The Sydney Morning Herald. - TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1859. - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 7 Jun 1859 (original) (raw)

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Tue 7 Jun 1859 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
Page 4 - The Sydney Morning Herald.

Oïje &»îmea iOTorniitg aéralo.

TitK nomination for East Sydney takes place

to-day in Hyde Park. The ceremony is to com-

mence at noon, and as the sun sets a little

before five, it will not be amiss if the whole can

be brought to a conclusion by four o'clock.

Four hours ought surely to be time enough to

get through the whole process. Yet as there

are eight candidates to bo offered for selection,

and as each will have a mover and seconder,

this makes twenty-four persons who will be

entitled to speak, so that giving only ten minutes

to each speaker, it will take an hour to do justice

to each candidate, even if the speaking were un-

interrupted and continuous. But then on these

public occasions the flow of oratory never is

practically quite so continuous, even

when there is no confusion or noisy

interruption ; time is not husbanded

very economically. We must allow

a few minutes for preliminary cheering, and for

the brief introductory remarks of the Returning

Officer-some intervals between each address

while tito modesty of the forthcoming speaker

screws itself up to the stricking point-some

time for each successive orator to clear his

throat and to blow his nose, and to pause for a

few encouraging cheers to help him over

his early difficulties-a few moments for each

candidate to take off his hat, to bow to all the

points of the compass, to lay his hand upon his

left waistcoat pocket and look, if not to say, that

it is one of the happiest moments of his exist-

ence-a little space for the tumultnous applause

bestowed on tho popular favourites, and for the

sibilant greeting that awaits the less fortunate

candidates-a little interval for the in-

terruptions occasioned by the intcrjectional

remarks of the wits of the crowd, and double

the time for the more stentorian utterances of

teer into the service of order by shouting

" silence," " turn him out," Sec. If wo make

such reasonable allowance for these various exi-

gencies as' experience shows to be usually called

for, there will not be really much moro than five

minutes fairly at the command of each speaker ;

and as the secret of short speeches is preparation

beforehand, we should recommend each speaker

just to settle in his own mind what is essential

or desirable for him to say on the occasion, and

if there is more than he can cram into five mi-

nutes-just to leave the last part out. We have

less compunction in advising our friends to

" cut it short," because the nomination is, after

all, really nothing more than a form, and if it is

got through decently, there is not the smallest

necessity to make it a ponderous affair. Accord-

ing to the theory of the constitution, the nomi-

nation is the time when the candidate is pre-

sented to the constituency by those who under-

take to recommend him, and when he does his

best to justify the recommendation. But, like

many other parts of the theory of the constitu-

tion, this has been altogether superseded in

practice, by the custom that has grown uj> of

canvassing, and of holding incessant meetings,

where the candidate explains his opinions (or

tries to conceal them as the case may be). The

proposal to do away with public nominations,

and transact them by letters, was simply

a recognition of the real state of things-an

attempt to adapt the form to the facts of the

case, and to dispense with what had grown to

be in most cases a cumbrous superfluity. The

objections that have been made to this proposal

have no weight- in them, and are moreover

curious as coming from reformers in defence of

the conservation of a custom which has

little but old age to recommend it. In the ultra

democratic colony of South Australia, the pinn

has been in force for two or three years, and

won general approval, having been found to

contributo as much to orderliness on nomination

days PS the ballot has on election days. To

say, as some do, that it would be un-English

to abolish the good old plan of making a candi-

date meet his constituents face to face, is sheer

nonsense, when those same candidates have been

speaking from balconies and upper windows

for almost every night for a week or two pre-

vious, and have been leisurely trotted out and

put through their paces by every elector who

has liad the curiosity or the pluck to try their

"We shall not say a word as to the import-

ance of preserving order, because we have not

the smallest reason for supposing that there is

any need for a lecture oi\ that point ; but it,

perhaps, may not be so unnecessary to drop a

hint that all sides should be heard fairly, be-

cause it must be admitted that popular audiences

have not yet attained to perfection in the art of

patiently listening to unpopular men and un-

pleasant arguments. Much yet remains to be

done in the public training in this matter.

A word or two on the new mode of voting

may not be thrown away. Popular as the ballot

is, it is a fact that many who have called out

lustily for it, do not how to make use of it. In

almost every election that has taken place lately

'-?> the neighbouring colonies, we have observed

mat a considerable per-centage of votes have

been lost through the ignorance or carelessness

of the voters. Sometimes they have scratched

out too few names, giving themselves votes for

more candidates than they are entitled to ;

sometimes in extra /.eal they have

scratched out all the names ; sometimes,

through unsteadiness of hand, they have

j taken, "a bad shot with the pea and drawn a |

line fcetween the Tînmes rathe« than across them,

or just beheading tho Christian name of one

candidate, and .curtailing the surname of the

next, leaving it doubtful on which they meant

to do execution ; sometimes they fold the paper

up in irregular shapes, without blotting it, dis-

closing, when it is reopened, such a nebulous

diffusion of mkstaîns, intersected by erratic

lines, as to moke it quite impossible for the

Returning Officer lo tell what was meant. Mr.

HILL lia{s stated,, in our advertising columns,

very fully and perspicuously what arrangements

he has made for carrying out the process

of voting, ixnd a peiusal of his notice

will probably make the matter plain to

everybody. Under the old system, the

most nervous or blundering elector was pre-

served from .going wrong, by the kind offices of

some toutcr for (he candidate he patronised,

who would fill up his paper for him, introduce

him to the booth, and sec him safely delivered

of his franchise. But under the operation of

the ballot, each voter must understand how to

act for himself. He may bo escorted to the en-

trance of tho booth by his friends, but he must

enter the penetralia, and do the deed alone.

And as no time can bo allowed for him to sit

down and scratch his head, and collect his

thoughts, he had better comprehend ex-

actly what he has to do before ho

begins to do it. The simple directions

advertised by Mr. IIIEE, if attended to, will

probably suffice to prevent mistakes, and the

evil of blurred papers will be avoided by the

substitution of chalk pencils for pen and ink.

"We may add, in conclusion, that it will bo as

well for those who can do so to vote early, as

the time is limited. Under the open voting

system there was a icason in a select party in

favour of each candidate reserving themselves to

tell at the close of the poll, lîtit as under the

operation of the ballot no one can tell how the

poll is gning, there is no occasion for this, nnd

it will prevent a rush at the close of the day,

and give a fair chance to every elector, if those

who can conveniently do so, will vote in the

MAXY of our readers will have observed with

regret that the Hon. Mr. JAMES MACARTHUR,

of Camdon, has resolved to retire from Legisla-

tive labours. It has boen hitherto the good

fortune of his constituency to be represented by

a man not only distinguished for intelligent

liberality as a legislator, but possessing the

tastes and habits of a country gentleman.

There is not a spot in Camden or its neigh-

bourhood unknown to Mr. MACARTHUR. Its

minutest interests have been familiar to him as

they have grown up around him from his boy-

hood. It was in that charming district that the

father of Mr. MACARTHUR commenced an en-

terprise, which has not only given wealth to this

colony, but also alimented Ute industry of Great

Britain. It should never be forgotten that to '

the MACARTHUR family belongs the honour of

having initiated, at great care and expense, tho

pastoral pursuits of this country.

There were few men in the House whoso

opinions were heard with greater respect than

Mr. MACARTHUK'S. Although not a fluent

speaker, his views were clear, and many of his

published sj)ceches show his qualities as a

Wo have understood that it is the intention

of Mr. MACARTHUR to visit the land of his

fathers, and refresh his maturcr years with some

of those sights and scenes which enlightened

The following, coming from a gentleman who

1*_-...%lv,i\.v\ aue.1i aceele.ua lu tl*v i".»...i.j, _.._

who has now no interest in its welfare than

that which is participated in by private citizens,

deserves to be treasured in the memory of his

late constituents, and, indeed, to be engraven

upon the mind and heart of every Australian :

I now take loavo of you, gentlemen, for a season

possibly nt some future time again to devote to you

my humble services, should they bo thought desirable.

And I earnestly trust that, with God's blessing on

your efforts, you and your descendants may bo instru-

mental in maintaining and illustrating, under institu-

tions adapted to the manners and circumstances of

this young country, that "loyal, moral, manly, regu-

lated liberty" which distinguishes England among

the nations-which we should prize us n saci ed in

hcritnne'e ftom our ancestors, nnel res the only liberty

woi tit possessing ; a Hbcity coexistent with ortler lind

right, incapable of existing without thom, but which,

with thom, constitutes the essential spirit and vital

principle of good got eminent.

ELECTION Mr.ivrixos roa Tins lîvr.sixo.-Mr.

Parkes to address electors nt Mr Cane's schoolroom,

"Woolloomooloo, at 7*30 p.m. A mooting of tho sup-

porters of Sir Daniel Cooper will bo held at the Bee-

hive Inn, Raglan-street, Waterloo Estate, nt 7'30

p.m. A meeting of the friends of Mr. John Black

will take iliaco at tho Emu Inn,' George-street, at

7 30 p.m. Mr. Broughton will address tho electors of

West Sydney nt the Fountain of Friendship, George

and Goulburn streets, at 7 p.m. Alderman Murphy

will meet the electors at the Black Swan Inn, George

street South, at 7'30 p.m. A meeting of Mr.

Cameron's friends will be held at Mr. Troughtou's,

Bay-street, Glebe, at 7 p.m. Mr. E. S. Hill will

address the electors of Newtown, nt the Storm King

Inn, Botany Road, at 7'30 p.m. Mr. M'Arthur will

also meet the electors of Newtown, at Mr. Conly's

Inn, Kingston, at 7 p.m. A meeting ef tho sup-

porters of Mr. Sayers will take place at Redgrave's,

Fig-tree Inn, St. Leonard's, at 7*30. Mr. Farnell

will" meet the electors of St. Leonard's at the Flag-

CoxcciiT.-l'he Sydney Philharmonic Society gave

its first concert this season yesterday evening m the

great hall of the Exchange. The lu'rgc mid brilliant

assemblage which met together on that occasion

afforded most satisfactory evidence that the society

has lost none of that popularity which it merits, anti

which it had previously so deservedly gained.

Among those present we noticed many gentlemen

who, notwithstanding the daily and onerous duties of

their professions, have yet found time to

acquire a high degree of proficiency in

the musical art, and who have ever

shown a desire to induce others to participate in its

pleasures. A more successful concert than that of

last night has scarcely ever been given by the Society,

whether viewed with regard to the variety of the con-

tents of the programme or the excellence of the music.

There was some little deviation, however, from the

programme, as advertised. In consequence of the in

disposition of M. Spagnoletti the sccna and aria from

LaSonnambula, "All is lost now," and " Still so gently

oe'r me stealing" were snug by Mr. Walter Sherwin,

, and they were sung, too, with such effect as to induce

the audience to disregard the respectful request that

there should bo "no encores." Mr. Sherwin then

sang " Let me like a soldier fall," with no less taste

and feeling, and was wnrmly applauded. The glee

(German) of the "Blacksmith" was also encored.

The song " O Sacra tera," from " I vespri Siciliani,"

was from some cause or other omitted. The fantasia,

from Sonnambula, by Madame Rawack, was

in every respect an exquisite performance,

being executed with all the grace, power,

and wonderful expression which so peculiarly

distinguishes this great artiste. At, apparently, the

unanimous request of the audience, she again seated

herself at the piano, and set many heads u-nodding to

a brilliant polka. It may be considered superfluous

to observe thnt the instrumental performance, con-

ducted by Mr. John Deane, was worthy of the Society.

Probably never but once since Guido invented the

"stnfT," has music been so popular as it

is at present, and nothing is more calculated

to ibsler the art and render it universally i

understood as performances such us that of last night, '

at the Sydney Exchange. From such rtuniont the

student may learn at leant something, and in addition

to the pleasure to b"e derived from harmonious sounds,

the beginner may i^c cheered through the long and

dreary hours of practi'."c which are .necessary to over-

come the natural and iiiechanical difficulties that at

the outset seem so fonnidu'Ws to the tyro,