THE LATE DEBATE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 708, 12 August 1869, Page 2

THE LATE DEBATE.

We can only regard the result of the late debate as a -virtual defeat of Ministers. Notwithstanding all that has been said about its being a majority of four votes in its favor, deducting the of the two Commissioners and the three Maoris, the Government are left in a minority of one. The language used by Mr Fox as reported in the Independent, and, we may add, which has been described to us by piivate correspondence as foul, is simply disgraceful to any statesman. From among the choicd expressions abounding in his speech, and applied specially to the Colonial forces, - the men who fought at Ngatapa, and sustained the hardships of both Eat-.t ami West Coast campaigns,—we note the following classical epithets :—" Draggle tail," "a mockery of a standing army," " a bastard soldiery." He did not scruple to charge the late Premier with Fenian tendencies—"lt passed through his mind that the lion, member might be tainted with Fenianism; for had he been a Fenian, he could not have uttered sentiments more disloyal." Our contemporary is informed that the report, as given by the Independent, is very incorrect. Well, we trust that i 4. is so ; but we doubt much that it has made Mr Fox's speech appear worse than it really was. We shall, however, take the first opportunity of referring to the authorized Reports, and seeing if it be so.