The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1884. MR ROBERT STOUT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1715, 20 June 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1884. MR ROBERT STOUT.

Tiie report that Mr I'obekt Stout ia about to seek re-eatry into the Assembly is of special interest. Mr Stout was formerly regarded as one of the ablest and most independent politicians in the colony, - He is a self-made man who raised himself to a foremost rank among the public inen of the colony by ability and industry. Ho holds exticme views or perhaps they may be termed " advanced opinions" on many points, but no one doubts tho sincerity of his convictions, and Lis desire to promote the welfare of the colony. Mr Stout is a democrat, and formerly served under Sir George Grey, but he found such service a yoke too heavy to be borne. Sir George Grey was wont to treat his Ministers as grooms, and Mr Stout was not the kind of man to remain flunkey to a Premier even for tlio sake of place and power. Sir George Grey too had a knack of saying things which he did not mean, and meaning things which he did not say, which did not suit a man like Mr Stout, who was 1 '" true to liis'measure" and who disdained to bo a party to "ways thai We dark and tricks that were vain," aijd lie gave up his political career and retired into: private life. He could not support Sir George Grey and lie would not cross the House to oppose ono to whom he' lutd been .pledged. It is at first sight somewhat singular that a democrat liko Mr Stout should come forward to support Sir Julius Vogel, who, contrasted with other leading men in the colony, is a Conservative. If Mr Stout does intend to give his voice in favor of Sir Julius Vogei,, it is because he believes that the programme which tho latter lias placed before the country is for the good of New Zealand. Mr Stout prefers, no doubt, the bold straightforward policy of Sir Julius Yogel to the craft and subtlety of Sir George Grey, the obvious incapacityiof'Mr Montgomery, or the bees in tlie : bonnet of Major Atkinson; Like ourselves, Mr Stout has been waiting to find a man fit to lead tho country, and has come to the conclusion that Sir Julius Vogei, fills the bill. It is (jiiite evident (hatif tho general election returns able debators like Mr. Stout to swell tho following of Sir Julius Vogel; it will be only a short time before the House will be divided into two .well-defined parties, the Vogelites and the anti-VooELiTEs.