Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1891.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 208, 2 September 1891, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1891.

The retirement of Mi* Bryce will be regretted all over the country. After many years of public life ho lias completely established his reputation for upTightness of character. When he was defeated iv his own district, another constituency where he was little personally known returned him to the House of Representatives. There is no politician in iNovr Zoaland who can count with greater certainty than ho can on finding a seat in Parliament whenever he wanbs ifc. There is no doubt that Mr Ballanco is perfectly sincere in his professions of regret that anything should havo oc- | curred to induce Mr Bryce to retire from | politics. As leader of the Opposition ho has always treated tho Government with courtesy, and in no case has he wantonly obstructed business. In fact the Government is under great' obligations to him for his assistance iv getting through the work of the session. On the whole Mr Brycc's retirement is a greater blow to the Government than to the Opposition. He carries with him the sympafchy of a great number of people both in Parliament and oub of dooi'B, who believe that he has been badly^reated and resent the action of the majority of fche House of Representatives. In tho ballad ol Chevy Chase, King Jamos, on hearing of the death of Earl Douglas mourned ovor his loss as he had uob such another knight left. King Harry on tho othor haud when told of Earl Percy's death said thafc he had scores as good as ho, bufc that he would take care that his death was avenged, If Mr Ballanco wero to retire, ib is difficult fco aay whero the Government party could fiud a mau afc all fife to lead ib and manage tho House of Representatives, bufc the Opposition has several men who are quite fib to lead ifc. If as is generally expected, Captain Russell is chosen, the appointment will meet with general favour. It is to be hoped that he will turn out to be a littlo less thiuBkinned than Mr Bryce, It should always be remembered that the force of an expression of censnro depends greafcly on tho character of tho censor. A judge cares little if a criminal whom he has sentenced to penal servitude calls him by bad names, aud ifc is deeply to be regretted thab Mr Bryce should have attached so much importance to a mere party vote whipped up for a political purpose. Ib is some consolation to know thafc tho loaders of tho Government party aro well aware by this timo thafc they blundered exceedingly.