Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1896.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 278, 24 November 1896, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1896.

The large and representative gathering of electors last night to hear the address of the candidate who represents the local opposition to the Government shows how widely tho sentiment in favour oi : a p^rer administration has spread daring the last three years, lhe supporters of the Ministerial nominee in Nelson imagined a fortnight ago that there would bo no contest wortuy the name, and they held the cause of the opposition as cheaply as possible ; but t hey have Binoe had reason to become afraid. Aa Mr Cock pointtd out last evening, a fortnight ago the Ministerialists weie estimating their majority at some thousands ; | to-day they have reduced that estimate to about 300, and some of the less sanguine are fearing lest the majority should vanish and leavo their candidate " out in the cold.' l'hose who are accustomed to gauge public sentiment think that if tho representative of th.3 opposition can secure even an equal vote with. the Ministerialist noru nee in Nelson, he will win by a substantial majority at the polis caßt in the country districts. However this may be, there is no question that the feeling against the Government is very strong, and that its adherents realise it. It was apparent last evening that an organised gang had come to the meeting prepared to continue the lacticb being adopted in Wellington and elsewhere to apply the gag to those who desire to tell the troth. Happily, JS elson audiences are always fair, and it was obvious that the feeling of the majority present upheld the Ma or when he firmly reproved the persons who were attempting to causo an uproar and embarrass Mr Piper. All may be fair in politics ; but there is an un-tiriiish element of meanness in preparing to " heckle " a man before he has spoken, and hence the endeavour yesterday broke down ignominiously. A cause must be lost indeed when it depends for success on the services of small boys with penny bagpipes, hobbledehoys with leathern lungs, and election "barrackeis" filled with beer. As pointed out in previous issues, in the present political struggle there are all the signs which preceded the downfall of a somewhat analagous Government that held power in i^ew South Wales for four years before tha country was swept clean of "Dibb9ism" two years or so ago. The application of the gag, either by Ministerialists or Oppositionist--', on the eve of a general election is almost invariably a prelude tj defoat ; and fceddouiam may tind in New Zealand what Dibbsism discovered in New «outh Wales, that lung power is not of necessity tho power of continuing in office. The matter of Mr Piper's speech was a thoughtful exposition of the theory of good government, and it was singularly devoid of personalities. Aa Mr Cock said, Mr Piper has evidently made politics a special study, and if he be given the opportunity of putting his moderate theories iato practice, the " crudities of a theorist " will son disappear, Of course an attempt will be made to compare the man who has a natural "gift of the gab wery gallopin'," and who has j had the practice of a parliamentary session, and of two previous sessions, with the candidate who has had no opportunities of public opeaking outside of local bodies. Such political jtftctioß are common to all bides, and are perhaps fair enough in a mean sort of way. But no exception can be taken to the completeness of Mr Piper's address as it appea»s in print to-day. JSvery subject is well thought out, every figure is based on proof, every conclusion is backed by a wide range of authorities. Mr Cook expressed tie view of the thinking portion of the community when he declared that Mr Piper had obviously made of politics a deep study, and that

from him valuab'o services might be hoped for in Parliament. Mr Piper is to be congratulated on his speech, and on the success with which he made his points and carried the meeting with him, However fearful his supporters may have been of the result of his address to a Nelson audience, those doubts are now removed, and it is abundantly clear that the city will not be a 'oser by the substitution of Mr Piper for Mr Graham in the House of Representatives. The distinct gain in t,ho change w 11 be that for one ■"•'io is politically as shifty as quicksilver, the electors will have a representat ye steadfast and tenacious almost to a fault. For a member who in three yea s has changed his opinions thrice, and who has ever spoken one way and voted another, the city may have one who has never yet had reason to " eat his words," explain his alteration of front, or, coming forward as " an independent.," has sunk his individuality in a joint of tho Ministerial tail. MiGraham may have a flow of words which he uses very cleverly to hide his political inconsistencies, and his poverty of original thought ; but Mr Piper has the merit, with all his faults of styie of not being a mere echo of opinions formulated in and published from the Cabinet room. The speech of one Ministerial supporter is so like the speech of another that Mr Seddon may as well deliver it into phonographs and send it round for use on the political platforms during the election.

On the whole the adherents of the movement for a purer and more economical administration and of legislative rest have reason to take heart of grace, for their cause will be fittingly upheld and pleaded by Mr Piper, All thai is necessary now, ac it ha 3 ever been, is to keep " the oause, the cause, and noting but the causa " prominently in view, subordinating the personality oi men to measures. Ihe basis of tbe whole structure is this, that, given a candidate who can be trusted, he must be voted for as representing a cause, Hence, all personal questions beyond that of fimess and trustworthiness should be put aside, and the vote should be cast solidly for the principles involved. If this be done there will be no fear of the result on the fateful Friday, the 4th December.