THE Wellington Independent. SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1858. RADICAL REFORMERS.—THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN.

Wellington Independent, Volume X, Issue 1309, 24 July 1858, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent. SATURDAY, JULY 24, 1858. RADICAL REFORMERS.—THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN.

Many of the njw arrived sealers have, no doubt, been deceived by the title of Radical Reformers which.the Wakefieldites assumed to themselves, and believing them to bear the same relation to the Constitutional or Dr. Featherston's party, which the Radicals nt home beur to the old Tory party, they are inclined to join them on account of the-name they bear. A few words of. enlightment may be useful to the new comers on this subject. These self styled-Radicals have stolen : the name they hear. They have obtaiued it as a certain class of London thieves obtain goods which don't belong to them, by false pretences; nod they are no more entitled to boar it than the renants of Newgate are to bear me name of honest citizens.

From the foundation of the colony in 1838 till 1853, the colonists were govern ed by-arbitiiry power and hail rio control whatever of their own affairs. A Governor appointed from Downing stieet, in London, because he was somobody's son, or somebody's cousin, or hnd a frieud at bead-quarters, taxed us and spent our money just us he pleased, and imide whatever laws lie thought proper' to make, without consulting us about them. It is true he had aCounoil consisting of a few officials and "nominees," men whom he picked because he knew they would be subservient-, to his wishes, but no man' who knew what self-government-meant would take a seat iv these nominee Councils.,

Well from 1840, we may say, till 1553, Dr. Featherstbn, Capt. Rhodes, Mr. Fox, Mr. Fitzheribert, Mr. Brandon, Mr. Clilford and others, who now rnnk us leaders of the Constitutional, party,'fought vigorously and constantly for self-government. Year after.year thoy laboured, to .obtain a Constitution from tho lii'perial Ptuliument; and at ..last they succeeded in defeating their opponents and getting the Constitution we now huvo—wresting if .11 faot from the British Gorernmont in

spito of the Colonial Office.'its Governors, and Nominees. ■ -

Now who do you suppose were the op-N ponents of self-government, who resisted i its introo'uclion, nod did all tl.ey could to prevent Featherston and his party from gelling it ? ' Why Mr. Ludlp.m', Mr. Ooorge Runter, Mr.. Robert Sii:ki.-s, Mr. Carpenter, and others, whota Mr. Wakofiehi has lately taken to his bosom, who have had the impudence to claim the narao of Radical Reformers. They Radical Reformers, if they had had their way, not a working-mttn in New Zeultunl would now havo a' vote, arid if they could have their way again, we believe, that rather than see their old opponents Feiitherslon and his party in power, they would gladly see your Constitution repealed and every vpsiige of self-guvernrueut sunk in the

Is it not, therefore, a mockery, a delu sion, and a snurp, to allow theso asses in lion's skins, these duws in borrowed plumes, to strut about and c«.ll themselves Radical Reformers ? And what sort of a Radical Reformer must R. Jerningham Wukefield be, who takes tliaui to his bosom, aud accepts them as his colleagues in political office ?

When the Constitution wus obtained Festherston aud his party were naturally looked to by the people as their leaders; and the newly enfranchised Electors made the first use of their freedom by placing them in power. During the four years they have bold power, they have endeavoured to work out our invaluable Constitution, in a truly liberal spirit, and lo pr>mote the .advancement and progress of the Province by every means in their power Under lh-.'ir Government its progress has heel) acknowledged as remarkable by all the Provinces iv New Zealand, and there is not a settlement in the islands in which ib?> ability of Dr. Featberston und his colleagues is not recognized. Tiia , : they have made many enemies is true, but why ? Because they hare advocated principles too liberal, too radical, too far advanced for less thorough going reformers.' Tbe ilriiiciplo of proviucialism which would give the centrolling power, in rill-provincial matters to the colonists of each Province on the spot, instead of giving it to a remote Government at Auckland or elsewhere as the centralists would do,- Las been one- main ground of difference, between them and other parties. Surely 1 1> 111 is a Radical principle. And -among those who have always opposed it at>d supported the centralist party, have been Messrs Ludlam, Stokes, Hunter, mid the rest of the crew who formerly opposed the very introduction of self-government itself.

In short you will always find ihnse men Ludlani, Huuter, Stokes, & Co., on the side least favourable to the people's rights; nnd yet they pretend to caU liiem-selves Radical Reformers. It has been assumed by them only to deceive the unwary, and such as by reason of having laielv arrived, <*\-..U» V x», M ;nf. [he oonteurling parties. They'nave, no doubt, deceived many; bul.it isour business to nndeceive their victims, to strip off the lion's skin, to exhibit llieir long ears, to pluck off their borrowed plumes and show them iv their nuked deformity.

And whatcan you think of the Wakefields ? It is true they have always professed to be the friendsof free institutions.. But no sooner did Gibbon Wakefield reach the colony than he joined the old nominee party who had resisted for years the introduction of self government Hard did he labour to break down Featherston during ihe first session of the Provincial Council, and subsequently, as long as he conla; and now here is his son Jerningham hugging" with the embrace of a bosom friend Tiudl.'im, Stokes, and Hunter, the bittorost, must determined, and most unscrupulous opponents of Featherston and bis parry, whon they laboured to obtain self-government for the people and a vote for the workingman. Such lengties are unnatural and dishonest. The; must end in injury to the popular cause, and no real Radical Reformer wbo k lows what Reform means and values self-government as his dearest privilege, can support the parties to an unh'olly alliance. ' Stokes, Hunter, Ludlam, Carpenter Radical Reformers ; it is too much ! Whon they arrogate to themselves that honourable title, it is " the Devil quoting scripture," and no mistake. Eleotors bewnre of the man who heads these political banditti, and give no vo'.e to Jerningham Wakefield or his political dependent W. Bowler.