The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, November 13, 1890. STILL IN THE DARK.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 531, 13 November 1890, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, November 13, 1890. STILL IN THE DARK.

Be just and fear not; Let al) the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s,’ Thy God’s, and truth’s.

Mr Arthur appears bent on treating the Poverty Bay electors with lofty contempt. It was only after we had gently probed him that he thought it worth while to give the electors an account of his stewardship during the single session he had been in Parliament, and then, as it turned out, it would have been better had he held his tongue, and not have drawn upon himself the satirical peal of laughter that his address evoked throughout the district. But he has managed to travel the northern portion of the wide electoral district, telling the people his views as to the future, (besides certain little questionable titbits’that have not yet been told openly to our faces), while poor Poverty Bay has so far been treated with silent contempt. Really he does seem 'to hold the Poverty Bay electors cheaply. It is a wonder that he asks their support at all if he cannot condescend to acquaint them with his views. Perhaps some persons will say we ought to compliment him on his cleverness in playing the game of political fox, as he did prior to the last election, changing his views on education and other matters to try and keep on the tide of popular favor. This sort of thing may suit people who do not think, but it is not likely to meet with the approval of intelligent people who have still some regard for political principles. A man who has not the courage of his convictions is only fit for apron strings, and a man who has no convictions at all has only a very remote claim to be included in the franchise. We do not say that Mr Arthur can be classed under either head, but we shou'd be loth to yqy of him as an individual what he seems to think of the electors as a body. It is now only three weeks from election day and he has not thought it .worth while (except in Opotiki and other outside districts) to address a public meeting as to his views regarding the future; “ Mute, inglorious Miltons ” sound very well in school books, but when we know a man has still the breath of life, that he is not dumb, and that he aspires to a public position, we cannot help thinking that he is acting unwisely in treating an extensive district with contempt. Poverty Bay people are not likely to feel jealous at Opotiki being the first township selected for Mr Arthur to air his. political views, but they do not like being paltered with after the fashion set by Mr Arthur. Possibly he is afraid that he will not get a hearing after what he said about Mr Rees when “ on the other side of the range.” If that is the fear we feel that we can reassure him. Keenly as the incident has been felt by Mr Rees’ supporters they do not intend to retaliate in like fashion, and Mr Arthur will be given the fullest opportunity ’to say openly in Gisborne anything he has to say.