The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, November 18, 1890. CAPTAIN RUSSELL’S ADDRESS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 533, 18 November 1890, Page 2

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

Tuesday, November 18, 1890. CAPTAIN RUSSELL’S ADDRESS.

Be just aufl fear uut; Let all the ends thou atffi’st at be thy uauatry’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

The town is maintaining its excellent record in the matter of political meetings. All seem to go with the object of learning something, or at least to enlighten them selves as to the matured thought of other men. Captain Russell is a fluent speaker, and it is a pleasure to listen to him at any time and on any subject. His presence in Gisborne at the present time is rather suggestive, knowing that he is the only member of the Continuous Ministry who has ever thought Gisborne sufficiently worthy to be entitled to a public address from a member of the Cabinet. Still we will not quarrel with Captain Russell over such matters. We are content to accept it as a compliment to the rising importance of the district, and shall try and frown away any smile that may play upon the lips when we think of other reasons that may have induced the gentle landowner to pay Gisborne a visit. It is always pleasing to intelligent men to hear what an opponent has to say, and from Captain Russell we are sure to get as good a defence as can be made on behalf of the Ministry. Regarding that gentleman personally, it may be here said that we should be sorry to see men of his stamp replaced by such men as Messrs Gannon and Reardon. Having in the mind’s eye examples that need not be more particularly alluded to, a man must indeed have faith to preach the political gospel of measures, without respect to the men. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the principles upheld by any party that for the time being is in power, it must be acknowledged that what is being done is by them considered to be for the best ; that is, however, only on the supposition that the individuals can be trusted. If those men could not gain confidence in the lower walks of life, any political party is much better without their assistance. Though one’s opinions may be widely different from those advocated by the present Government, it would be a very unwise thing to advise the rejection of Captain Russell in favor of an opponent like the one now in the field. If no other candidate comes forward then we should sincerely advise Captain Russell’s candidature to be supported by every elector who has a vote in that district. If the present Opposition is thus deprived of a vote in Parliament, it wjll at least be saved from taking to its bosom friends who are liked better in proportion to the distance which separates them from what maybe termed the citadel of the Country's welfare.

The speech last night, though very nice to listen to, will hardly bear a critical analysis. It was the same old song, with slight variations, Mr Bryce’s dismal wail was found to be so coldly responded to that a more hopeful tone has been adopted. The speaker also repeated the shallow charges about the Stout-Vogel Government, that mixtuie of Conservativism and Liberalism that could never have succeeded, and which neither side can defend But let us grant that it was a Liberal Government, and then ask a fair statement of the case to be made. Since the immigration and public works policy was instituted, tbe Liberals have held office only five years and the Conservatives fifteen years, and out of the 34 millions borrowed the former are only responsible for 53< millions. Captain Russell speaks in a light hearted way of the exodus, and talks of the young New Zealanders that have come into the world. In twenty years time some of the petted darlings may be able to take the place of the wealth-producers who have been drained from the colony, but we doubt whether all of the heavily-taxed parents will rejoice to think that the prosperity of the country is being guaged in this way. Those young New Zealanders, while they are passing through the many vicissitudes of early life, will be expensive things to rear, All that the honorable gentleman had to say on the properly tax has been .often said before. For our own part we agree with those who say that the time is not ripe for it, that any disturbance of the fiscal policy at the present time would have a very injurious effect, and that whatever party is returned to power will not attempt to do anything in that direction al the present

tim But in speaking of the theory we would commend the Captain’s attention to one point. We are always being told that the Property Tax deals more unjustly with the rich man, yet the rich man seems to have a suspicious preference for that form of taxation, and he can generally be trusted to know what suits his pocket best. The misrepresentation about the Labor Bills was very cool indeed. Captain Russell knows as well as any other man who has studied New Zealand politics, that the Government only brought in the measures as a catchvote scheme, knowing full well that their own supporters in the Council would give them the quick despatch. The speaker’s explanation about his somersault into a Protectionist Ministry is plausible, but the plain fact cannot be got over by such plausibilities. In regard to the native land question the honorable gentleman betrayed a woful ignorance which, on the part of a Minister of the Crown, explains in a measure the stupid bungling that has been made in legislation. Even the willingness of the natives to put their lands through the Court is only the beginning and not the end of the trouble. Mr Arthur could, from experience, well enlighten him upon such matters. Captain Russell supports Mr Rees’ plan of cutting out the shares of hapus, but how he calls that “ individualisation ” we do not profess to understand.