POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 521, 21 October 1890, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

A requisition inviting Sir Harry Atkinson to stand for New Plymouth was signed by three hundred electors.

Mr Kelly notifies his candidature for the East Coast seat.

Mr Kelly is expected to arrive in Gisborne on Friday next. He comes via Auckland, by steamer.

“O.ly Gammon” is what the Waipawa Mail terms a Paliamentary candidate. Who is it ? Wouldn’t the Ven. Canon sound better, seeing how Scripture has lately been used (or abused) in Napier ? The fact that the devil can quote Scripture should not affect the beautiful air of sincerity—though Gisborre people do know it is all Gan—gammon (terms that are synonymous). The following definition of his political opponents is made a present of to Mr Arthur:—A consistent poli ician is a man who always votes on our side ; a blind partisan is one who always votes on the other side; a man wi'h the courage of his convictions is one who leaves the other side and comes over to ours ; a renegade is the man who leaves us and goes over to the oiber side.

Mr Carroll’s chances for the Maori electoral district are now considered very good. He has bren actively canvassing, and with the Hauhau vote split as it is he stands a much better chance than if that were combined against him. The Oamaru Mail writes in these terms of Mr Fish: —“ We have nothing whatever against Mr Fish, except that he is politically unreliable and given to a political conduct that cors'itutes him a Parliamentary Ishmaelite, Working men must be pushed hard for a champion when they will take Mr Fish to their arms. Nobody who knows him values his profession, nor his co-operation, nor his blatant oratory.” The Conservative journals seem to be trying to do their best to hound down those candidates who are known to be sincere in tbeir support of true Unionism, until the men are made reckless as to future consequences. Mr. Ballance has written a private letter which will be commended by the sensible nun on both aides in politics, but it is now being j ered at by all those journals whose spirit of partisanship will admit that nothing e*n be good that emanates from an opponent. This is what Mr Ballance says“ With respect to what is known as* labor candidates,’ I think that the people generally will make a mistake if they are led away by a cry of the kind. What is wanted is a broad Liberal programme which will protect the rights of labor and promote wholesome reforms of every description. A member of Parlia. ment ought rot to be a mere delegate from a particular c’ass, but should be a representative pledged to principles. This kind of representative will do more good for the working c’eascs than a one-idea’d man sent up to Wellington to speak ‘ by the card,’ and who peihaps would do his speaking badly.” The interpretation of that is plain, that when men are sent to Parliament it should be for the good of their country A candidate may be selected from the working classes, but he should be guided by some principle?, Too many men that are sent to Parliament are mere y pliant tools in the hands of those who are unscrupulous enough to take advantage of iheir inexperience or want of honesty. Mr JelHcoe, a Wellington candidate for Parliament, has taken up a very strong attitude against the strikers, lashing out against them with great fury. Somehow we believe Unionists will respect Mr Jellicon for expressing his opinions with so much candor, because there are so mxny candidates trying to crawl round to get at the Labor vote, and so .much disgusting hypocrisy is shown, that it is a relief to hear a straightforward expression of opinion, even though it may be unfavorable.