The Hastings Standard Published Daily. TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1896. TESTIMONIALS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 67, 14 July 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1896. TESTIMONIALS.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For the wrongs that need resistance. For the future in the distance, And the eood that we can do.

It is the mere assertion of a barren fact to say that the presentation of testimonials is greatly abused. It is the fashion now to get up testimonials on every possible occasion for presentation to every possible person, and the fashion is becoming excessively irksome. The origin of testimonials is buried in the dust-heap of time, but in its inception the idea of a testimonial was rational enough. Here and there we meet with some one who either does the work he has to do conspicuously better than others, or has found time and inclination to do ft good deal

more work than naturally falls to his share. Obviously, in either of these cases there is a claim to special gratitude and recognition. The degree of merit which justifies a testimonial cannot be estimated with any exactness, and lax views on this point are easily extended to cases in which what is doubtful is not the amount but the existence of any merit whatever. Dr Grace, the world - renowned cricketer, was recently made the recipient of a national tribute for his excellence at cricket. The doctor received his testimonial soon after completing his century of centuries, a meritorious performance, unique in the history of cricket, and well worthy of national recognition. There were solid reasons for the Grace testimonial, and Englishmen honored themselves in honoring their foremost cricketer. In New Zea- j land tha bestowal of testimonials of a national character appears to be for i those who can lay no claim to special merit, to excellence of work done, or to exemplary gratuitous services. A national testimonial to mark the conspicuous and much appreciated services of the late John Ballance, was almost a failure. It took the committee managing the affair several months to gather in a few hundred pounds, and it was only after urgent appeals and active canvassing that the money was obtained. Mr Ballance deserved to be remembered by the people for the fullness of his services and the purity of the motives upon which his public life was founded. We are now called upon to view another national testimonial. A few bosom friends of Mr Ward have decided to inaugurate a testimonial of a national character, and, possibly to show their earnestness, they subscribed 200 guineas before closing their meeting. What has Mr Ward done to merit a national testimonal? Will his record as a public man compare with the brilliant services of the late John Ballance ? Is he to receive a national testimonial for the absence of all merit ? Is the man of whom Mr Justice Williams in his famous judgment on the motion to sanction the sale of the Ward Assets, said, "It is thus an offer to buy off from bankruptcy and its consequences a man who ought not to escape them" —is he is fit and proper person to be honored with a national testimonial? Is the man who was obliged to resign his public position entitled to the homage of the public ? Mr Ward's private friends have a right to do as they please, but to inaugurate a national testimonial they wilfe fail foul of the public, because they will be offering an insult to the public, which we are confident look for a higher standard of merit than can be shown by Mr Ward. We may ask, however, whether the testimonial if for Mr Ward or Mrs Ward, for report says that the whole of the funds are to be given to the lady, while the testimonial is to mark the public sympathy. One gets the pity, the other gets the pounds, and this alters the whole character of the testimonial, for it gives it the coloring of charity. If Mrs Ward is in need of the nation's charity we have no doubt she will get it, but this should be plainly stated in any appeal that is made to the public, otherwise it would be the duty of every one to say " No " to the collectors on behalf of the Ward testimonial because j " No " is the proper thing to say. '