Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1892. A MIDDLE PARTY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 7623, 20 January 1892, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. [ PUBLISHED DAILY.] WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1892. A MIDDLE PARTY.

The Tories, realising more than ever since their defeat in Wellington laat week that they cannot hope to reign again for a considerable time, have comforted themselves with the idea that, because three malcontents have seceded from the Liberal side, the G-overninent can be defeated by the formation of a middle party, of which Messrs Pish, Fisher, and Hutchison are to be the nucleus. There can be no doubt of the danger of any Government possessing too largo a majority at tho outset, as it means that a number of its supporters are sure to be disappointed in their sanguine expectations, and to " rat " when they think that by doing so they can be revenged upon their former friends for not giving them the rewards they looked for. Messrs Ksh, Fisher, and Hutchison have seceded from the Government side of the House for reasons which our readers can guess, and which it is not necessary for us to further refer to. They, no doubt, individually \ aspire to the leadership of the Middle Party, which as yet numbers but three, and will never agree to any one of them being elevated to the command. That they will never i command or control a Middle Party of any size goes without saying, as they are all deficient in those qualities which are indispensable in a leader. None of them is endowed with the power of attraction, but the whole triumvirate may safely be trusted to display the very opposite qualities and to repel from their camp any other stray members who may defect from either side of the House. As a middle party these redoubtable parliamentary heroes are likely to be just about as successful, as they have been as members of either of the two ruling parties, with which, they have been allied. Mr Fisher was kicked out of the Atkinson Government, and went over to the enemy's camp in high dudgeon, and he left it in higher, only to find himself without political friends, and obliged to take a seat between the combatants. He is a clever man — too clever by half, some people think — but so far he has not succeeded in

doing anything more than making both sides distrustful of Hin. MiGeorge Hutchison, is also said to be wonderfully clever, but lie is in the same dilemma as Mr Fisher ; he has denounced the Tories so often, and so vigorously with melodramatic fervour that hi<3 defection from the Government side of the House did not land him any nearer the camp of the Opposition, so he too had to take a seat in the middle of the House and keep Mr Ksher company, being joined in the last days of the session by Mr Pish, whose grievances are legion, and whoso opposition is a thing to he devoutly prayed for, as his support is about the most damaging and compromising thing any Government or party could he inflicted with. The Middle Party then, is one of exceptional talents, and may safely be trusted to work out its own discomfiture ; besideß which it is ](•■><* odds that the electors will refuse to send its racm l^ - \,.u,k to Parliament again, after the next general elections. They have, therefore, but a shoiL time to effect their self-imposed task of smashing the Government. They are more likely to hurt themselves severely in the attempt.