MR KEIR HARDIE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13006, 7 January 1908, Page 6

MR KEIR HARDIE.

Wβ think it wae John Bright ivho, on one occasion, was interrupted during a speech ho -was making in the House of Commons by the exclamation from one of his opponents, "That's a lie!" John Bright paused for a moment, and then in thrilling, penetrating tones, demanded—"TVho " is it dares to cay that? ,. There was another pause, during-which the House held its breati, and presently the Keir Hardio of that day replied, frith a mixture of shame and brazenness in his voice—"l did! ,, "Oh!" rejoined John Bright, -with a -withering inflection, "Then it's of no consequence, , ' and he calmly went on ■with his speech. That ia our answer to the present 31r Keir Hardie when he says that the New Zealand editore who ventured to comment on his "blazing indiscre- '' tionsr' in India are "cads," and that the correspondents who reported his utterances in that country are liars. As it is •Mγ Keir Hardio who says this, it is of no consequence. Turning to the main question at issue, it really does not very much matter what were the precise words used by this very Hl-brocl i and wholly iini>3.triotic person in.

India. Ho himself seems to retain only a very hazy recollection of wha± he said, and it evidently annoys him to bo asked for the authentic version. Taking, his own cabled correction to the '"Daily Mail," however, it is dffsr that ho spoke without any sense of responsibility, siioh as is to be reasonably expected from a man in his position, that ho did somo mischief in tho country by his ignorant interference in its affairs at a very critical time, and that it wos not his fault thai ho did not- do more. His a-otion was th-it of a man who goes into a powder megozino and begins throwing matches about. Even the most Radical papers at Homo h-astened to disavow any sympathy with his conduct. In Now Zealand ho nuay s»y and do whatever he likes, and, as in the ca6O of the Jackdanv of Rfoeims and the curse, nobody will bo a penny tho worse. Ho may wave his red flag and scatter his matches (tipped with sulphur), but wo shall only laugh at him. Tho poor benighted Hindus took him for a very Lmi>OTtain.t person. Wo know him for what ho is.