The Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 620, 29 April 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1878.

Let the wholesale calumniators of Sir Geoeoe Gkey refresh their memories with the account published in another column- of his valorous conduct at the storming of the Waitomotomo pa—one of his many acts of courage and determination—and they will be reminded that the Premier can not only talk, but he can act. We say, let them refresh their memories, because his bitterest opponents are not opponents because they sincerely thinkthat he is not the man for the position. for history is pregnant with evidences of the contrary, and nobody knows this better than the ringleaders of the discatents ; but because they covet his position and the positions of his colleagues. Let the handful of Sir Gjeorge Grey's opponents bide their time. Next session will test whether he and his followers artpossessed of grit. For, whatever may be Sir George Gkey's faults, he is n.j trimmer. He hits out straight from the shoulder—too straight for some people, and for his popularity with the upper crust. He is no temporising leader. What he says he will do he does. Some of hi* political notions—such as that regarding the extension of the franchise—may stagger some people, amongst whom are not a few of his friends, on account of their sweeping and liberal character. But, what of that? Sir George is not the njan to hurriedly drop his ideas because he sees his popularity in jeopardy. His popularity is the result of his straightforward conduct —his conduct is not a bait for popularity. Let him once be forced into the position of being compelled either to swallow his convictions or resign, and he will return to a life of seclusion at Kawau. In this respect, he differs widely from his predecessor, who is, in fact, his antithesis. The war

between party spite and aggrandisement and the people, which was ruthlessly cnfc short last session, and left some of the advocates of big-bugism in the middle of a grand pas seul on the floor of the House, will be continued when Parliament next meets. The battle will wax warm on the questions of manhood suffrage and the method of disposing of the native lands ; but the country has, by its treatment of Sir George Grey, given its verdict on his policy as a whole, and whatever may be its opinion with regard to the liberalising of the franchise, it has but one opinion on the native lands question. Notwithstanding this, however, monopolists and the would-be monopolists and manufacturers of the princes of the future, will, regardless of public opinion on anything else, engage in a violent struggle for supremacy. They will again fail on the native lands question for a certainty. What will be the fate of manhood suffrage would be somewhat difficult to predict; but Sir George Grey possesses the courage of ! his own opinions, and will not, merely because he sees his position at stake, abandon this or any other of the integral portions of his policy, as did Messrs. Atkinson and Wuitaker last session, when, terrified at the state of ferment they had created in the House, public opinion, and the criticisms of the Press, '. they withdrew their pet native lands scheme. Sir George Grey may haiffij < lost a few polictical prudes—he mayihjajJi hastened the alienation of a few nondesciipts—by the extremity tffi^H

views on cardinal questions ; but it is as certain that he 'will take those views into the House as it is that the House will meet. He will fight for his ground inch by inch, and will only succumb, when, by the arguments of the other side he is proved to have attempted to occupy an untenable position. For leading politicians to do this now-a-days displays a rare virtue. The history of last session unfolds chapter after chapter of defects of the Atkinson Government; but they stuck like limpets to their seats, and suffered taunt and reprimand with the utmost resignation, rather than appeal to the country. Had Sir Ggorge Grey been similarly situated, he would have been only too glad to test the feeling of the people, and would not have allowed himself to be hustled out of the House. The present Premier lias stormed every political position in the Colony, and taken it with glory; he has, notwithstanding the wiles of his old and bitter enemies, received an almost unanimous vote of confidence from the people of the Colony; he has won over foes by his reasoning, and even some sections of the Press were bound to acknowledge, by their, short-lived apostacy from the ways of error, that his arguments in the main are incontrovertible, and his honesty undoubted. There will be a mustering of forces—as in the past, every dodge, regardless of honesty, will be resorted to —by the vanquished party of last session, but Sir Geokgb Grey is a courageous and stable politician, and lie will fight like a man in order to carry his point. He and his party occupy the position that was held by his opponents last session, and, holding the vantage ground, they will not permit themselves and the interests of the country to be trampled under foot; but would, should it be rendered necessary; rather engage in a long and bitter struggle.