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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8062, 1 October 1887, Page 4

As the Wellington messages show, Sir Robert Stout has tendered his resignation, and Major Atkinson has been sent for by the Governor, and has undertaken the task of forming a Ministry. Sir Robert has thus taken the course which, as we have pointed out, was the only one constitutionally open to him. It would appear also, as we anticipated, that his advice had not been asked by His Excellency, and that the decision to entrust the duty of constructing a new Administration was determined solely by the fact that the defeat of the Ministry on which an appeal was made to the country, took place on a motion submitted by the member for Egmont. Thus, then, has the career of the Stout-Vogel Ad- > ministration closed. That career has been both chequered and eventful. Based on expediency, the Cabinet presented from the beginning the spectacle of an unnatural alliance, and the unprincipled compromise which characterised its whole history has had the effect of blasting the political reputation of two of its membersthe Premier and the Minister of Justice.

The great mistake of Sir Robert Stout's public life was his compact with Sir Julius Vogel. This he must by this time be himself convinced of, notwithstanding that he may speak as if he were not; for, if there be one thing which the late election contest brought out more clearly than another, it is that the man, whoever he may be, that is chiefly contributory to placing Sir Julius Yogel in charge of the New Zealand Treasury, is certain to forfeit public confidence. That is the true secret of Sir Robert Stout's fall. The real cause of his rejection by his Dunedin constituency, and his desertion by Otago generally, is to be found in his entering into an alliance against which his friends, and the sense and conscience of the people revolted. This accounts for the utterances of mingled regret and satisfaction which his defeat has evoked in quarters where, otherwise, regret: only, and that deep and genuine, would have been felt and expressed. It is impossible to place any other construction than this upon the words spoken by his successful rival at, the declaration of the poll. The defeat of the Premier he referred to as a cause for congratulation, 011 the twofold ground that it would break up the Stout-Vogel combination, and would also prevent any Vogel combination in the future. There can be no doubt that this expresses a very general feeling, though many may refrain from expressing it, and neither can there be any doubt that many of Sir Robert Stout's most sincere admirers are pleased that his defeat has provided him an escape from a false position. They would, it is true, have preferred that his deliverance had come in another form—namely, through 'the defeat of his party without the defeat of himself personally. But, even though it has been brought about in a way not expected, they must yet feel satisfied that it is' for his own benefit, as well as that of the colony, that the political mesalliance which he had formed is at an end.

The prevalence of this feeling, moreover, throughout the North Island, as well as in Otago, furnishes a warning which Major Atkinson will do well to pay heed to in his efforts to form a new Administration. In Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson a local exigency causes the great body of the electors to

adhere to ir Julius Vogel s more Jiikely to sere their peculiar ad selfish purpose tlin any other lesadr. Bui in all otheiportiona of the colay he il distrusted nd any attempt a a coalition, in wlch he is to i have® pl&o;, will therefre be viewed J witldecidid hostility, Df this Major ' Atinsonia doubtless ware, and may be died oil to avoid he rock on whicltheexPretnier Recked his politica career. The appajnt'Jy formidable jllovihg which it if said Sir Julius . "Vtgel can command 3 more likely to iimmish than incrise, so soon as a< acceptable and s3ble Government is formed. But, in orer to be either accotable or stable, the Government mustfroin ita very incepon be free from ny tinge» of Vogeliaism. , '