The Hastings Standard Published Daily. FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 1896. THE ISSEES AT THE ELECTION.

Hastings Standard, Issue 153, 23 October 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

FRIDAY, OCT. 23, 1896. THE ISSEES AT THE ELECTION.

For the can so thru lacks assistance, For the wrongs that noo.l resistance, For the future in the distance. And tile ijnod tliat we can do.

What are the issues to 1)0 fought at the general election ? "We will have plenty of noi=e and nonsense from the leather-lunged, with heaps of political garbage : but what is to be the programme ? The Opposition platform war-whoop or programme we know full well will be " Purity of Government." It is a striking catch-phrase manufactured by Sir Robert Stout, but what does it amount to? Nothing. If we give it the interpretation intended by the cold-water Knight, we should say that it meant that •• Stout is lhe man and not Seddon." We are by no moans- certain that by accepting this doctrine literally and giving the party associated with Sir Robert Stout a majority the colony will not be forsaking the warmth of the fryingpan for tlu 1 intense heat of the lire. "Purity of Government!" It will tickle the ears of the senseless, and not a few of the fair sex will be caught bv its apparently lofty aspiration. The dominant note of the Opposition party is ' characteristically childish. So far this one cry of " Puritv of Government " appears to be the sole plank in the platform? What is the policy of the Opposition ? I'p to the present the leaders have not given us a programme ; we have had no hint whatever either from insi le or outside the House what broad lines of poliev the Opposition will submit to the country. The National Association, which for many months past has kept n small army of pressmen busily employed, has not promulgated the creed of the party, unless we regard puffing all Opposition politicians and