THE BLOCK-VOTE AT NELSON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 304, 14 February 1879, Page 19

THE BLOCK-VOTE AT NELSON.

The following letter, written by Mr. Jacob Frank to the Editor of the Nelson Colonist, makes it clear that whatever may have been the cause of Mr. Pitt's defeat it was not his having been favoured by the Block Vote : — Some short time ago Mr. Acton Adams canvassed certain Catholics, and distinctly pledged himself to support Mr. Curtis' Bill. Then finding, I suppose, he could catch more votes by the other cry, round he goes, and, to serve his purpose, pours upon the Catholic Church every species of vulgar and ignorant abuse, both directly and by inuendo, knowing too well that by so doing he would stir up the worst passions of our poor human nature, those evil dispositions, which he was all the time pretending to be so anxious to get rid of for ever. Nor did this poor young man stop short at this. There was still a deeper depth to his political two-facedness. Yesterday morning, adding insult to injmy, he had the bad taste to station himself at the entrance to St. Mary's Church just as the congregation were leaving, and did not hesitate to disturb them by commencing a brisk canvas for their votes, during which he made the followiug statements : •' I have never said one word against your Church." " I have the greatest respect for your religion." " I will do all in my power to promote your interests." This is a fact, and can be proved by the clearest evidence. Now, as regards Mr. Pitt, we do not yet know what his views are, or what he has to say, but I do know that he has not canvassed for Catholic votes as such : that he has made no promises ; and that the statement that the Catholic block vote is secured for him is a wilful falsehood, propagated, I fear, purely as an electioneering dodge. We lay Catholics can no more Le driven to the poll by our clergy, like sheep, than our Protestant friends can, and Mr. Adams' imploring appeal to the clergry to act as his electioneering agents will only have the effect of setting the laity dead against him. I have written this to my old fellow settlers here to expose humbug, and I hope they will not think any the worse of my letter because of my faith. I agree that religious animosities ought to be buried, and Mr. Adams is responsible if they have been galvanized into life for a time. I declare if I had to choose to-morrow between giving my vote to a Catholic or Protestant, I should give it to the latter if I thought him the more honest man of the two, for no matter in what religious body he may be found, "An honest man's the noblest work of God."