The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1905.

Evening Star, Issue 12523, 6 June 1905, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1905.

Revzetihq to a matter with which we i dealt briefly yesterday, it is PolHlealCn- observable that Opposition reasonableness!, controversialists apparently intend to persist in, their audacious plan of abusing the Premier, and, at the same time, censuring him for employing abusive methods. This being the case, people who believe in fair dealing will probably find it necessary to display equal persistency in exposing the- absurd Tjnreafonableness of the tactics in question: otherwise • force of habit might lead the careless section of the electors to suppose that the arrogant claims of anti-Ministerial speakers and writers were at least partially valid. We venture to say that m all the records of partisanship it would be difficult to find anything much more anomalous than the barefaced attempt of the Masseyites, to. reconcile the twin task of vilifying the Premier and posjrjg as champions of controversial decorum. The attempt is and amusjngly fottfe, _ but it 53 repeal 4*7 after day with a seal worthy of a better Canute., for instancy Mr SediioK i>

accused of having deliberately garbled and distorted history, of circulating wanton perversions of fact, of suppressing the truth ond suggesting what is untrue, of astutely ileceiving the electors in regard to the cock-and-bull Buchanan story, of truckling for support, and of pledging the taxpayers' money in order to secure a few additional votes for Ministerial candidates—and at the same time, and by the same accusers, he is censured for indulging in unmeasured abuse of political opponents. For, mark you, abusive language is to bo the prerogative of His Majesty's Opposition. It is King Jamie's story over again: "0 "Geordie, jingling Geordie, it was grand "to hear Baby Charles laying down the " guilt of dissimulation, and Steenie lectur"ing on the turpitude of incontinence." During his prolonged tour in Otago Mr Seddon, speaking under gTeat provocation, has perhaps allowed himself one or two sallies of questionable propriety; but, compared with his opponents, he has been geniality and moderation personified, and we cannot blame him for occasionally carrying the war into the enemy's country. The Opposition, as we said yesterday, take punishment very badly; and, seeing that they are so sensitive in this respect, we counsel them to discipline their tongues.