The Dominion. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1913. THE LATE SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1913. THE LATE SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL.

There could be no doubt about the sincerity of the tributes paid in Parliament yesterday to the late Sir William Russell. The Prime Minister voiced the feelings of men of all shades of political thought when ho stated that Sir William Russell was one of the best types of the British race and of the New Zealand colonist, and his memory would be honoured and respected for generations to come. The keynote of the speeches was that the Dominion had lost a high-minded statesman and a chivalrous gentleman, and that tho political and social life of New Zealand was made the poorer by his death. Chivalry and courtesy were, indeed two outstanding elements in his character, and he always proved himself to be a pub-lic-spirited citizen, an able an.d upright politician, and a man of honour in every sense of the word. He was a fine example of that ancient description of a gentleman—he who invariably keeps his word, even though it may be "to his own hurt?'

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousnessj And speaketh truth in his heart. Ho that elandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend;

Nor takoth up a reproach against his neighbour; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised. The ideal expressed in these lines takes us back to a bygone age and to a civilisation very different from our own, but.it depicts a type of character which, it is to be hoped, will never get out of date. It is always in advance of the times, and only a few men in any generation attain in full measure to the standard which it holds up. It is a combination of strength and gentleness, and it is these two qualities that Sir William Russell possessed in a remarkable degree. He had a keen sense of duty, and he felt that he must do what he ought to do, and when a question of principle was involved he resolutely put aside all considerations of expediency. . He was not afraid to take the unpopular side, and refused to adopt doubtful methods in order to score points against an opponent. _ Some people contend that a politician to be successful must "play the game," and pay the other side back in its own coin; but Sir William Russell declined to look upon politics as a game at all,. He placed the welfare of the country above all personal interests and sectional prejudices, and if on that account ho may occasionally have lost a party advantage, he never lost his self-respect or the esteem of those whose good opinion was worth retaining. He would not subscribe to tho view that " all's fair in love and war," for he acted on the principle that a foul blow is never fair. It is over forty years ago since he entered political life, and he held office in two Ministries, besides being Leader of tho Opposition for a number of years. At all times—whether as a private member, as a Minister, or as Opposition leader—he exercised a powerful influence in shaping the legislation of the country, and no man has done more to keep tho standard of political life in New Zealand at a high level, and to maintain its best traditions. As statesman, citizen, soldier, and sportsmau, Sir William Russell always endeavoured to do what ho considered his duty without fear or favour, and both in his public and private life ho has left an example which should be a wholesome inspiration to the present and to future generations.