THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4897, 24 June 1887, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

[communicated.]

Attention is now diverted from Wellington to the various constituencies. Parliament ia defunct. When its sun was oettiny the members of each party mot at their festive boards, but there was absent from many a gay exterior that delicious sense of joy that a Btudent has whon released from scholastic duties in reviewing the term with pleasure and anticipating hia roturn with delight. Constituents will not pass many a candidate for further honors because of disgraceful failure in pas* work. Many members of the late Parliament will never again — and never is along time — write the coveted M.H.R. appendage to their names. Wo have no desire to hold a post mortem examination on the late Parliament ; the effluvia would be unpleasant. Wo are willing to—

Drown desperate sorrow in dead Edward's ({rave., And plant our joys in living Edward's throne. A general depression prevails ; our sea-girt iaies aro under a murky cloud. Clouds do not come from the sun, they aredr^wn off from the damp ground, thoy come from beneath. The leaden cloud which io hiding us from prosperity ia principally occasioned by bad government. It is for electors to determine whether this cloud shall pass away. Extravagance is tho cause of our depression. Stock has been taken, the books have been balanced, the balance is on the wrong side. Will electors act like the trader who safd ho balanced onco and was so disgusted with tho result that he never repeated the efforts '! — of course his creditors soon balanced for him. E/ery colonist has an interest in this country, and should immediately avail himself of the franchise Lot it be understood wo aro now dealing with principles, but principles and mon are inseparable in politics. Some candidates are already b t -ing chosen and introduced to tho people while politicians of all shades ef opinion are adTertising themselves. We shall shortly be called upon to elect a representative. A neglect to qualify for voting ia reprehensible. Every man is willing to avail him«elf of his country's protection, to reap the advantages of government, and willing or not must contribute toward tho revenue, yet hundreds of men will not trouble to register. Their comfort is guaranteed, their property secured by their country's laws, bub they refuse through indifference to take their share of making and administering them. Ours i 3 government by the people and every enfranchised man is 1 member of the Government. We are the Government, we literally make the laws, we positively decide between extravagance and economy, between being beaten wfth scorpions or whips. That apathy which Bayt " there is nothing to choose between the candidates, they are six one and half • dozen tho other "is criminal. The early troubles of the' United States, when the reins of government were in the hands of men who served the State because they could serve themselves, can be traced to the apathy of those who, thinking politics unimportant, neglected their political duties. There are now wires and pulleys in this colony which are being worked by unprincipled candidates for Parliamentary honors ; there are honest statesmen who are willing to give their ability and experience to extricate tho country. We must see that these statesmen are well flanked by sending a representative that they can rely on. He may be a party man, a more useless man in Parhament than the 10-called independent member cannot bo found. An efficient Administration and a strong criticising Opposition are equally essential. The expression of diverso sentiment and manner of operation is beneficial. Whatever views on some minor questions our future member may hold let us never fall into the error of some constituencies by mistaking an organ-grinder for a musician.