The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1902. THE RIGHT HON. R. J. SEDDON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 90, 21 April 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1902. THE RIGHT HON. R. J. SEDDON.

In the course of an appreciative valedictory article, our ; Well-'«agtoa contemporary. the Sun, eays: Mr Seddon is fond of re-calling tha time when he first came from the West Cioast to represent the people in Parliameat. No doubt he carries with him always a mental photograph of his consciousness of himself at this period—impetfec:ly acquainted with the ways of Parliament, immature and crude in his ideas regarding public questians. One has i to refl«ct how much Mr Seddoa has don# for himself, upon what he has learned ; how he has developed—in order to begin to appreciate how great a man he really ie. His first great qualification seems to be a power ef rapidly grasping all the salient facts connected with any administrative or political position and forming an immediate judgment upon them. This quickness and power may be regarded as tha foundation of his success, With a positively prodigious indugiry and these qualifications, Mr Seddon has baen able to accomplish work that would have taxed the energies of half-a-dozen ordinary Premiers. This quick Ability to gather facts and marshal th»ra in proper array has served Mr Seddon, too, in debate, so that it rarely happens that he is unable to deal wish every point fn any subject that may be raised. There are few queitiots of poliey open to the consideration of a youag psople with which the Govern-1 meat of Mr Seddon has not dealt. | Industrial, productive, social, financial, I the Liberal Government has had to deal with tham all, and of them all Mr Seddon has shown himself master. Ablo though his Ministers may be, wi;h hie powerful budget of facts he is ever ready to assist them upon any question. Mr Stddon, too, is a good judee of human' character, and is capable of great gene- ! rosity—magnanimity ho leas upon oc casion displayed—to his political fors. Recently his ardent patriotism and d«votion to King and Empire has led him to devote his mind to questions of the largest impoitancs. Indignantly he has revolted against; th« namby-pamby shilly-shally weakness of which somei British statesman have shown them- i themselves guilty, and he h-is not' failed to characteristically express bim-! self. He has worked with a wholeheart and a resolute will for ths cause i of the Empire, and naturally he feels ' impatient that in the cjpital of the} Empire itself, there bhould bo fouod! those who by their attitude thwart: every patriotic tfforf. In these senti- j ments of disapproval and disgust it has been shown conclusively that Mr Sed-! don carries with him the feelings of the entire population of New Zealand. Whatever success may attend tor Bed • don in his efforts in South Africa a<--d j the Motherland, one thing is certain !■ that all hi« espirutions and hopes are!' up in the interest of his o.vaj )and--tbe land ho has made his own. i There ara spots on the sun, and no j man is ever truly accepted as u pvouhefc in his own country. Mr Seddon, cf i c ins", is not fr*e f<om criticism, but it i' is a pity his critics should be of such j: t'e-ipicaoly smell natures. No man is I; pi-rfect, and the faults charged against; tl e Premier of New Zealand - however i well founded t.hey may posiibly be I •ro of so sow:lt a character that those J | v.'hi> put them forward may well blush I i 'for shame. The/ are but nifle* which j : make Mr Seddon's qualities ss a m:i,"f and a leader of men shine out the! ] brighter. Among tb* recognised great, I: men of the Empire Mr Sad don stands | j out to-day as never before a statesman I, south of the line has stood. Do tho ' I

people of New Zealand r?cognise that fuck? This journal thinks they do. Are the people of New ZtalaDd proud that they are able to tend such a man in tbe Councils of the Empiro ? This | journal opines tiiey are. Probably I more will bd koown next. December.