THE MORAL OF THE ELECTION.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 34, 29 May 1872, Page 2

THE MORAL OF THE ELECTION.

1 a The defeat of Messrs. Richmond and f Saunders by a majority of 151 votes over the former, and 77 votes over the two coml biued, is the most marked victory the Goi vernment and their friends have achieved at b any election. The unopposed acceptance of | a Ministerial candidate by a languid rural j constituency had been seen, and Government . had gained several close battles, and had , been fortunate in the way of majorities of 3 one. But no town had bowed down before » Mr. VogePs golden calf as Nelson has just | done. The advocates and supporters of pru1 dent counsels were, to those who go in for 3 their luck, in the proportion of 3 to 4 — au > inferiority which, if it is sustained in the 1 House and in the country, promises Miuis- \ ters life as long as English money-lenders . will allow them the means of paying interest, i The disparity in Nelson would not, however, • have been great, if indeed prudence might ; nob have been in a majority, but for the unextinguished embers of old local feuds. Two ; candidates on the same side as regards opinion were put forward, the first in the field not being acceptable to a considerable > section of electors, from suspicions partly personal, and partly surviving from these old feuds. The effect on the election was more than to divide the votes of men holding the same principles, for both sections were paralyzed, and no active canvas was really made on behalf of either Mr. Saunders or Mr. Richmond, neither of whom asked for a single vote himself. Languor and despondency overcame the supporters of both, and the party which might otherwise have exer- | cised most iufluence was virtually nullified. The voters of the losing party included few or none of those who look for guidance to other people ; they consisted almost wholly of politicians with views of their own, who go to the poll without solicitation or advice to register opinions formed fully and at leisure. AYe are unable to judge how far it will be possible hereafter to bring the two sections we have referred to into accord, but it is clear that this ought to be done. By way of contributing our share to such a result, we will begin by the first step towards amendment — a confession of a fault. Mr. Richmond's friends ought not to have proposed to him, and he ought not to have consented to come forward without consulting the leaders of that section of electors, who afterwards brought forward Mr. Saunders. Had these gentlemen been so consulted, it is quite possible that a mutual good understanding might have been established and a candidate selected whom both sections could cordially support. Regrets are useless, and recriminations are worse than useless, but a goodtempered review of a failure is sure to be valuable. If all the friends of financial prudence, united and active, could have influenced the votes of forty electors who were seeking trustworthy advice, prudence would have gained the day. It shall be our aim, as far as lies in our power, to make such union possible hereafter. Nelson will be more agreeable when her sober men put aside their mutual suspicion. Demagogues and sensational policies go up like rockets and come down like their sticks, but feuds among men who are in earnest are paiuful and lasting in proportion as they are sincere, and all wise men should make sacrifices to extinguish them.