THE NELSON EXAMINER. Thursday, October 22, 1868.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 127, 22 October 1868, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Thursday, October 22, 1868.

Joiirnitia become more neee99ary hs meu become more equal and iniVividualißm moro to bo feared. It would be to underrate their importnnco to suppose that they serve only to secure liberty ; they maintain civilization. Db Tocqubvim/b, Of Democracy in America, vol. 5, 230.

In a paragraph printed in the Examiner, on Tuesday, the London correspondent of the Melbourne Argus relates a good story of how a Carthagenian inscription was differently deciphered by three French savans. The first gave it thus : " Here rests Hamilcar, the father of Hannibal, like him the beloved of his country, and the terror of his foes." The second gave a totally different version : " The priestess of Isis has erected this monument to Spring — to the graces aud roses which charm and fertilize the world." And it being utterly impossible to reconcile translations so totally dissimilar, the services of an official translator, a member of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres was called in, who gave a version widely differing from the other two : " This altar is consecrated to the god of winds and storms, in order to allay his anger." Now, each of these gentlemen must have had some leading idea in his mind to induce such different renderings of the original. Each must have undertaken the text with some preconceived opinion of the test, and thus instead of bestowing on it a complete analytical examination, they jumped to hasty conclusions, which a certain class of men are often ready to do, instead of bestowing on the subject of their inquiry that searching examination which alone can ensure a satisfactory conclusion. The character of the session of the General Assembly just terminated, is likely to be interpreted quite as variously as the inscription spoken of above. First, there will be the versions given of it by the two great parties which so nearly divide the llepresentative Chamber, modified more or less according to individual opinions; and then the opiuions formed by the press of the colony, which trumpet-tongued will each maiutain its own respective view, so that if the whole were collected, a stranger to JN T ew Zealand would find our political situation quite as much of a riddle as the Carthagenian hieroglyphics. After hearing all these conflicting statements, the general public of New Zealand must feel quite as desirous to arrive at sound conclusions on their political affairs, as did the members of the French Academy to get at the true meaning of the

inscriptions before calling in the aid of the official translator. It is a pity that no authority exists "with us to determine the vexed questions of politics which trouble the colony. "What a relief it would be to possess an unerring guide, capable of saying whether the interests of the country would be best consulted by leaving the Government in the hands of Mr. Stafford and Mr. Hall, or placing it in the hands of Mr. I'ox and Mr. Vogel. What cost, what turmoil would this not save, besides conferring on us the satisfaction of knowing the really proper thing to be done, leaving only the simple and pleasant task of performing it. As we cannot acquire this perfect knowledge, the next best thing for the public will be to look for the opinions of disinterested judges, if such cau be found. Clearly ifc will nob do to take Mr. Fox's version of the session any more than Mr. Stafford's ; and undisguised partisans on either side should be regarded with suspicion. Of all who either by tongue or pen are likely to review the late session, we question whether so dispassionate a critic will be found as the member for Nelson, who met his constituents on Monday week last. It may be quite true that Mr. Curtis' address failed to satisfy either the friends or the opponents of Ministers, but this may be a good reason for believing his conclusions were more sound than if, blinded by party, he had shown himself a thorough supporter of either one side or the other. From the position taken by Mr. Curtis throughout the session, supporting the Government when he believed it right, but voting against it when he considered it wrong — even going the length of joining in a vote of want of confidence on ibs scheme of fiuance, which if carried out as introduced would have caused an act of great injustice to this province — the Superintendent of Nelson was one of the few members of the Assembly capable of really acting dispassionately. Party government, whatever may be said in its favour, is after all a necessaiy evil, and no wise man will say, though approving generally of the measures of a particular party, that on reflection he approves of all their acts. We wish our Parliament contained more men like Mr. Curtis, , able to take up an independent position, and capable of giving to every question submitted for consideration tho benefit of a vigorous intellect, and a mind singularly free from prejudice. With no personal object to serve, and steering as clear as may be of party entanglements, Mr. Curtis was well qualified to speak of the questions that came up for discussion. For its candour, for its reliability, and for the general soundness of the views entertained by the speaker, the speech of Mr. Curtis to his constituents should be read attentively by all who regard truth above party, and who possess courage to follow out their convictions.