THE H.B. TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1911. THE ORDEAL OF CANDIDATURE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 135, 24 May 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1911. THE ORDEAL OF CANDIDATURE.

Recently, at a meeting in London, < the chairman stated that he believ- ( ed gentlemen whether by birth, 1 education or instinct were the natural leaders of our country’, and if ■ suchpeoplecouldbe induced to come ■ i out of their shells the populace ; would follow their lead and love i them. The chairman would have i been more interesting had he stated what it was that was preventing ; i people coming out of their shells, i i and had suggested some way of rej moving the thing that blocked their ■ I egress. W e are all well aware that i i the right stamp of men are not ; ! coming forward w’ith their ser- ! . vices to their country and many’ of ( Jus also are aware that they .are 1 ; held back from doing so by the self- j ! advertising and blatant self-seekers ; whose unscrupulous methods of I | conducting a campaign make the ! ■ ordeal of candidature too painful ; ; an undertaking for a man of refinement to face. It is pleasing to note j j that the public are beginning to re- ■ I cognise the fact that if the best : l men are to be their rulers, some- ■ thing must be done to purge elec- i | tion platforms of men tvhose only! • end is self, and w hose only 7 hope of ; entiy into Parliament is along a 1 ! roadway of untruth, very often paved with the indignities they’ have 1 i endeavoured to shoulder ’ upon I I others. This leads us to speak of : I the policy of this paper, a matter '■ j we are compelled to refer to in or- j dei to correct a wrong impression ■ i that has been spread abroad by a ’ L ( misstatement made at a public , i meeting held in connection with a I ; recent election. It was stated from : i the public platform that “The Tri- i bune” was the organ of the Conservative party- and that it was en- ' ! gaged in washing a six years’ ac- : cumulation of “dirty linen” belong- i ing to that parly. The person who i made that statement either con- ! i, cocted the fable in his own imag- i ; inative brain or else has been ! ; wrongly informed. Whatever his : authority we give the statement- an .' emphatic denial. We are not the ! organ of the Conservative or any , other party, neither are. w-e taking .; m that particular description of i i washing he alluded to. We stated >: plainly enouerh on the 12th Decern- ' [: her last what the policy of the j paper w-as to bo. As we said then J we say to-day : “We do not tie our--1 selves to any particular party ” As y a matter of fact “The Tribune” was . j established to support principles, ! i UTI pa £ tv- men - not opportunists. ■ il lhe Tribune” holds it a sacred, . j duty’ to expose any candidates seek- ! | ing public office, no matter to w-hich ! • | party’ they belong, who from the ! i public platform, through the press, ! ,; or by personal interviews attempt . |to win votes by untruthful state- ! | ments, unfair inferences, or mis- : I loading actions. In short, its aim is ' Ito remove as far as possible from all campaigns that election babble- ' ; ment which to-day clouds import- ; ant issues, creates strife, and pollutes public life to such an extent ; that many honourable men shrink : from approaching it. It is an ambi- ! tious aim and one that will be very i difficult of achievement, but with i the sympathy and assistance of the ' public the task will be made easy-.