The Wanganui Chronicle and Patea Rangitikei Advertiser. "Nulla Difs Sine Linea." FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1899. FOR THE HONOUR OF NAPIER."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 1 December 1899, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle and Patea Rangitikei Advertiser. "Nulla Difs Sine Linea." FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1899. FOR THE HONOUR OF NAPIER."

"'- *ii- iEviißY right thinking man and woman wiil regard with indignation, mingled with regret for the apparent degradation of our colony's public life, the disgraceful treatment meted out to Mr Pirani at Napier on Wednesday evening last. Mr Pirani, who is one of the leading lights of the- Left Wing section of the House, went to Napier for the purpose of delivering an .address antagonistic to the Qovernment, his object in so doing no doubt being to show Mr Seddon that two could play 'the same game. , The Premier had grossly attacked him at VPii. mersbon, and he apparently decided to devote such time as he. could spare froni- his own electorate to speaking againsf fhe Premier in othcr constituen- <*.}:». Unfortunately for Mr Pirani the handicap was greatly in the Premier's favour, in the first p ace because Mr Seddon can do his travelling and electioneering at the country's expense, and in tbe second place because it is only among the ranks of the Seddonites that organised gangs of rowdies can be got to interfere with. the! right of free speech. The brutal und ruf- j fianly demonstration against Mr Pirani was evidently pre-arranged, as wi.l, be seen by the following appeal "for the honour of Napier," which wns pub'ished by the Napier Jtlerald on the morning of the day on wbich Mr Pirani was announced to speak : "Mr Pirani, the member for 'Palmerston, is to address a meeting at the" Gaiety Theatre this evening. We have heard from, several quarters that there will be an organised attempt to deny him a hearing. We do not associate Mr Fraser or the leaders of the Radical party in Napier with this threat, but that there is tear of a most disorderly meeting, even on their part, js evidenced oy the fact that the propiietor of tfce Theatre has asked for an indemnit- against damage before he will open the doors. This is" supposed to be a land of liberty of speech* But apparently the practical recognition of that fact is confined to the so-called Conservatives,who always give a patient hearing to their opponents. Bub dn (the present contest, at Palmerston tind elsewheie, organised Government clacques howl down speaker, pn the other side,- and at Wellington they eyen resorted to the throwing of stones at the candidates. The Mayor, at Mr Fi-aser's meeting, remarke'd that it was superfluous for him to ask for ir fair hearing, for everyone, on, whatever side he might speak, wns now-a-days assured of that in Napier. Are we to lose that character and our town be disgraced by am organised band of hoodlums determined that the plucky member for PalmeiotO)-. shall not have a hearing? For the honour of Napier we hope that even ut the eleventh hour better counse's will prevail." The Napier incident, was but a repetition of the disgraceful exhibitions of yuf* fla'nlSrh'whichrhtn:G3!CCurred -at Wellington and Palmerston, exhibitions which should make every self-respecting man and woman indignant \tkat such a .reproach should ite cpst pi*, Jhe fair fame of the electors of New Zealand, A»y miiu jn this free country has a right to receive a fair hearing, and these organised attempts to apply the gag by means of blackguardly rowdyism must inevitably recoil upon the heads of those responsible for them. It is satisfactory to remember, however, that although an organised gang of rowdies is undoubtedly a largely disturbing clement at a public meeting, it is a very jnconsiderate""quantity when it comes to the polls. On each occasion these disgraceful disturbances have been -treated by ! the supporters of the present Übvernment,yet the Premier has never so much as raised his voice in protest. Apparently mob rule is good enojjgi. foj* hW?,. so l° n S as it will silence the honest criiisfsffl fff hh opponents.