Examiner and Times (Warwick), Saturday 9 November 1867, p. 2
There are few members in the present House of Assembly who
owe more to their constituents than Mr. John Douglas. In spite of a strenuous
opposition; against the united efforts of all the most influential residents in
the Eastern Downs, such faith had the people of Warwick and neighbourhood in
their old member, and so great was his popularity when he came before them at
the last election, that, in spite of some reticence in matters on which he
ought to have spoken, and a little prevarication in regard to others, they
returned him in preference to his opponent by a large majority. Nothing appears
more curious to the student of history than the favor and popularity with which
some men are regarded, whilst others of infinitely more worth are looked upon
with coldness and suspicion. A ready smile, a pleasant voice, an easy flow of
language when addressing a mob, will go far to cover a multitude of
inconsistencies and weaknesses.
It would puzzle any of Mr. Douglas's supporters to show what
he has done for this district, or for any other, that he should have been
looked upon with so much favor by the electors of the Eastern Downs. The
agitation he created about the Gladfield Reserve whilst member for Rockhampton,
has, thanks to some of his friends who were ever sounding his praises, been
sufficient to throw in the background his vote against the Warwick Railway,
which we suppose was given to mollify his late constituents in Rockhampton, in
which it seemed to have failed signally. Knowing, as we do, the country on
Gladfield, we are not surprised that no one has ever applied for an acre of
land upon it, though how it happens that having two or three thousand acres of
melon and crab-hole flats left open for purchase should have contributed so
much towards Mr. Douglas's popularity, is a matter for curious conjecture.
In a recent debate on the Estimates Mr. Douglas opposed Mr.
Clark's motion to the effect “that it would be unjust to take away the
letter-carrier from Warwick,” alleging as his reason that the majority of the
people of Warwick did not care about having a postman, he only being of service
to two or three merchants in the town; but so far is this from being the case
that if there was no letter carrier the merchants would be able to get their
letters two hours earlier by sending to the post-office than they do now when
they have to wait until they are brought round; and on the other hand the
convenience to the majority of the inhabitants of Warwick is very great. We are
not much surprised at anything Mr. Douglas may do, but it does seem rather
strange that after opposing the Government on every occasion hitherto he should
all at once agree with them in carrying a matter which is against the interest
of his constituents.
We quite agree with Mr. Archer, who in a recent debate said—
“When I look upon the hon. member for Eastern Downs, and see
what he is, and then consider what he might have been, I am grieved that his
many inconsistencies should have ruined a political career which was once so
promising.”
We are all aware that Mr. Douglas depends in a great measure
on politics for a livelihood, and having once been a Minister he doubtless
aspires again to the same eminence, and this was very likely his reason for
opposing the Government so strongly when they proposed to reduce their own
salaries, by which they would have effected a saving of eight hundred pounds a
year to the country. But surely a very little common sense would have sufficed
to show him the foolishness of opposing a vote of an hundred pounds for the
service of a letter carrier in Warwick, which would benefit so many of his
constituents in a town from which, on the showing of his leader, Mr.
Macalister, so much land revenue is derived, and in which so little Government
money has been expended.
Most of our readers will recollect the tale which an eminent lady in France told, to account for the extraordinary conduct of the Regent Orleans. She said that all the fairies were invited to his christening, and gave him all kinds of good qualities to aid his progress through the world, but one old fairy that had been forgotten gave him as a present such indecision of character as completely destroyed the good which was intended by the others. Some such event seems to have happened to Mr. Douglas, who although in possession of many qualities which might be useful to the community, yet they are all nullified by a fickleness which renders any dependence upon him impossible. We would warn Mr. Douglas against losing the good opinion of the people here, for we believe that if once he forfeits their confidence he will not be able to prevail on any other constituency in the colony to choose him for their representative. Doubtless Mr. Douglas will despise our warning, but we have watched his course in politics for these few years, and to no one in the House do we think that Jacob's description of Reuben would apply with greater force, “unstable as water thou shalt not excel.”
