The Westport Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1870.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 666, 2 June 1870, Page 2

The Westport Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1870.

There can be little doubt that Mr Franklyn, among his other good qualities, possesses an enormous quantity of that which schoolboys, in these days, call cheek. Mr Franklyn has ceased to number himself among the legislators of the Province, in consequence of having been driven from the Provincial Council; and that his colleagues should have got the better of him, and that he should have cut a very sorry figure are by no means matter for regret. It would be but little to say that Mr Franklyn in his political career never acted on principle, on a knowledge, that is, of right and wrong, and a selection of the right; in his study of the science of self-interest he has progressed much further than this, and has taught himself to believe that that which other men call integrity is, in a political point of view, to be regarded as mawkish, insipid and useless for such purposes as the acquisition of power or place; whereas disingenuousness and tergiversation were, on their own account to be preferred no offoring -fclio amtabl© road to "fchoso things which he was desirous of possessing. Mr Franklyn may certainly boast the merit of having selected the course he has run." He had been floated fairly on the world's surface ; as holding a responsible and valuable appointment he was secured from being driven into the crooked and mischievous path, and, with power to choose between good and bad, has deliberately chosen the latter. Bread and water, ay, and the fat things of the world would have come to him in all likelihood naturally without stratagem, but he preferred the latter and certainly merits his reward. Mr Franklyn, however is not easily browbeaten, indeed he is more generally prepared to browbeat others, and after his ignominious ejectment from the Council, he felt it incumbent upon him to perform some exploit uncommonly cheeky, in order to cover his late discomfiture, to set aside the all but unanimous verdict which had been given against him. He must do something, unless he was prepared to go to the wall utterly, and at once. He had become member of Council merely by dint of cheek, and by the exercise of extra assurance he hopes to be again returned to the Provincial Council. Curiosity was awakened as to whether Mr Franklyn possessed the necessary quantum of that commodity again to introduce himself to the electors of the Grrey District; same maintained that he did and more than enough; the majority thought otherwise, and thought wrongly. The initiated admitted that he had received a great blow, that he had almost been annihilated, but contended that it behoved him but the more, to do something. Mr Franklyn has done that something, the expression of public opinion though all but unanimous shall not cow him, and he has .placed himself in nomination as a candidate for the vacated seat. His address at Cobden must have been a rare treat to the few who were present on that occasion; he doubtless referred to the iniquitous attempt that had been made to calumniate his political character and assured his hearers of his probity in the matter. The supply of cheek is not bad: it is all but unlimited ; yet it suffices not. No enthusiastic ardor welcomed the once loved Franklyn back to his constituency, and comforted him after the merited usage he had experienced. No voices expressed, Jby their clamorous negation, that their Franklyn was above reproach. The eyes around regarded him with no friendly alacrity. Such has been the reception accorded him at Cobden. Unfortunately Cobden by its number of votes does not exercise a very important influence in returning a member. At the Ahaura and Napoleon fortune may again favor this political apostate. He may succeed in deriving capital out of his connection with Mr Kynuersley, who is

highly and deservedly esteemed by the population of the Grey, and through an apparent self-negation in favor of the latter, induce a revulsion of feeling sufficient to place him at the head of the poll. Such a result is not impossible, but for the sake of public integrity, as also all future aspirants to political honors, it is devoutly to be hoped such consummation will not bo realised.