THE Wellington Independent Friday, December 13,1861. . PARTY-SPIRIT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1693, 13 December 1861, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent Friday, December 13, 1861. . PARTY-SPIRIT.

Onb of the speakers at the meeting held a week or two ago for. the formation of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, gave utterance to a sentiment which although it was passed over slightly by our reporter, is too important to be unnoticed. Referring to the uttempt that had been made to import political differences into a puiely social matter, Mr. Moore said " The time for suoh , things was past ; those bitter feelings that; had prevailed were dying awuy, and he rejoiced in suoh opportunities as that meeting afforded of showing that old disseusions were now getting healed and removed." Cordially echoing this sentimeut, and remembering that tho gentleman who thus spoke, has never been v mere uninterested spectator of passing events, and moreover that the opinions he has entertained and often expressed, are not those that at present have the ascendancy, we can but hail this (rank, outspoken feeling, as a most gratifying sign of the times. None of us can forget the sort of social ostracism that once threatened to prevail in this, plaoe, and as in later years the lines of party demarcation have been even more sharply defined, it was greatly to be feared that society here would have been irretrievably broken up. JBut'go'od sense and right feeling are resuming their sway. Britons — Englishmen in partioular-r-are born grumblers, but then they would always rather dine together and so discuss

their grievances (like the "starving" farmers deploring the repeal of the cornlaws over turtle and venison )v than, be everlastingly quarrelling about ■ . ifoetti. John Bull fs unquestionably^ ratherpug^ nadious animal, especially When: any one treads upon his corns, but (hfcnancj that is hastily uplifted to strike, "Lj \V il l most likely be extended io grasp, iti friendship the hand of him who produced the momentary irritation. And thus as communities, Englishmen everywhere grumble and find fault, yet get on very well to- , gether. Seriously speaking, if it be true that "government by party is the price that we pay for free institutions," it may be a fair question whether the -price is hot fully adequate to the benefit, but at least there can be no doubt at all, tbatif partybe, unavoidable in public matters, partyspirit becomes a' positive nuisance and injury when v extends to private and social life. Not only is no man to be blamed for entertaining strong and decided views on public matters, or for giviug utterance to such on all suitable oocasions, but this is q duty incumbent upon him as a member of ibe commonwealth, If, however, these feelings' are allowed to interfere and prevent cordial, co-operation in matters of social, ; life, useful, and benevolent . association will become impossible, aud the very frame woikof the community be destroyed, while • it will be well if a sort of OapuJet and Montague hatred be not produced, ; and jealousies and animosities pollute? evem the domestic hearth. We oheerfully reiterate the belief that the time for this is past, and we add, so past as nevermore to return. . t