DARK SAYINGS

Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 877, 27 March 1866, Page 2

DARK SAYINGS

It would puzzle a philosopher, or an apocalyptic expounder, to comprehend the dim and shaduwy utterances which mark (lie writings and speeches of many members of the late Ministry. Vagueness is their forte ; it is their defence. They clothe themselves .in wordy nothingness as wifh a garment;, and the seeker for substantial argument plods in vain through their oral ions. It is related that in Canterbury, on a recent occasion, a candidate, in addressing the electors, made frequent eulogistic mention of " Mr. Weld's policy," —vyhen Mr. Moorehouse, who is a man of considerable experience, quietly enquired, " What is Mr. "Weld's policy?" and the^queslion was nob answered; the orator, being brought to book, could not tell; confounded, with the valuable testphrase of "Explain your' terms," he could - not explain. And really this is the position of that famous policy at the present moment. Even thosewho had some hand in managing it take shelter iv empty sentences and vigue phraseology. Tale the following example, and particularly the lines we have italicised, quoted from an address written by Major Biohardson, the late Postmaster-Generali to hii quondam $on»titu«nt# in OUgo :«-<