SIR R. STOUT, PHILOSOPHER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2275, 8 February 1887, Page 2

SIR R. STOUT, PHILOSOPHER.

TO THE KDITOR. Sir,—On Sunday Sir R. Stout lectures the good people of Dunedin on the duties of man. He talks in a grand style of the higher instincts, of the beauties of morality, of the nobleness of nian, of truth and honour. He poses as a groat philosopher ; he often quotes America as an example, and would lead us to believe that ho is a true and pure Republican, and that titles are vanities, which he, abovt all men would scorn. But what do we see? No sooner is he offered a title than he takes to it as a child to a toy. Perhaps it might be said he took the title against his own wish; that there was a " power behind the throne" which compelled him to accept it. If so, then Sir Robert should have remembered in time that if he was u> come out in Diogenes-in-a-tub style, that it would not do for him to have power behind the throne. But a true philosopher would not be moved by all the powers of earth combined, therefore Sir Robert is no philosopher at all. As a philosopher he is a humbug. However, Sir Robert is not all false; he has one dear scheme on which he is quite true, but though true he is all wrong. In a speech he made lately in Dunodin be said that as the people increased the cost of education would also increase. I say no. I say every child must be educated, but the lump sum which education costs must be less instead of greater. It is quite superrlous and unnecessary for the Government to support high schools and colleges. The demand for these will of itself create and support higher education. I suppose that, in the fiivt instance, it never was intended that we should have educa tion in this errand and expensive style. It was only intended that every child in the colony was to be able to read, write and figure. But getting unlimited money from England, for the asking, has turned our heads, We have heard of lucky diggers spreading a pound note between two slices of bread and eating it. For the last fifteen years, with the exception of the few years of the Hall and YVhitakev reign, we have just been as daft as those diggers.—l am, sir, yours obediently, Harapipi.