KING DICK AND THE PROPHETS. Hope Told a Flattering Tale.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 122, 1 November 1902, Page 8

KING DICK AND THE PROPHETS. Hope Told a Flattering Tale.

MR. Seddon's home-coming has given the coup de grace to two very confident predictions which had a quite remarkable vogue m his absence. One was that he was playing the role of the patriotic Imperialist for the glittering stake 1 of a coronet or a baronetcy, at least. The other was that power and pelf were his lode-stars, and that, as he had gone Home to make the most of his opportunities, New Zea^ land would see him no more * • * In both cases they started from the same major premiss that King Dick was rather a shoddy kind of patriot after all, and that his affection for New Zearland and its people centred about his pocket And, of course, the soothsayers and wise-acres who launched these cocksure, predictions upon the current of popular gossip are just the sort of people who do not swing on the same political gate as Richard John. • • • It was a plausible fancy, and gained a good deal of credence with the multitude who have not followed the course of politics very closely in New Zealand, and are inclined to rate its Premier rather cheaply. But, King Dick has completely confounded these mystery men w ho profess to be able to read him like a printed book. He has passed through the Coronation pageant with all its dazzle and splendour, and actually didn't lose his head. It was an open secret that he might have had a baronetcy, but he prefers to remain Richard John Seddon, and to be good-naturedly called "King Dick" to the end of the chapter. • » ♦ That fond illusion gone, there still remained the other prophecy, that New Zealand's Premier would be captured for South Africa if the price were only made big enough. — say, a Governorship, 02 a Commissionership, or £5000 a-year to run some big mining syndicate or combine No later th am last week some Southern papers were disputing the honour of being first to announce that he was only coming back to pack his kit and clear out. But, again, King Dick won't act up to the character so artfully constructed for him. In spite of all temptations to belong to other nar tioms, he persists in remaining a New Zealander stall. He will not get out m order to make it easy for the other side to have another innings. • * * It would oblige them so very much if he would only consent to be Archbishop of Canterbury, or Field-Marshal, or Admiral of the Fleet, or Premier of Great Britain, or Viceroy of India, or Pooh Bah of South Africa. But, he does not seem to be hankering worth a cent, after these high-placed positions. And, although closely watched, he has not been observed worshipping the golden, calf. Hei comes back saying he is quite content to remain Premier of New Zealand so long as the people want him. He is not sighing for fresh worlds to conquer in spite of all that has been told to the contrary. Also, he has imbibed no aristocratic notions. • • • He is just the same bluff and hearty democratic Dick, and, although he can rise to the altitude of Imperial questions, and grapple with them like a man, there is quite enough holding ground for him in New Zealand, and scope enough for all his ambitions. The prophets and tihe soothsayers, you see, do not seem to know him quite so well as they thought they did. They did not give him enough credit for plain-speaking and plain-dealing. They saw all sorts of hidden meanings and oracular hints where none existed. But, King Dick has been consistent right through. He has his imperfections, and his failings,

like other men, but they are amiable weaknesses He has kept faith with the people, and acted right up to his Liberal professions. Much mud has been cast at him in his tune, but it has not stuck Let the politician who can show a fairer record hurl the first stone.