THE PEOPLE'S RIENZI.

Evening Star, Issue 7331, 1 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE PEOPLE'S RIENZI.

TO THE BDITOB. Sib,—ln your issue of this evening appeared variouß letters on the retirement of Sir Robert Stout from the political arena, the moßt sensible of which appears to me to be that signed "Modesty."' I do not wish for a moment to detract from the- great abilites and mental powers of Sir Robert, but at the same time I think his defeat, honestly wrought and fought for, is being made too much of j in fact, people at a distance, by the action and writing of partisans, are likely to look on the lato Premier ai a political martyr, which is far from being the case. Your readers and writers had better mind that gedd old saying, "To whom much is given, from him much shall be required.!' > ' Sir Robert, I do not deny, has done muoh good in a way; so did the. last of the Roman tribunes, and, like Reinzi,,he has fallen in the estimation of his fellow-citizens to a certain extent. But, as " Modesty " says, if all persons named by him were wiped out of the Goverument. New Zealand would still be carried on; yea, if the muoh-abused 'Daily Times' and were abolished, public mattero would still be reported.' L "Fair Play" surely takes the eleotors 0} Dunedii* East.to be silly, when he says ''Even those who voted for Mp; Allen ■. will be found amongst the very first ta.sign tbwequisition "; bocau-e by doing so I opino that they would 'stultify their fortner aotion in voting for Mr Allen. Much as'-I'admire Sir-Robert in some things, I for one couldn't do this., . '■ The,resu!tß of ; the eleoWons in Dtmedih show the necessity of the City being in one electorate. Badsaoh been the case, I doubt, not but that Sir Robert and Mr .Allen , yquto both have be,en returned, and the, elect, of, Dunedin South rejected. "J.A.5.," writing in favor of the proposed petition to Sir-Robert, seems tQ think that the

country sustains a severe loss in the absence of his powerful rhetoric. Thiß, I think, is the rcductio ad absurdum, as I think from recollection that Mr Allen's speeches lately wilt compare very favorably with the first political speeches of Sir Robert both in power and rhetoric; and when he shall have got a little of his newness rubbed off, I have great faith in him that he will be no mean opponent in debate. I earnestly hope for him a successful and useful career in the political arena of New Zealand, and that he will not belio the confidence of hi 3 constituency.—l am, etc, One r-i- the Uneducated. Duuedin, September 29. PROTECTION. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your correipondent "Economist," in his letter of September 28, rather gives himself away—i.e., if his intention is to advocate the cause of the working man. He maintains that "w-iges should be regulated by profits." Employers in those times would be only too glad of such an arrangement, since notoriously the rate of wages is maintained bo high as to leave them (the employers) with soant profits, or none at all. This, perhaps, may not apply to the sweating manufacturers, who are so anxious for Protection, and grow rioh, as it is, by the cheap labor of young womon and boys. It is a matter of fact that there would be abundance of employment for real working men if they would be content with more moderate wages than they at present insist upon.—l am, etc., Common Sense. Dunedin, September 29.