That Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 12 July 1894, Page 2

That Letter.

Last Friday there was a ' scene ' between Sir Robert Stout and the Premier, in the House, about the contents of a certain letter purported to have been written by Sir Robert to the Premier. More will likely be heard of it. On Monday the Post shed the following light upon the transaction : — Mr Seddon does or did possess a letter from Sir Robert Stout in reference to a seat on the Stout-Yogel Ministry. There is that extent of foundation for hi 3 statement, but the letter was one regretting that the writer could not offer a seat in the Ministry — not offering one. Mr Labouchere might as well assert that Mr Gladstone had offered him a seat in the late English Ministry because he wrote saying he could not do so. The letter to Mr Seddon was written in this way : Mr Seddon thought he should have been included, and was turning sulkily dangerous, when Sir Julius Yogel thought a little judicious flattery might be useful, and so he suggested to Sir Robert Stout to write politely regretting that Ministers could not recognise his merits in the way of giving a seat in the Cabinet. This was done, and was Mr Seddon's nearest approach to office until Mr Ballance, unfortunately for himself, his Party, and the colony, gave it to him. Mr Seddon's boast about the letter recalls the story of another braggart who was fond of boasting that the king had on one occasion spoken to him. On investigation it proved that the words were—" Get out of my way, sirrah." We strongly advise the Premier to cease attempting to vindioate his actions when assailed by trying to show that they are not worse than something done by somebody else. It is a very poor line of defence.