LIBErAL TESTIMONIALS,

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10017, 15 June 1895, Page 3

LIBErAL TESTIMONIALS,

[Post.) We sincerely hope thab Mra Seddoi will in dne time receive her thonsam guineas. There should, in fac h , be n< doubt about It. The "benevolence' may be regarded as underwritten by thi gentiemeo, who formed the deputation, for we are quite certain that they would rather niuke their promise good at tbeli oivn cost, than lay themselves open to the impulutlon of having excited fallacious hopeß in a lady's breast. Bat it is to bf hoped that the Liberal Party will help them to make good the golden visloc they have conjared up. Wg are quite awate that the term " Liberal " is strictly a political one, and has no general refereuce or application to questions of personal finance. Nor is Liberal gratitude generally of a pnrely retrospective character, It consists rather of a particularly keen appreciation of favors to come. Liberals ate fond of practically applying the poet's advice to let the dead past bury its dead, and, as becomes the Party of Progress, they look steadily to the fnture. The live dog if, with idem, of iofioKe'y greater dignity and importance than the defunct Jion. As Mr Seddon ia still iv office, and the dbpeoaor of patronage, no doubt there will be a great many good Liberals ready to subscribe to the proposed testimonial, in tho hope that thoy are throwing a sprat to catch a herring— that they will get more than they eive. It is no doubt through a profound knowledge of Liberal nature that the recent deputation committed themselves to a pledge which at firßt bight may appear rather rash. Tbey probably know their party better, howaver, than did the promoters of the Ballance memorial. Mr Ballance was dead. Mr Seddon is very much alive. Mr Ballance had nothing more to give. Mr S?ddon has a good deal. The faob that Mr Ballance was in the best sense a Liberal stutesman— one who had done »reat things for the Liberal oauee, to which Indeed he socrlficcd his life— did lot incite the Liberal rank and file to any mdne liberality In recognition of bis nerlts after he hid panned away, Many vho did not share Mr Ballance'a political sonvictione, but were able to recogilea bis sincerity and other high lualities, contributed to the memorial und, but alt efforts failed to aice more than the miserable cum of }663 17s 4d, Good Liberals asked why hould they give anything for a dead nan, who could do nothing in return for hem. This question will not arise in he preßsnt case, Mr Seddon la very nuch Bllve, and those who give will be afe in doing co on the Maori theory of Ifts— the expectation of getting somehing better In return. What an admlrble commentary on Liberal principles rill (be thousand guineas to Mrs Seddon resent when compared with the Ballaneo lemorlal of £563 17s 4d ! Some day tho eople will learn to distinguish between me and sham Liberalism,