The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, December 9, 1890. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 542, 9 December 1890, Page 2

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

Tuesday, December 9, 1890. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Ba just and foar not; Let all the ends thou alm’at at be thy country's. Thy God’s, and truth's.

The attention of all thinking men must now in a great measure be engaged upon the outcome of the recent general election. There is no question the Government have been defeated, and there is also no question that they are absolutely pledged to retire from office

if the verdict of the country is against them. But this would not be the first time the Ministry had been defeated and yet by some means or other managed to cling to office. They

were ever content to have their measures rejected so long as they were thus enabled to save themselves, and we shall be very much surprised if they consent to retire at the present time without using all means at their command to enable them to retain office. Had the election been altogether in their favor they would still have been compelled to have a reconstruction of the Ministry. The Opposition is now itself placed in a difficult position. In ability it is certainly superior to the Government side of the House, but the choice of leader will be the difficulty. Mr Ballance was acceptable to the old House, but many of those newly-elected may not be favorable to his lead. Still, the difficulty should easily be overcome. Mr Ballance has never been an office-seeker ; he has always been willing to consider his persona) interests as secondary to those of the party, and if a difficulty does arise he is not likely to be an obstacle. There are many men that have not yet been given a chance who would probably be capable leaders, and if the Opposition fails on that... account it will be a most humiliating indication of helplessness. However, it is too early yet to speculate much upon that head until we know the resolution of the Government. Then it will be time enough to see what the present Opposition is made of.