SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1892. THE ART OF EVASION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4107, 7 May 1892, Page 2

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1892. THE ART OF EVASION.

Poor Mr Gladstone is in disgrace with some of his patrons. Tho Eight Honourable gentleman was invited to receive a deputation from the London Trades Council 011 tho subject of a universal Eight Hours System. About the same time, Lord Salisbury and Mr Balfour were the recipients of a like invitation; and these Ministers of the Crown replied straightforwardly that any proposal of the kind must be deferred till a more convenient season. 111 other words, the Conservative leaders were not prepared to thresh out the question with the Trades Council. This was as clear as possible; the Ministerial refusal was candid; and, although the Council indulged in some blusterous indignation, we do not seo that there was much justification for it. But with Mr Gladstone the case was different. It might have been expected that he would throw himself heart and soul into the Council's cause; that he would write an eloquent pamphlet and make a fiery speech: that lie would, i|i Bjiort, run his particular friend, the working man, " for all ho was worth." Alas I for the working man's representatives—how little they knew the Grand Old Man J lie is the greatest living master of the art of giving evasive answers to inconvenient applications. fie lias, indeed, a rival in ilie southern licw.isphere-wo call him Promising George hereabouts, These two old gentlemen may bo trusted to wrap up in attractivephrases as blank a refusal as other people can manage to express by saying" No!"

In the United Slates, where statecraft is comparatively rudimentary, evasion has not yet been reduced 10 a fine art, But wo romember how nieri ■ toi-iously Mr Mark Twain ioso to the occasion when lip wis acting as secretary to a U.S. senator, His chief was petitioned by the residents of a Western State to procure a change of the local post route, The senator in- . struoted his secretary that it was a delicate question, that he was to deal with it deftly, leaving the petitioners a little in the darlt, This is what the careful secretary wrote i - " Rentle-n,on,-This is a delicato question, but, handled with proper deftness and dubiousness, I doubt not we shall sue* ceed in soino pleasure or otherwise, because tlio place where the route leaves tho Lassen Meadows, over beyond where the two .Shawnee chiefs' were scalped last winter, this being the favourite direction to .some, but others preferring something else 111 consequence of things, the Mormon trail leaving Mosky's at three in the morning , , . ibus making the route easier of access'to all who mi get at it, and compassing all the desirable objects so considered by others, and therefore conferring the most good upon tilegreatest number, and consequently I am encouraged. to: hope we shall, However, I shall be ready and happy to afford yoiji still further information upon the subject from time to time, as jyou may desire it atid the Department enabled to furnish it me,"

. There was trouble after that, hfi \ we approhen'd'that Mr. Gladstone wil' I share with' liia venerable Icompoer in [-New Zealand tba loss of the working man's confidence' when ;the working man realises the valife- 'which' 6ome statesmen are able to attach to language as a moans ol expressing nothing at all. Moreover, if these things are done' in the green tree, what siiall be done in the dry ? If great men and experienced statesmen set the example of polite evasion of iiapbrtant points presented to their notice by their political supporters, we may expect to find men who are not great; or experienced, or statesmen—men who are merely politicians-following in their steps; except that in lieu of dainty circumlocution thoy will give us clumsy excuses. But, be the evasions clever or clownish in their expression, the same contempt will follow upon the unwillingness of the " Liberal " leaders to attend to the wants of " Liberal" electors,