would wall and worthily represent Wellington. Wa think the Temperance people who place, as they should place, obedience to the law in the first place, should vote for the candidates we have named. They cannot expect to get all the candidates of their mind. Mr. Menteath is, however, just as favourable to the Temperance Party as the Government nominees, and it remains to be seen if the Temperance Party are broad enough and wise enough to look to good government as the most pressing necessity of this colony.