The Otago Witness.

Otago Witness, Issue 654, 11 June 1864, Page 13

The Otago Witness.

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, JUNE 11.

It is a fortunate thing that the influence of popular agitators is amongst Englishmen tempered by respect for lawful authority. No class is so liable to be led away by the clap-trap oratory of a clever designing demagogue as that of British workmen, particularly if they fancy they are suffering under a grievance. Whether it be a strike for an advance in wages, or in opposition to a reduction of their earnings; or a political agitation pro-;; fessing to hold out to them personal profit and advantage, a British mob can be invariably led by the nose by anyone who only appeals to their personal feelings and panders to their selfish passions. It is surprising how under such circumstances men, in all other things enlightened and intelligent, appear to oast aside all reflection, and consent to and participate in proceedings which their calmer judgment and reason must utterly disapprove. But as we have said it is a fortunate thing for English society that there is implanted in the breasts of all I Englishmen an innate and overwhelming respect for lawfully constituted authority. It is this sentiment which allows one or j two policemen to keep a vast crowd in order," and which gives speed to the heels of a mob which by its extravagances has called for the exercise of the power of the law. There is also another favorable feature of British character—and that is, that when excitement is over, common sense and judgment almost invariably assert themselves. Thus it is that public agitations— whether political or social — are generally innocent affairs amongst Englishmen ; and that popular movements, which in other countries would provoke a revolution, fail to disturb the fabric of British society. Another explanation is that no reasonable public complaint or demand is un* attended to by the constituted authorities ; and that there is a lawful and constitutional channel for making those complaints and wants known.

The followers — or rather the victims of Mr J. G. S. Grant — have only done what many other bodies of foolish, thoughtless men have done under similar circumstances. They have allowed themselves

to be guided, or row-guided, by a frothy ! demagogue who, under the guise of advocating their interests, seeks oaly to advance ; his own. One would have thought the career and character of this notorious individual were sufficiently known throughout Otago to prevent his wielding any influence over a body of intelligent persons. Mr Grant has secured the contempt and disgust of all good citizens, and his sole mission appears to be war with all that is decent in society or honorable in men. Under the guise of a respect for law and order, he is continually perpetrating actions subversive of them ? under the mask of religion he attacks the most sacred precepts, and in the name of philanthropy seeks only his own selfish purposes. How therefore it could be that some hundreds of sensible men could be led by such a person, is to us a mystery — and we would fain believe, for the credit of th« men themselves, that a spirit of mischief was the principal cause of their proceedings. Granting for the sake of argument that the meetings presided over by Mr Grant really consisted of the " unemployed," it must have occurred to such that they were not adopting a very sensible course to obtain their ends by placing themselves under the dictation and leadership of such a man as J. G. S. Grant.

It is a perfectly constitutional and proper proceeding to memorialise the Government or Legislature ; but it is a very different thing to dictate to the one, or endeavor to intimidate the other. There is something particularly ludicrous in the resolutions presented to the Superintendent. As if the dismissal of public servants, or the mode of such dismissal would either food or clothe those who recommended the course! It is highly desirable that the condition of the laboring classes should be ameliorated aa much aa possible, and we are quite sure the Government and Council will do all that is consistent with their public duty in this matter. But it must never be permitted that the authorities are to be intimidated into a particular course of action by a mob under the dictation of an unprincipled stumporator.

Both Mr. Grant and his dupes have been taught a lesson which it is to be hoped all will profit by. Mr. Grant has been shown that a deliberative assembly is not to be intimidated, and that its dignity can be effectually protected against such proceedings as occurred on Wednesday. He was also taught the evanescent nature of mob popularity, which his iudignant repudiation of his quasi followers leads us to suppose he felt. Those who from various motives followed Mr Grant to the Council Chamber, must have seen that they were placed in a very humiliating position. They saw what a melancholy exhibition of cowardice their bullying leader made ol himself, and they must have felt how ridiculously stapid were the bounceable expressions of the resolutions they had endorsed. We hope that, for the present at least, we have had the last of Mr J. G. S. Grant's public vagaries. If after what has occurred, he can find any body of men willing to submit to his influence, we shall blush for the intelligence and character of the Province.

To Major Richardson are due the thanks of the community for the manner in which he upheld the dignity of the Council— the task could not have been placed in abler hands. We would fain pass over the conduct of the Superintendent in this matter in silence, but we cannot avoid expressing a regret that his Honor should so far hare forgotten his own dignity, and that of the Council, as to become the sponsor of a document equally insulting to both.