THE MORAL OF THE LATE ELECTIONS.

Colonist, Issue 23, 8 January 1858, Page 3

THE MORAL OF THE LATE ELECTIONS.

(From the Lyttelton Times.) In our own colony of New Zealand if we are likely to gain but little from the example of a country like America which was once composed of colonies like our own, at least each province ought to gather what lessons it can by watching carefully the history of the neighbours who are fighting the battle of modern politics contemporaneously with ourselves. At this very moment a remarkable instance of political insanity is brought under our notice in the neighbouring province of Wellington. In that province the late general elections have been little less than a revolution, so far as the city of Wellington is concerned. The popular men of four years ago are now rejected, en masse to make way for other acknowledgedly their inferiors in every requisite to form councillors. We have been all along far from agreeing with Dr. Featherston and his associates in the Provincial Government of Wellington, but we have given them credit for being able, energetic men, thoroughly devoted to the advancement of their province If, however a fair and honest opposition had been organised on definite political principles we should not have been astonished. But as in the case of the Superintendent's election, so in that of the twelve members for the town of Wellington, the opposition tactics have been simply a disgrace to the constituency. The Government party had to face public and private slander ofthe basest kind, they were refused a hearing by mobs infuriated with drink and falsehood, while refreshments were lavishly distributed by designing leaders. Every man of their party was indiscriminately thrown out, to make way for riiere nobodies. The Superintendent is left to look for support to the country districts whichJ secunkl his f eleetion. What Wellington .has gained, and what will be done by the new crew of members* we,are at a loss to conceive. Some idea of their political views may be gathered from the only determination some of them have come to:—to get rid of the Superintendent by hook or by crook. To remind the Wellington Government party that as they have sown the wind they must reap the whirlwind, may seem ungenerous at this moment ; but in looking for the causes of the present state of affairs at Wellington, we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that the personalities so rife in Wellington politics were first introduced into the discussion of public matters by some of those who have now suffered from them. They must not be astonished if, in the hands of a lower party than their own, a bad system will become worse, or that ribaldry and scurrility will be the answer of the low-minded and vulgar to the fairness and vulgarity of purely personal attacks. However that may be, Dr. Featherston and his friends have not flinched from the struggle. The experience gained in the last month will not be lost upon them; and no doubt, as regards some of his ultra views, the Superintendent of Wellington will be a sadder and a wiser man. We heartily wish him success in the struggle which will ensue ; success commensurate with his honesty and courage. To stand in safety on a firm shore, and thence to enjoy for the sake of contrast the struggles of wearied'sailors tossed about upon a stormy sea, is an idea of pleasure well befitting the indolence of the Epicurean poet, nursed under the softening influences of a southern sky. But to men formed in a more manly mould it will occur to watch such struggles with a view of learning how to meet them for themselves and to prepare the means for averting shipwreck on a future occasion. With reference to our observations on the conduct of the recent elections in our own province, we must guard ourselves from the supposition that we are dissatisfied with their general issue. On the contrary there is every reason to be satisfied on the whole, especially whon we compare our position with that of our neighbours. But we have chosen this occasion, when the elections are all over, and when we cannot be suspected of partisan motives, to draw our readers' attention to the dangerous tendencies which always develop themselves on'all sides in a popular election. And we ask them to consider again whether there is not too much fear lest, a ' cry' judiciously worked by intruders and demagogues would not carry away a large portion of our electors against their better judgment. It is not our electors only, .but; electors all over the world who are in the want of more self-reflection and self-reliance. Let us only consider what election agents mean when they ask for 'a good cry' to go to a constituency with. Do they not mean they have a thorough contempt for the reasoning powers of electors as a body, a thorough conviction that they are to be led or driven by judicious means? !Let our aim as electors be to put ourselves out of the reach of election agents and their ingenious devices by accustoming ourselves to form in our own mind conscientious judgments as to the merits or demerits of candidates for our suffrages, and to vote according to such judgments independently of all other motives. Wellington has afforded us ere now a waring as regards physical disturbances of which we have been glad to take advantage. The effect of earthquakes in that province has guided us in the con.truction of our houses and the choice of our building material. The political and social storm from which our neighbours are now suffering ought to make us prepare for a day—which we yet may hope is far distant—when unscrupulous, traders in political agitation may be .active in stirring up all that is lowest and basest among us to fatten on the moil while tßey mock at the credulity of their deluded victims.

PopuiiATioif of Victoria.—By a return issued from the office of the Registrar-General, it appears thatj on the 30th September, 1857. the total population of the colony of Victoria to 440,218, of which 287,721- were males and J/59,197'were females. - 8583 Chinese are officially returned as having landed in South Australia in the quarter ending 30th June, and proceeded overland to Victoria.