BY THE WAY.

Evening Star, Issue 8529, 30 May 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

BY THE WAY.

~ Let your sense be clear, Nor with a weight of words fatigue the ear, HOBACS. Before.—l have taken a fancy for writing two"Notes" on the National Liberal Association, one of which (this one) shall be before the fact—that is, the meeting—and the other after it. I think I said last week that the Association would die after a month or two, and I shall now shortly give my reason —or reasons, for there are two—for saying bo. Well, then, the National Liberal Asso ciatiou is born to die, firstly, because there ia nothing national about it; and, •ecoodly, because there is nothing liberal I forget who it is who says somewhere that nothiug ever permanently succeeds in this world which is not real and substantive; but it is the truth. A sham may be palmed off on the public for a while, but I mspeot not for long. Just answer mo this question: Djes Liberalism tike its root in the heart and intellect of the individual or does it not ? It does. Very well then, how is it that you may become a full blown New Zealand Liberal by the simple process of calling yourself one* Mr Fish is a pronounced Liberal—than is, at the present time, for he was a Conservative, I think, for two or more consecutive years—but one would not look for the evidence of it in his heart. Mr Earnshaw is also a Liberal, but it would take very sharp eyes to find the indications of it in his head. Still, they are Liberals, and as such are going to exhibit themselves on Wednesday night to an admiringaudience, of which I think I shall be one. The ordinary onlooker will observe only the Liberal marionettes performing their part of the programme / shall see behind them agaio the figure of Mr William Freeman Kitchen, with Conservative pinee - ne% delicately balanced on Liberal nose, pulling the strings to which the marionette j shall dance.

It is very delightful to have plenty of money to spend, but it is also a considerable advantage to kcow how to spend it. It is rather a misfortune for humanity that persons who p-'Sess the first desideratum have seldom got the second to any extent. Mr Robert Chapman is no exception to the rule. Having a cool thousand that he does not know how to dispose of, for sheer lack of imagination, he has fallen upon the plan of erecting a monument to the late Dr Burns. The proposal is to me a little uninspiring. I quite fail to get up any enthusiasm for it whatever. First of all, monuments are poor things at any time. Secondly, a poor monument is a positive disadvantage to a city. Seeing that a monument cannot be useful—unless, indeed, there is a pump attached to it—it ought to be ornamental, which this one is not likely to be. Lastly, the man whose name is perpetuated by a monument ought to be something more than a mere pioneer : he ong-1 to be a pioneer who stamped his individuality iu some way upon the settlement or its history. A most worthy man was Dr Burns; but I have some doubt whether he was very much more. To me he ia an interesting figure, mainly because be was of an immortal strain, though I'm told he did not himself value the connection —a circumstance which, if true, would go far to prove that he does uot deserve a monument. I think I could suggest to Mr Chapman many better ways of speudiDg the money. For instance, wny not give it for the benefit of the educated poor? I won't enter into details, but I think I could show how the money could be quickly, and, I am bound to say, judiciously absorbed, * # # *

There is no doubt whatever of th 9 truth of Voltaire's remark that a man's success in life depends leas on his abilities than on the force of his character. The Hon. R. J. Seddon affords me a good illustration of the fact. I said Uat week that I hoped for the colony's sake that it would not be long before he returned to his rollicking speeches again. I have not altered my mind exactly, but now that 1 have got a nearer view and a sort of personal acquaintance I am glad to note ia the hon. gentleman a force of character that is something mjre than a substitute for the sharptoogued ability that takes in Parliament. He can evidently hold his own with deputations, and is not to be bounced into promises where he has no mind to make tbem. Tne O:ago Central deputation, for instance, got remarkably little change out of him. If Mr Seddon continues to act in this way it will become a serious question with me whether I shall have to join the National Liberal Association. # * * * After—l promised a "Note" upon the N*ti->ual Liberal Association after the fact, hut I now find it unnecessary A programme that was too strong for Mr Fish, and not intelligent enough for Mr Dawson, may be allowed to pass without further notice. The Association having been born, there is nothing left for it now to do but to die Nemo.