South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1885

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3788, 28 May 1885, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1885

That New Zealand should . send to Sydney an accredited representative to convey to the returning Colonial contingent the congratulations of this colony, is fitting in the extreme. The omission of such a mark of cordial fellowship would have disgraced us altogether. For the whole episode has been unique, and it was unfortunate that New Zealand should hare stood out from the other colonies in not offering the services of a contingent in Soudan. The only way of repairing this at all is to publicly felicitate the returning troops on their loyalty and spirit. The more we regard the affair the more do we honor the spirit that prompted it, and the more we perceive the mighty effect that despatch of a handful of colonial troops to the aid of the British arms, has upon European politics. It was commonly believed that England’s colonies were a source of weakness to her, or at any rate that their loyalty was of such a watery nature as to make it impossible that they should take any active steps to defend the Old Flag. All such ideas have been effectually and unexpectedly dispersed. The world knows now the colonies, so far from being a source of weakness to the Motherland, are additional robust arms of power to her, and those nations which have fondly believed England to be an effete power have qnite changed their opinion. The promoters of the affair may have committed a sad breach of the constitution of morals. We quite believe it. But in doing so they have carried the colonies at one bound into high repute among English people. These bronzed warriors who are now crossing the sea towards their colonial home, bronzed and hardy, after a sojourn amongst the sands, the arid rocks and the fierce climate of the Soudan, after band to band encounters with the fanatical savages of that region, have done for the colonies a service for which all the colonies have reason to be grateful. The 600 or 700 men were not wanted. They were not numerous enough to turn the tide of success had it been in danger. Bat they were numerous enough to represent in a practical way the loyalty and enterprise of Australasia. They have done so—and all honor to them for it 1

One of tbe silliest things we have seen in journalism fora long time is tbe gusL now going on in some papers, over tbe conversion (or as some have it) of Mr Howard Vincent from moderate Liberalism to staunch Conservatism. Mr Howard Vincent was for a time chief of the Criminal Investigation department in England. He quitted that office, however, partly because be was confessedly a failure, and partly because of bis change of condition from that of an aspiring bachelor to that of husband of an heiress. Immediately after bis marriage Mr Vincent determined to make “ the grand tour.” The “ grand tour ” be it understood, is now the tour of tbe world, not of Europe merely as before. The “ Anglo-New Zealander ” says of him :—“ Unable to understand tbe attitude of Mr Gladstone’s Adminstration towards the interests of Great Britain in her own empire beyond tbe seas, Mr Vincent determined to go abroad in order to study personally the serious problems which were before the country. In a letter addressed to the Council of the Westminster Liberal Association, he declines their invitation to become a candidate for Westminster at the general election.” This is all very well, regarded as the relation by a traveller of his experiences and the expression of bis opinion. But

when it is sought to magnify such expressions into the dignity of a dictmn, we must protest. Who or what is Mr Vincent, and what is the ralue of bis opinions ? We cannot find a reason for attaching any importance to the latter, or magnifying the man himself into an authority. No doubt during his travels Mr Vincent beard a good deal of fire-eating talk. But what does that prove ? It proves nothing. We hear quite enough of it in this colony, and we have learned by this time to value it aright. Those who believe in Liberalism, who trust Mr Gladstone, and who are satisfied that his farseeing eye looks over the angry tumult and the present panic at the steady march of events, will not find their faith disturbed by anything Mr Vincent may say or write on the situation.