Every candidate who had espoused the Referendum as a means of solving deadlocks between the Federal Houses was denounced in the Conservative Press as an incendiary who desired to blow up federation and all connected with it. The Referendum itself was declared to be an attack on State rights, so violent as to be incompatible with acceptance by the smaller States. This was a misstatement of the fact, since it was shown that there can be a Referendum of States as well as a Referendum of citizens. But the journal which committed itself to the blunder that a Referendum was a necessary nullification of State rights had not the candor and truth to admit the correction into its columns when its error was pointed out. This disingenuousness did not go unobserved.
People are quick to perceive a deliberate deception, and equally prompt to resent it.
Though very much is forgiven in the stress of party warfare, those who make this kind of shallow, deception invariably wield a weapon which cuts themselves. But for an example of cool, deliberate malice it is many years since any body of men has equalled the tactics of the Freetrade Democratic League. The most active spirits in that discredited organisation appear to have conceived a violent personal hatred against Mr Trenwith, principally, it seems, because he has treated all their overtures as well as their abuse with the silence that is the most fitting answer to people of their calibre. The word was accordingly passed around that a supreme effort was to be made to destroy his chances for the Federal Convention. The means adopted were strictly in keeping with some previous mendacities of the same parties.