SOME COMMONWEALTH CELEBRITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 14117, 21 July 1909, Page 10

SOME COMMONWEALTH CELEBRITIES.

♦ [By T. K. Tayi.ob.J I. THK RTrtHT FOX. OKOKCSE H. RF.IR _ BARRRSTRR AND STATESMAN. Tlio l>est-known man in Australia, is (!. H. Reid. 110 i.s probably the lust-liked man, also. There arc tcn<s of tliourfinds of people in tho lrnterland of the great continent who (culd not name the OovernorGeneral of tho C'omnionwoalth, who know not who is State Uovernor : hut the me:i and women to whom the name of (J. 11. Reid is unknown could be- almost numbered' an tho tinkers of one's hands. There are bnt few men possessing intellectual endowments of a higher order than lie does, but many men of comparatively mean mental j Equipment have restored mine consistent I success m public life than lias G. 1.1. Reid. with all jiis splendid abilities. lie is I physically and mentally of the Goliath j type, lie men as'one should who is j to rule them. Ho is no ;i.i:d is I probably more generous in his judgment j of human weaknesses than-most'men aie. He has ambition, or he had ambition to win dust met ion in rtatecraft. Perhaps one fails entirely to understand his ambition ! in supposing that he has not accomplished it in politus. The popular assumption that, he roveted tho 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 irhich high, responsible positions impose. Before the advent of Federation Reid was easily the foremost man in New ' vSontli Wales politics. Sir Henry Parkes j and U. 11. Reid are the most striking personalities who have in the past fTaoed the I political arena of Australia. When the I Commonwealth Parliament was created. the popular imagination looked upon Reid as one of the inevitable rulers in national politic*. His brief occupation of the position of Federal Prime Minister must have proved more, of an irritation than a scarce of pleasure. It was practically an accident. The Read regime was a sort of political nebula. It never took definite- form Ho was created Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, and draped down from the seats of the mighty bv the most skilful Cabinet maker and breaker in Australia, Alfred Deakin. During his brief rei-n he demonstrated bis Taro skill in the art of parliamentary warfare by can-Yin" on the business of the Commonwealth "for one session whilst- possessing a majority of one vote only. From tho day he lost' hold of the supreme position in tho Federal Parliament his interest in politics has gradually diminished. So insignificant U the part he plays to-day that multitudes are ignoTant that he is still in the Commonwealth Parliament. j It is almost certain that G-. H. Reid is politically a victim of his virtues. In these degenerate days loyalty to political principles ,'s rare, 'it is an ago of compromise. Political virtues are most accommodating. When Artemus Ward wrote to the editor of the Southern newspaper, I'nnounring that he was bringing down his unparalleled show, he evinced a knowledge of human nature which would have won him great distinction in the political sphere. "Sir," he said, "I don't know \>hat your politics are, but mine are the iame. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." Then followed the exquisite P.S. : "I intend to do quite a lot of advertising ill your paper." Amongst all Australia's public men, Beid stands solidly for the tconomic 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 for its existence upon legislative enactment compel admiration from friend j and foe. His refusal to relinquish the ad- I vocary of Freetrade was doubtless one factor that militated against his supremacy I in Federal politics. The people of Vic*- I tona regarded with aversion the strongest i and most popular man in Australia Had i he established a strong position as Prime -Minister, had his hold over the Federal forces become a dominating one, the industries that a protective tariff had fostered in Victoria might be checked or destroyed this distrust on the part of Victoria "con- I ributed to his difficulties and hastened I Ins downfall Add to Victoria's hostility ! -and the State interests were expressed ; by the attitude of its parliamentary renre- ' sentatives-tho invincible bias displayed : by tho Labor party towards a man who ' threatened both the essential doctrine of Protection and their Socialistic ideals and rJh 7 **? that Gl H - Keir, ' s ™tve S . I rather than his vices, contributed to his failure to occupy for a lengthy term the office ot supreme political head* of a Commonwealth which seems to prefer men of a more accommodating temperament It is not- to be supposed that 0 H iteid , a a political prudo . Hp h;)s (] - less been willmg 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 conferbut the political factions whose support would have been essential to his rule knew the strength of his political views, add feeling that Freetrade with him was a matter of permanent conviction, they refused alliances which it was felt would : be broken by Raul's efforts to reinstate . Freetrade as an active principle in the politics of the Commonwealth Other forces have contributed to kcppßmd off the ! Commonwealth throne. If the pen V mightier than, the sword, the pencil is „o mean weapon. Satirical caricature" has neen potent in destroying O H R P ; f p s political poweT. The 'Bulletin's' Ye=-Xo cartwns were deadly. Reid's attitude "on the freetrade issue was, on occasions th>t of a man who, whilst refusing to confess his convictions inferior to the opinion or prejudice of the multitude, was preparer! to make concessions to the forces it was necessary to conciliate if ambition was to be gratified. His efforts to conciliate th« Protection forces gave grounds for the sue gestion that he was willing to pay any pnee for power. The merciless attack of the- 'Bulletin' caricatures helped to ditr Reid s grave. One of the 'Bulletin's' leading art ; sts recently declared that Australia's pressing need was not strong, capable, clean statesmen. _ but, men whose facial and bodily peculiarities would readily lend to successful treatment- 'at the hands of the cartoonist. If such humor poss~-se<; an instinct of gratitude, fl H. Reid has deserved well of the Commonwealth artists ' His great body—the well-balanced, forceful head, the monocle, the assumption of in- \ dolence. the characteristic gesticulation. the pecnliar 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 effeetively (hat they have created some of the forces which have deprived their owner of power. His own sense of humor is so strong that it justifies the popular itupros-

sion that, ho does not regard with sufficient seriousness the affairs of State. A statesman should be as careful to avoid the reputation of being a political comedian as Lord R'con was to conceal his authorship of tho Shakespearean plays. As a speaker he ha<? now no peer i n the Commonwealth. Quick-witted and incisive, keen lo reach the heart of anv issue | eloquent and capable of tin- mot,t 'impressive denunciation, he never fails to interest [ an audience, and can command the attention of senator or elector at wilL Whi'st he has these -if;* and faculties, he i« so conscious of hit-. „wn powers that he is not dishonest enough to corneal his knowledge from other men. I think he would soon heroine bored in any assembly, and the assembly or individual feeling he'was justified would still resent the proof of their inferiority by conferring favors ou highly-gifted mortals. Although supreme leadership in Federal pontics is not confened upon him the people of hie State will flock in thousands to hear him speak on any of the question* which his intellectual powers enable him to handle with skill and thoroughness. Hi.s waning interest in politics has made it possible for him to arouse public interest in educational a.nd social iSsues. .Lately he his spoken in Sydney frequently on educational reform. He never misses an opportunity of stimulating the ambition of youth. He '6 proud of the distinguishes' legal and political career he has accomplished by his own strength of purpose. He commenced to eirn his livelihood manv years before many boys dream of leaving school. He has wrested his successes froiii 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 he announced that he .intended devoting the remainder of his life to fighting the God of Sport. He deplored the lack of intellectual life amongst tho rank and file'of Australia's youth. This declaration of war upon the pass-on for sport, which is so dominant in the Commonwealth, brought Lindsay, the cartoonist, out the next day with a very ciever sketch of St. George and the Dragon. Australia is represented as sitting smilingly upon a horse, which, with jockey's cap perched between jt« ears, bieathos defiance at the bold knight, who in helmet and armor, and with sword in. hand, appiouches the infuriated animal. The'body of the hor*e is strij>ed football-jersey wise, its forelegs are two cricket kite, its liind legs two tennis racquet., and its tail ends m three golf sticks. The lady looks as though she would rather not be- rescued. Although the resolve was disclosed vary seriously, and although the vice lie essayed to attack is a great national evil, his deciaratioii was made food for humorous satire, and its possibility for such treatment largely destroyed its merits. I had tho pleasure of hearing him speakonly 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 9.50 p'.m. was .driven ever to Paddington to speak at a meeting railed to support the movement for raising funds to present a Dreadnought to Great Britain. 1 heard him on tin's subject. Much as I disagreed with some of his arguments, one had to concede, his masterly method of presenting them. He struck a xevy fine and impressive Imperialistic note. What puzzled m© was his willingness to break into any sentence or argument to indulge in repartee with anycne in the audience who interjocted anything hostile to the speaker's views. It seemed as though an earnestness must be simulated which coidd be suspended whilst jokes were exchanged. Imagine a flow of s~utimant expressive of Teverence 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 I'll 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 docs not exceed his sincerity. The whirligig of time and the quicklyshifting scenes in Federal politics may again bring the Right Hon. G. H. Reid into great political prominence, but I am inclined to believe that he will not again wear the laurel wreath. The La.bor party is relentlessly winning its way. It has no room for men with whom personality counts more than party. The platform is supreme with Labor, the individual a force to be controlled. Protection as a dogma :>f Commonwealth political faith is become ;ui elemental principle. The path of political preferment is along tho line of expedient alliances. There'"are several Federal politicians nwre expert at effecting alii'trices than G. H. Reid has ever been? On :he political stage to-day the scenery does not suit him, although 'he is possessed of uncommon skill. i Whether in or out of political life, he ■rill exert unrsual influences upon public ■ipinion, and he is as universally honored is he is admired. When history deals with the men who lave influenced the political and intellectual lite of the people of Australia, the "nm« of ,he Riiht Hon. G. H. Reid will irstlv occupy a foremost position upon the roil of fame.