A CLINCHES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9538, 25 November 1893, Page 2

A CLINCHES.

CAN any supporter of Mr Seddoa accuse Sir Robert Stout of untrutbfulness ? As a "faddist" we have frequently had to disagree with him, but we are bound to admit that in his notions of honor he ie, as compared with some men on his side in politics, almost Qjlxotic. Friend and enemy alike agree on that — the one glorying in it as something to be proud of, the other admitting it as something self-evident. Let us apply this to a question at) present causing some discussion. Mr Seddon, to the great anneyance of Mrs Ballance, has claimed that when the late John Ballance was on his deathbed he not only expressed the wish that Mr Seddon should succeed him as leader of the party, but to that end gave him .certain papers. The Post, in the most unmistakable language, ha? charged Mr Seddon with untruthiulness in this very matter. It is commonly reported in Wellington that this is at the instance of, or rpoa information supplied by, Mrs Billance herself. Be that as ib may, we propose to put the matter in a vary clear light. Onca .uore, then, as we have said, Sir Robert Stoat Is nuiversally iegarde<i as the soul of honor. la our yesterday's issue the following appearei in our tele' graphic news trom Auckland : —

The following letter has been received by the secretary of the New Zealand Political tteform Association fioai Sir Kobert Stout in reference to inqulriea as to the late Mr John B illance'u wishes as to his successor : — " Dear Sir,— l have the honor to acknowledge receipt by to-day's mail of yoar letter of the 15 h instant, requesting me to reply to your association as to the late Mr Ballance's wishes as to his successor. I have to say that Ido not see how that should influence the election?, and I do not think tbat that question should be raised at present, The time will no doubt come when the truth regarding my late friend's wishes will be said. Meanwhile you will excuse me answering your question.— yours truly, Kobert Stout."

;jNow, in that letter, by sayiog that the truth will yet be told, Sir Robert (Stout impliedly asserts that it h>»s not yet been told, It we are to believe that, what of Mr Seddon's circumstantial narrative? [a it possible that anybody who knows the character of Sir Robert Stoat can believe that story to be true ? We unhesitatingly answer in the negative. The matter may be briefly pnt this way : Sir Robert Stout was at the deathbed of Mr Ballance. He knows what Mr Ikl lance desired on his deathbed. He has been asked by a political society to say what that desire was, and in reply all he does is to saggO3t that the truth may yet be told. Now on the fair assumption that Sir Robert Stoat is honorable, is it not plain that if Mr Ballance did desire Mr Seddon to be the leader < f the party, Sir Robert would at once have said to that effect in his reply to the letter? It

appears, therefore, that tliose who desire to acquit Mr Seddon of untruthfulness can only do so by charging Sir Robert Stout with that vice.