The Star. (published daily.) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1887.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1785, 21 November 1887, Page 2

The Star. (published daily.) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1887.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL. — ♦ So long as the public believed that Sir J. Y<3ge.l $ica.sW reseated what he mistook for an unwarrantable attack by Mr. Thompson, upon his infirmity his protest, strongly- worded though it was, commanded the sympathy of the public. When he proceeded to attack the Speaker and to bring a general charge of gross drunkenness against certain Members of the House of Representatives, no doubt every one felt that Sir Julius had insulted the House of which he is a leading member, and had unwarrantably attacked its honor and reputation where he, by reason of his position, should have been careful to defend it. Nor did such an attack upon its character for temperance come with good grace from one whose infirmity is by many attributed to the intemperate habits of the sufferer, (though that intern perance is not in respect to strong drink,) rather than to any direct divine interposition or visitation. Be that as it may, the position is an unfortunate one. On the technical point the Speaker seems to have been tripped up. Where he ought to have ordered the words complained of to be taken down before naming the offender, he omitted to do so. Then, apparently in or&er to jasfc'jiy Vis action, he &ec\a,re& that Sir J. Yoge) bad been named for disorderly conduct under section 138. Only by a strained interpretation of the wording of the law of Parliamentary practice can the use of words accusing another member of ignorance of tho usages of good society, be termed disorderly conduct. The words were unparliamentary, and should have been taken down, withdrawn and apologised for. But the Speaker, under circumstances that render a slip upon his part very excusable, forgot to take the proper formal initial step, and thereby put himself technically in the wrong. He next, urged by his generosity of temperament, proceeded to admit that the question put by Mr. Thompson was of an offensive character, and should have been expunged from the order paper, or amended. Sir M. O'Roike thus greatly increased the original difficulty of his position, for by admitting that the question was offensive, he justified Sir J. Vogel in resenting it, and m saying hard tMng9 of. the questioner. Certain it is, that no man conversant with the usages of good society would wilfully put an offensive question. The Speaker having admitted the offensiveness has practically justified Sir J. Vogel in calling a spade a spade, even in Parliament. So far, Sir J. Yogel seems likely to score. The Speaker seems also to have named Sir. J. Togel without adopting the proper procedure, and finally to have cited a section of the rules of Parliamentary practice which scarcely applies. Unfortunately all the glory of victory which Sir J. Vogel might have claimed has been sacrificed. Nettled by the Speaker's ruling against him, Sir J. Yogel deliberately made a vicious persoualattack upon certain members, whom he openly accused oS gross drunkenness. There could not possibly be any doubt as to the high official whom he meant. However true the charge, it was absolutely unjustifiable. "Where he ought to have apologised, Sir J. Vogel violently attacked the chair, ininsulted the House collectively, and publicly besmirched the reputation of the whole Parliament, inasmuch as he neither indicated the names nor the number of those against whom such an accusation might be sustained. At the outset Sir J. Vogel seemed, to us, more sinned against than sinning. At the finish so grave was his error, so flagrant his conduct, that any little balance previously in his favor will be entirely blotted out by the bad taste which prompted him to prefer the gross charges so passionately urged against one or two members of Parliament who sometimes over-step the bounds of prudence. Sir J. Yogel now owes a liumUe apoiogv an<3 retraction both to the counfcrr and to the House. After he has given it, his error may be forgiven, but it can not be forgotten, for the shame of it will still remain.