The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 156, 21 June 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 1879.

The contemplated resignation of the Honorable Mr Stout has caused pain to his opponents as well as his friends. The honorable member has ever received our warmest eulogiums, and the prospect of his retirement cannot but be contemplated by ns without regret. He is o; e of a hundred. Gifted with a good memory, clear and sound judgment, calculating yet honest and candid to a fault, fond of research, he has a mind better informed upon any subject than almost any man living of more than twice his age. With all his natural and acquired accomplishments, however, he is unostentatious and unassuming. Culm and collected, he is never h taken by surprise, or left in doubt as to the course he will adopt. To do what is right is ever his guiding thought. Such a man at the helm of affairs give the whole crew of the colonial ship confidence. How much this is the case can be gathered from the regret with which friends and opponents contemplate his retirement. There is in him that sort of confidence which a crowd of persons on board a passenger ship have in her commander. They go to sleep fully conscious that they and all that concerns them will be taken the greatest care of. They are not afraid that he will go to sleep on his watch and allow the vessel to drift on to the rocks and be wrecked. So is it with the whole colony at the present moment. Although all cannot agree with Mr Stout in all things, yet they all look to him as the guardian of their interests, and -whatever changes may turn up they are never afraid of being betrayed (or sold, as the saying is). This is a noble position for any man to have arrived at. What a contrast this is with the case of some individuals, who may, by a shallow show of cleverness, deceive some of those who repose a certain amount of confidence in them, and thus for a time throw a glamour over their eyes ; but somehow they are ever uneasy lest their foppish, pompous friend, who is always talking of his great deeds and abilities, should some day jump out of his box in a way that would bring disgrace and ruin to all connected. Not so the case with Mr Stout, they know he is incapable of acting dishonorably, hence the great trust that is placed in him from one end of the land to the other ; hence the urgent wish of the whole colony that he should not resign at the present juncture of the country’s affairs. We believe the hon. member will yet be prevailed upon to remain in office at least for this session It would be a serious blow to the Government, and a serious blow to the country, if he resigns just now. The Parliament is about to meet, grave deliberations must be the order of the day with the Ministry during the few weeks that has to pass before that Assembly. takes place, much has been intrusted to Mr Stout’s care, and much is dependant upon him for the turn of affairs which may take place when that Assembly meets. Bills prepared, alterations drafted for the improvement of others already in existence, schemes for the amelioration of the oppressed or unfortunate, for the re-establishment of the colony’s prosperity in several ways, and in different quarters. National as well -as Colonial interests doubtless have had a share of his time given to their consideration. Colonisation, civilisation, the public health, public education, moneterial, and self-preservation, must all have passed through his mind, and fully matured schemes for each and all have doubtless been cogitated in his fertile brain. To lose the able services of such a man, how great the loss ! Who could be obtained to take his place, who could start up in our midst and say I am the man ? We have heard the names of certain gentlemen mentioned as being ready candidates for bis seat in the Parliament of our country, and possibly they may fancy themselves capable of doing all that Mr Stout intended to do. This would not be anything unusual. Ibis a common saying a man does not see his own ignorance until he begins to acquire knowledge. It would not surprise us to hear that some Tom, Dick, or Harry, was ready to promise to do all this or more, if elected to the vacant seat. Will they do it ? Can they do it? We believe not. What man has the ability of conjuring up in his mind in a week or two what has taken months of careful thought and calculation to prepare ? What man is able to read up in a week or two all the parliamentary correspondence that has passed between the Attorney-General and the various departments throughout the length and breadth of the land ? What man is capable of drafting and delineating all the public bills and amendments connected with the Attorney-General’s department in a week or two. As reasonable would it be to ask a skilled portrait painter on your sitting down to draw your portrait and give it jmu home with you at once as to ask or expect that any newly-elected member, or any member not in the Ministry, should bring before Parliament fully matured and perfected plans for the guidance of that Parliament about to meet. Doubtless there are other gentlemen in Now Zealand capable of filling the office of Attorney-General, but Mr Stout is more than Attorney-General ; ho may truly be said to be the guiding star

of the whole Cabinet. His political knowledge may not be so great as that of Sir

George Grey’s, but he has youth and keenness of perception, which must be passing from the Premier. He has, moreover, a mind stored with other matter not connected with his department as Attorney-General, but of vast importance to the Government and the success of its measures, which no now member could bring to his aid. The Native Department is well and faithfully cared for by Mr Sheehan, and Mr Ballance is proving to be a more able financier than the public at one time w-ere walling to give him credit for. When young men in the fullness of their strength and vigour of mind set themselves to the study of politics it is a good sign, No science is more fascinating than politics ; no science is more exciting—no science is more stimulating to action and research than politics. Therefore it is, we say, a good sign to see our young men set themselves to the study of politics. The old fogies who have borne the heat and brunt of the battle are quickly passing away. Their places must be filled, and although the present generation may be passing away, it is comforting to know that the young New Zealanders give good evidence of being endowed with gifts qualifying them for taking their part in the battles of life, and we do not despair of a great future for New Zealand. One thing, however, is yet lacking to an enormous degree. Our young men are being well educated and well schooled in the history of their country, but there seems a want of principle. They are too ready to pander to party ; there is too little of the spirit which prevails in Euro pean States—that spirit which prompts them to action in defence of their rights ; that spirit which prompts them to resist the temptation whicli invites them to call good evil and evil good. A fear of offending, a love of popularity tempts them to forego principle in order to stand 'well with those who may be high up iri the social scale. To such we say do what is right, only what is right say what is right, aud leave the result in the hands of an all-ruling providence. To do this will bring peace of mind, and in the long run prosperity. To do otherwise will only bring unhappiness, a short-lived popularity, and in the end reprobation and desertion. The case of Mr Stout is a good example to young men. It would do well for them to copy it.