SOME COMMONWEALTH CELEBRITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 193, 14 August 1909, Page 16

SOME COMMONWEALTH CELEBRITIES.

— c (Specially Writen for "The Auckland Star.") (By T. E. TAYLOR.) I. THE RIGHT HON. GEORGE H. REID, BARRISTER AND STATESMAN. The best known man in Australia is G. H. Reid. He is probably the bestliked man also. There are tens of thousands of people in the hinterland of the great continent who could not name the Governor-General of the Commonwealth —who know not who is State Governor, but the men and women to whom the name of G. H. Reid is unknown could be almost numbered on the fingers of one's hands. There are but few men possessing intellectual endowments of a higher order than he does, but many men of comparatively mean mental equipment have registered more consistent success in public life than has G. If. Reid, with all his splendid nbilities. He is physically ar.d mentally of the Goliath type. He knows men as one should who is to rule them. He is r.o bigot, and is probably more generous in his judgment of human weaknesses than most men are. He has ambition, or he bad ambition to win distinction in statecraft. Perhaps one fails entirely to understand his ambition in supposing that he has not accomplished it in politics. The popular assumption that be coveted the position of Prime Minister of the Commonwealth for a much longer term than the fortune of political warfare conferred upon him may do him injustice. There are doubtless many men who, while delighting in political conflict, desire to avoid the cares and restraints which high, responsible positions impose. Before the advent of federation, Reid was easily the foremost man in New South Wales politics. Sir Henry Parkes and G. H. Reid are the most striking personalities who have in the past graced the political arena of Australia. When the Commonwealth Parliament was created the popular imagination looked upon Reid ns one of the inevitable rulers in national politics. His brief occupation of the position of Federal Prima Minister must have proved more of an irritation than a source of pleasure. It was practically an accident. The Reid regime was a sort of political nebula. It never took definite form. Ho was created Prime Minister of the Commonwealth nnd dragged down from the seats of the mighty by the most skilful Cabinetmaker and breaker in Australasia—Alfred Dcakin. During his brief reign be demonstrated his rare skill in the art of Parliamentary warfare by carrying on the business of the Commonwealth for one session whilst possessing a majority of one vote only. From the day he lost hold of the supreme position in the Federal Parliament bis interest in politics has gradually diminished. So insignificant is the part be plays to-day that multitudes are ignorant that he is still in the Commonwealth Parliament.

It is almost certain that G. H. Reid is politically a victim of his virtues. In these, degenerate days loyalty to political principles is rare. It is an age of compromise. Political virtues are most accommodating. When Artemus Ward wrote to the editor of the Southern newspaper, announcing that he was bringing down his unparalleled show, h<> evinced a knowledge of human nature which would have won him great distinction in the political sphere. "Sir," he said, "I don't know what your politics are, but mine are the same—you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Then followed the exquisite P.S.: "I intend to do quite a lot of advertising in yout paper." Amongst all Australia's public men, Reid stands solidly for the economic doctrine of freetrade, a doctrine he regards as of prime importance to the country's welfare. He has also always denounced Socialism, in so far as it proposes that individual ability and enterprise can be restricted with advantage to the State. His loyalty to freetrade and his protest against the equality which depends foi its existence upon legislative enactmen', compel admiration from friend and foe. His refusal to relinquish the advocacy o' freetrade was doubtless one factor that militated against his supremacy in Federal politics. The people of Victoria regarded with aversion the strongest and most popular man in Australia. Had he established a strong position as Prime Minister, bad his hold over the Federal forces become a dominant one, the industries that a protective tariff had fostered in Victoria might be cheeked or destroyed. This distrust on the part of Victoria contributed to his difficulties and hastened his downfall. Add to Victoria's hostility—and the State intere-ts were expressed by the attitude of its Parliamentary representatives—tho invincible bias displayed by the Labour Party towards a man who threatened Loth the essential doctrine of protection and th-eir socialistic ideals, and it is easily seen that G. H. Reid's virtues, rather than his vices, contributed to his failure to occupy for a lengthy term the office of supreme political head of a Commonwealth which seems to prefer men of a more accommodating temperament.

It is not to 'be supposed that G. H. Reid is a political prude. He has doubtloss been willing on many occasions to waive his freetrade and individualistic dogmas to secure power—l don't think he would abandon them for any reward the people have it in their power to confer—but the political factions whose support would have been essential to his rule, knew the strength of his political views, and feeling that freetrade with him was a matter of permanent conviction, they refused alliances which it was felt would be broken by Beid's efforts to reinstate freetrade as an active principle in tlie politics of the Commonwealth. Other forces have contributed to keep Reid off the Commonwealth throne. I. the pen is mightier than the sword the pencil is no mean weapon. Satirical caricature has been potent in destroying G H. Reid's political power. The "Bulletin's Ycs-Xo cartoons were deadly. Iteid's attitude on the freetrade issue was, on occasions, that of a man who, whilst refusing to confess his convictions inferior to the opnion or prejudice of the multitude, was prepared to make concessions to the forces it was necessary to conciliate if ambition was to be gratified. His efforts to conciliate the protection forces gave grounds for the suggestion that he was willing to pay any price for power. The merciless attack of the "Bulletin" caricatures heliped to dig Beid's grave.

One of the "Bulletin's" leading artists recently declared that Australia's pressing need was not strong, capable, clean statesmen, but men whose facial and bodily peculiarities would readily lend themselves to successful treatment at the hands of the cartoonist. If such humour possesses an instinct of gratitude, G. H. Reid has deserved well of the Commonwealth artists. His great

body—the well-balanced, forceful head, the monocle, the assumption of indolence, the characteristic gesticulation, the peculiar gait when walking, the striking personality of the whole man—these have furnished a wealth of material to the artist, and the latter has used them so effectively that they have created some of the forces which have deprived their owner of power. His own sense of humour is so strong that it justifies the popular impression that he does not regard with sufficient seriousness the affairs of the State. A statesman should be as careful to avoid the reputation of being a political comedian as Lord Bacon was to conceal his authorship of the Shakespearean plays. As a speaker he has now no peer in the Commonwealth. Quick-witted and incisive, keen to reach the heart of any issue, eloquent and capable of the most impressive denunciation, he never fails to interest an audience, and can command the attention of senator or elector at will. Whilst he has these gifts and faculties, he is so conscious of his own powers that he is not dishonest enough to conceal his knowledge from other men. I think he would toon become bored in any assembly, and the assembly or individual feeling he was justified would still resent the proof of their inferiority by conferring favours on less highly-gifted mortals.

Although supreme leadership in Federal politics is not conferred upon him, the people of his State will flock in thousands to hear him speak on any of the questions which his intellectual powers enable him to handle with skill and thoroughness. His waning interest in politics has made it possible for him to arouse public interest in educational and social issues. Lately he has spoken in Sydney frequently on educational reform. He never misses an opportunity of stimulating the ambition of youth. 'He is proud of the distinguished lega: and political career he has accomplished by his own strength of purpose. He commenced to earn his livelihood many years before many boys dream of leaving school. He has wrested his successes from the hands of that fickle jade, Fortune. No emoluments attach to a political position in Australia equal to the income which moderate effort in his profession as a barrister yields him. His political aspirations have been free from mercenary considerations. Speaking in Sydney recently be announced that be intended ■devoting the remainder of his life to fighting the God of Sport. He deplored the lack of intellectual life amongst the rank and file of Australia's youth. This declaration of war upon the passion for sport which is so dominant in the Commonwealth, brought Lindsay, the cartoonist, out the next day with a veryclever sketch of St. George and the Dragon. Australia is represented as sitting smilingly upon a horse, which, with jockey's cap perched between its ears, breathes defiance at the bold knight, who in helmet and armour, and with sword in hand, approaches the infuriated animal. Tlie body of the horse is striped footlmlljerseywise, its forelegs are two cricket bats, its hind legs two tennis racquets, its tail ends in three golf sticks. The ladylooks as though she would rather not be rescued. Although the resolve was disclosed very seriously, and although the vice he essayed to attack is a great national evil, his declaration was made food for humorous satire, and its possibility for such treatment largely destroyed its merits.

I had the pleasure of hearing him speak only once in Sydney. I was immediately impressed by his powers. He had lectured on the subject of University Reform in the Town Hall, and at ft.3o p.m. was driven over to Paddington to speak at a meeting called to support the movement for raising funds to present a Dreadnought to Great Britain. I heard him on this subject. Much as I disagreed with some of his arguments, one had to concede his masterly method of presenting them. He struck a very fine and impressive Im-pcriali-tic note. What puzzled mc was his willingness to break into any sentence or argument to indulge in repartee with anyone in the audience who interjected anything hostile to the speaker's views. It seemed as though ar earnestness must be simulated which could be suspended whilst jokes were exchanged. Imagine a flow of sentiment expressive of reverence for the Union Jack and its symbolic freedom being checked to enable the speaker to say to an interrupter: "My dear sir, I want you to keep quiet— any degree of excitement to a man of your mental calibre might easily prove fatal.'' When the same man" broke out with some further remarks, Reid retorted: "Now, sir, I have one doctor on the platform, and if you don't restrain yourself. Fit find another medical man and have you mentally examined." Suspended earnestness may easily be mistaken for pretended earnestness, and G. H. Reid's ability as a speaker leaves just a doubt whether it does not exceed his sinccritv.

The whirligig of time and the quickly shifting scenes in Federal politics may again bring the Right Hon. G. 11. Reid into great political prominence, but I am inclined to believe that ne will not again wear the laurel wreath. The Labour party is relentlessly winning its wny. It has no room, for men with whom personality counts more than party. The platform is supreme with Labour, the individual a force to be controlled. Protection as a dogma of Commonwealth political faith is become an elemental principle. The path of political preferment is along the line of expedient alliances. There are several Federal politicians more expert at effecting alliances than (I. H. Reid has ever been. On the political stage to-day the scenery does not suit him, although lie is possessed of uncommon skill. Whether in or out of political life he will exert unusual influences upon public opinion, and lie is as universally honoured as he is admired. When history deals with the men who have influenced the political and intellectual life of the people of Australia, the name of the Right Hon. G. H. Reid will justly occupy a foremost position upon the roll of fame.

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