SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1902. MR. SEDDON'S WELCOME HOME. A Royal Progress.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 122, 1 November 1902, Page 8

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1902. MR. SEDDON'S WELCOME HOME. A Royal Progress.

IF Mr. Seddon were a vain man, he might be pardoned for losing his head, or, rather, for allowing it to swell several sizes larger. His return home is a kind of triumphal progress. And, it partakes far more of the personal element of real affectionate feeling than any triumphal progress. Party sentiment and political considerations seem for the time to be completiy buried. The ovation at Auckland has been renewed in Wellington with a warmth and cordiality that are really very striking. • # « ♦ Let no man mistake the significance of /this popular welcome. It is New Zealand's declaration that she is petrfeotlj satisfied with the manner in whioh she was represented by her chosen envoy at tine seat of Empire on an occasion that will be for eiver memorable. Opinions differ as to Mr. Seddon's administrative acts, and his political policy. Some men think he cairries tilings with too high a hand. They charere him with exercising an autocratic will. They say he isi intolerant of personal independence within his party. They accuse him of departing from principles in which he was wont to glory. In fact, there is a long catalogue of sins of omission and commission which he is being constantly reminded of. * * * But, all discords are silenced when he strikes the key-note of Imperial patriotism. It is there that hei reaches the hearts of the people. And, he never spoke a truer word than when he told the folks at Home that New Zealand is proud of being an integral portion of the British Empire, that we glory in its splendid history, that we are prepared to bear our full share of the Imperial burden, and that we ardently look forward to the day when the poet's dream of Imperial federation shall be crystallised into a magnificent consummation. It is an object lesson to the strangers of other races who may be within our gates. We can rise above parochial politics, and join hand in hand when the Empire calls or its name is invoked. * • • Apart from tvhe spirit of Imperial solidarity which he has helped to intensify and diffuse, Mr Seddon has draw n world-w lde attention to New Zealand which must help to accelerate its progress. As a new country, it has manifold resources which can be only adequately developed with the help of foreign capital. This capital will come to us in larger volume now that people's attention abroad has been focussed upon us. In a great variety of ways we shall reap the advantages of the advertising we have received. * • » Still, these are collateral advantages, and had nothing to do with the warmth and universal character of the welcome given to Mr. Seddon. These' were earned because he voiced the sentiments of New Zealand at the various public functions at Home, and because he gave our message to our kin across the seas in Australia, Soutih Africa, and the United Kingdom, straight from the

heart We have changed our skies>, but at heait we are Britons still In fact, latlher more &o, if any tilling