SOME NATIONAL ASSOCIATION METHODS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5667, 11 September 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

SOME NATIONAL ASSOCIATION METHODS.

■ • ••,...- „; '(Waihato Tirfies.) :'■■'. The quality of much, of .the so-called ; special -correspondence from Wellington that now finds a home in the columns of 1 the Tory newspapers is, like mercy, quite unstrained. There, however, the resem- : blance between the , scribbling and the ; beatitude ends, for the key-note of the correspondence is simple malevolence ■ directed against " the Government. This ' species of writing comes straight from the ' National Association, and it is concocted 1 by a few hireling unprincipled creatures 1 in Wellington, who make it the business 1 of their little lives to listen at the key--1 holes and hunt up scandals, blackening of ' characters of people, when they would be ' more worthily employed in blacking their ' boots. The letters, paid for out of the ' treasure chest of the Association, are sent 1 broadcast over the country, and here and there they fall into the hands of a news--1 paper not above publishing any gossip, ■ however foul, so long as it is from Wel- ' lington, against the Government, and does 1 not cost anything. * * * It is not 1 pleasant to reflect that newspapers loudly professing to represent the culture and the ' virtue of the colony should greedily accept the drivel of menial hack writers, because 1 they can get it for nothing ; but it inspires 1 one with sentiments of indignation and disgust to find the very high priests of all ; the virtues banding themselves together and subscribing funds to pay for the shocking "stuff." Electors cannot be too often i reminded of the fact that the Opposition have abandoned argument in their attacks on the Government, and have substituted therefor abuse and slander. They feel, and in this their feeling is just, that the' people cannot be lindhced _to abandon. the * 'Liberal programme, or any material portion . " of it, butj they • would f ain. .bellevje-.that. if sufficient mud be thrown some of. it^will stick."" There aim is, therefore, 1 to discredit the personal reputation of Ministers, and so bring about the downfall of the Administration. Once seated on the Treasury benches, Captain Russell and his friends will not hesitate long before^cbmmencing a policy of reaction.