The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1912. THE LOST LEADER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 234, 1 April 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1912. THE LOST LEADER.

It was only to be expected that on his retirement from the leadership of the Liberal party and from Ministerial office Sir Joseph Ward should have done so ■with that courteous gracefulness which is characteristic of the man. Hia "last word" to the people is a brief "but frank exposition of the situation, couched in his customary happy phraseology. It was not "just for a handful of silver he left us, just for a riband to stick in his coat." He was, instead, the victim of an epidemic of "that tired feeling,"' which regularly heralds the downfall, not only of Parliaments and people, but even of nations. It is quite as insidious a disease as the sleeping sickness or housemaid's knee, and it comes inevitably among the "all things" to those who wait. Sir Joseph's farewell message is commendably frank and properly self-ap-preciative. There is a material difference between confidence in self and egotism, and Sir Joseph Ward in drawing attention to his political record never overstepped the bounds of public propriety. During his long career in an administrative capacity it was inevitable that he should make mistakes, but an honest community should have no particle of confidence in a man who has no redeeming weakness whatever. "A day's perfection can't recur," and there are motes upon even the sun. But the virtue of admission makes such trivial errors almost infinitesimal, and what the country should look at now and .appreciate is the lono; record of political pros;i'Cssivcliess which must always be associated with Sir Joseph Ward's name. He has given his time and his intellect unsparingly in the service of his country, and .his reward in not what it should have been. He docs not suggest this himself, but it must be obvious to any unbiassed mind. In the stress of party politics

many things are said and don? which \ would 'have teen better left unsaid and j undone, and politicians have learnt to 1 forgive and forget where these laches are the outcome of the heat of the moment. Sir Jbseph Ward, however, has been the vicffim of a conspiracy of calumn -ich as seldom falls to the lot of ani )lic mah. He has been persistent lisrepresented and consistently decried, L .it standing "four-square to all the winds that blow," he has routed his opponents with the vigorous but invariable courtesy whiuli is a feature of his personality. Tiic'e are people who can never discriminate between a man and his convictions, and it is this political blindness that keeps so many able » out of As the ex-Prime Minister pointed out, lie owes his present position to the activity of the classes and the apathy of the masses. This is the last simple reading of the riddle. With characteristic generosity Sir Joseph pays a warm tribute of admiration and affection to the late Hon. R. J. Seddon, and his manly and plainspoken farewell to people is a dignified and impressivej exit. . Although the Ministerial benches may know him no more, he leaves them with the country deeply in his debt, and the manner of his leaving is as gejierous and as honest as the manner of his occupancy. The country is fortunate to have the benefit of his services still as a private member.