"THE LIFE I LEAD."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 10

"THE LIFE I LEAD."

——"♦—- —- MR- LLQYD GEORGE'S SORROWS' "l¥E WOULD NOT HAVE DONE !T FOR A LIVING." Sir. Lloyd-George, in presiding at a social gathering at Uriceieth, his Welsh, home, in aid of funds to provide ii Liberal club, made an interesting speech as to the woes of a Cabinet Minister. As the terms under which the hall Was let excluded polities from speeches, '. e fl-ould, he said, tnakea. few, "non-iT-li-tieal remarks on politic?." •■. Some people (lie went cii) talk en* viously about a Minister's lot as if he was basking eternally in a comforting sunshine. I cnii assure yoj that there is not mueh.basking kat-.agojd many burdens. ■ Sunshine, indeed. They forget; the heat and thoy overlook, the,midges and the mosquitoes, .(Laughter.)' .We cannot, for they' swarm and buzz around .the head of every Minister stinging when they can. Do yau know what a Minister's lits is like.? Tradesmen have their worries and anxieties, but supposing- in addition to their ordinary, troubles . they found a constant mob of, detractors standing outside their doors, some do- ■ tug it for hate and some for hire,, .yelling into every enstonicr's ears as he feji'tered their shop: "Don't go there, whatever you do. You'will be robbed and cheated at every "turd, if you do business with those fellows, (Laughter.)' They are all thieves, rogues, and liars." (Loud laughter.) 'Every time they' get a glimpse of. yea behind the counter they shook at you opprobriousepithets. When they see you'weigh a pouud of sugar' thoy call out. that, three-fourths of'it is sand. When yon measure cloth they, swear that it is rotten shoddy. You have, moreover, till the time yeu arc,'- attending .to your customers to dodge, bricks, clods, and worse hurled at -your head. Most of you would, 1 think, rather'give- up-business even if you had to break stones |or a livelihood. '(Laughter.) That is what- politics are dike, and I call, assure you that we would not have df,ijß- it for" a ■ living. (Cheers.) ■ There is" i\o politician wtro is- worth his saltwjiti would not' make- an infinitely- better living st a snitabte.trade or profession tha-ii- he is ever, likely to njake in politics. ' .- '" ■"' . ' . Lknow many high-minded men in this country who have shrimk- from these mc.i'hdd.s of attack;/ but somebody must ■face', it; nay, more, if it.is the obvious path of dutvlorany man it is not-right to. shna it. And there is- always comfort iu this, that- ii'you do. your duty according, to your, knowledge and strength the public understand-and pay little "heed to- this systematic railing. Besides, if you survive it for some years you get accustomed to the atmosphere. (Laughter.) - ' '' . ■'' ' Politicians are essential-to bridle, the excesses of sslfish strength, They are. the priests of tho-new- humanity. There- are many, disturbed' areas on Hie faco of the waters 'of society toI day, and tho political .navigator,- to I whatever party he ..belongs,.'knows that '■ he must steer'with-'steadfast ".care. Yon must sail through. To.stop would-bo to drift with tho tide on to hidden : perils. . ,'