"NOT FOR JOSEPH."

Marlborough Express, Volume X, Issue 723, 30 June 1875, Page 5

"NOT FOR JOSEPH."

Stk, — I au) proud to say, I am one of those who were defeated *n the late contest. ' ' I would rather lose fifty elections m good company than win oue with those who would soil me m the contact. " Ido therefore mo3t strongly protest against the dictum of Mr Ward's organ. " That the majority of the electors having decided m favor of Mr Wai\l, he quite as much represents those who voted against him, as he does those who voted for him." That Mr Ward is by far the fittest to represent those who voted for him no one can deny. The fact that he is so proves that lie cniraot represent the large miuority, who b}' recording their votns against him, did all m their power to repudiate him as their representative. As a perfect political Jim Crow Mr Ward has not his equal, but will any one believe that he contemplates such a complete change as must take 2>lace to transform him into the representative of those who supported Mr Moorhouse. Mr Ward's training from his youth upwards, his present surroundings, and his personal interests, are so antagonistic to the opinions and desires of his ..opponents that before he could represent them he must be born agp.in, re-educated, and called to a different state of life to that of a runholder.

"Which party m the late contest does your contemporary look upon as sufficietly verdanfc to be taken m by such claptrap as "The generous feeling that prompts a victor to refrain from exultation, or that inclines him to hold out the hand of amity," &c. It is the interest of Mr Ward and his bosom friends that the past be forgotten, to stifle enquiry, tmd thus keep their dupes m their present blissful state of ignorance, antil he again requires them as stepping-stones to a position that will enable him to protect and advance the interests of a bigoted and illiberal minority. In the conductor of hia paper, Mr Ward possesses one of those machine-like individuals, equally as well fitted to be the mouthpiece of his party as is Mr Ward to be the representative. The low running of this " leary" individual i 3, however, far too shallow to take m any but willing dupes. The very moderate tone of his Tuesday's issue foretold a dodge which his issue of Friday fully disclosed. According to his light he reasoned thus : "Now I will be very moderate m hopes to induce silence on the other side. If they fall into the trap my end is gained, and our dupes will be no wiser when we need them again. If on the other hand they do not take their defeat kindly, I will be down on them like a thousand of bricks." Cleverly as he reasoned, he forgot one all-important view of the subject, viz, that there is too much at stake to allow us to stand quietly by whilst the danger is imminent of our progress being impeded, and our civil and religious liberties curtailed. As men of seuse we are bound to look to our defences and recruit our ranks against the uuxt onset.

Notwithstanding the clamour of this bantam cock of the Times, the facts remain that Mr Ward, one of the oldest settlers m the Wairau, secured a majority of 25 only, out of 379 votes against an opponent who was a stranger to nearly the whole of the electors, and that hia majority was secured by a combination of parties known as the Catholic, the Squatter, the Local Man, and the Moral, each of which brought to his standard a greater number than his majority of 25. That the rowdy element at the command of this respectable combination did its utmost to overawe public opinion, and prevent Mr Ward's opponents from obtaiuing a fair hearing. That our cause is a just one, and the means we take arc such as can reflect no discredit on the curls we aim at. I therefore again say I am very proud that I am one of the respectable minority who supported Mr Moorhouse iv the late contest. — I am, &c, Nil Desperakijum.