SIR ROBERT STOUT’S MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2846, 15 June 1896, Page 2

SIR ROBERT STOUT’S MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— lt is very amusing to read the ■woeful wail appearing in your contemporary’s issue of to-night re the “ organised attempts ” to break up Sir .Robert Stout’s meeting at the Opera House. lam sure the majority of those who were there will not agreo with the Post or Sir Robert that there was any organised attempt. The demonstrations and interruptions were simply the outcome of the speaker’s rabid utterances. It was not, to be expected—l don’t know whether he expected it—that all his audience were with him, and that his balderdash, bunkum, dreary reiterations and vapouringa were to be received with awesome silence. If he expected that, then he gauged the intelligence of his hearers at a very low standard indeed. His word juggling, wrigglings and general contortion acts did not go down, although they were performed by no less a person than the august Sir Robert Stout; The note in the Evening Post on the subject fairly bristles with inaccuracies. In the first place Sir Robert’s challengers were not a few, but a few hundreds, and their questions were such hard knocks that they staggered the speaker and showed plainly to Sir Robert (I am tired of writing Sir Robert, but I suppose I had better give this ultra-Democrnt his title) that there woie a great many present who understood as well as he the matters with which he was dealing—a contingency, I presume, that d'd not enter into his calculations. Another matter: I understood Sir Robert Stout to say thatbe had been informed that those who were making the disturbance, as lie called it, had been rent by Mr Seddon. We have only his word for that, and the remark he made to Mr Lawry is eminently applicable to himself. Poor Sir Robert! He could only belch forth an unjust and untrue imputation—a mean and discreditable act —on the Premier. It was highly characteristic of the man. The whole tenor of his speech wan “Put me in power”; but, to be comforting to Sir Robert, I am afraid the people of this Colony know him too well to do that. “ The cloud scarcely bigger than a man’s hand" is appearing on the horizon, and it will grow bigger, and finally envelop the great sham “ I am ” of democracy in oblivion, and when he does fall it will be with a heavy thud and never to rise again. His little part is almost played j given time—it is at no distant date—and this greatest o* political cranks and turncoats will be “left to the mercy of a rude stream that must for over hide him ’’ —and the sooner the better for New Zealand.— I am, &c., Bistoeiccs. We''iDgton, June 13tb, 1896. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I am one of the unfortunate persons who had to undergo the agony of sitting patiently for two hours last night in the Opera House to listen to the unmerited abuse hurled by Sir Robert Stout at our worthy Premier. No wonder that the meeting rhowed its disapprobation. How could he expect otherwise ? The masses of the people'are too enlightened now to be entertained by clap-trap, stage oratory, misleading statements and abuse. They want sound logic and a policy for the future. Sir Robert Stout gave us neither last ' night. Sir Robert Stout accused the present Ministry of maladministration.' Sir Robert Stout should take the beam out of his own eye before be speaks of the mote in his brother’s. Why the Stont-Yogel administration stinks in the nostrils of the people to the present day. Sir Robert Stout accused the Premier of being inconstant. Where would you find a greater Vicar of Bray than Sir Robert Stout? That little simile Sir Robert gave ns last mgbt about the Scotchman’s garden and weeds applies to the Stout - Vogel Government. The weeds were eradicated when that Government ceased to exist, and the garden has since been planted with fruit trees by the Seddon Government, which have yielded excellent fruit. It is seen quite plainly that Sir Robert is bidding for the Premiership, and he has as much show of getting it as I have. He has had his innings, which has proved a failure. He must now satisfy himself with ‘ fielding, and even that may be denied him shortly. The people’s Richard has steered the good ship New Zealand clear of the breakers, and now, when all danger is passed. Sir Robert Stout would like to take the helm. —I am, Ac., A Tbiett Years’ Resident ov New

Zealand. ■Wellington, June 13.

[ll. P. Fibhee.—Tour letter will appear to.morrow.—E». N.Z. Times.]: