The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1879.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1480, 19 June 1879, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1879.

One of the most remarkable political speeches delivered during the present recess was that which Sir William Fox recently made to his constituents at Waverley. This speech, an admirable abridgement of which appears m the Wanganui Weekly Chronicle, is very different from the dull matter-of-fact resumes of well-known events, which Members as a rule find themselves constrained to inflict on the public. It is essentially a readable speech, and is full of that vivacity and cutting wit for which Sir William Fox m his younger days had so great a reputation. The veteran debater, m fact, evidently gave himself as well as his hearers a treat at Waverley, and indulged his satiric vein ■with a freedom which has not been customary with him of late years. Beading his exceedingly entertaining speech, we almost fancy we hear him speaking. The quick transitions from grave to gay, the sudden antitheses, the homely metaphors, the ironical simplicity, the solemn banter, the intervals of earnest argument, the unsparing invective — all his characteristics are there ; and the speech as a whole, is quite worthy to be placed beside the best of those which years ago established him as the finest parliamentary speaker m the colony. We need hardly say that Sir William Fox's speech is a powerful condemnation of the Ministry. One great reason, indeed, why we have thought it desirable to draw special attention to it, is that it places before the public the leading points of the general indictment against the Ministry m a peculiarly clear and striking light. Others have spoken quite as severely m the same direction, and several have gone into much greater detail m explaining the circumstances connected with the subject ; but not one of the numerous Opposition speakers who have addressed the public since last session, has put the hopeless defects of the Ministry into half such telling language as the senior Member for Wanganui has done. We had intended to reproduce m the course of these remarks, the leading features of Sir William Fox's speech, but when we came to examine it with a view to extracting portions of it, we felt that we could only do justice to it by inviting our readers to read it through. It is not very long, and it is not at all dry ; and anyone who cares to view at a glance the position of politics delineated by a master hand, will, we ai'e sure, not grudge the few minutes required for its perusal. It will be seen that Sir William Fox offers but little evidence of his own against the Ministry. He mainly depends for the success of his case, upon a keen and vigilant examination of their evidence, and out of their own mouths and the mouths of their supporters, he substantiates every charge that he makes against them. We are glad to find Sir William. Fox coming forward actively again as a leader of political thought, and equally glad to find that his great powers as a thinker and speaker are by no means impaired by advancing years. ♦ A statement appeared m the Wellington papers a few days ago, that the At-torney-General, Mr Stout, was about to retire from the Ministry, but later advices from the same source, intimated that his colleagues had prevailed upon him to abandon that intention. We now learn, however, on what we believe to be good authority, that, owing to the demands made upon his time by his private affairs, Mr Stout is likely almost immediately to resign his seat both m the Ministry and m the House of Representatives. Should he do so, the Ministry will undoubtedly suffer a great loss. Mr Stout is really the only one among them, except Colonel Whitmore, who has any aptitude for ordinary Parliamentary work. The Premier avowedly leaves everything of the kind to his colleagues, and confines his attention entirely to leading matters of policy. Mr Ballance, though methodical and industrious, is very unready and is singularly unfamiliar with matters of routine outside of his own department. Mr Macandrew never pretends to know anything about the general business, but devotes himself exclusively to public works. Mr Sheehan, though as sharp as a needle m debate, hates drudgery, and is, indeed, too much occupied with native affairs to spare time for other matters. Mr Fisher is a mere dummy. Last session Mr Stout bore the whole brunt of the work single-handed, and certainly displayed a marvellous capacity for dealing with a vast variety of subjects, and sustaining a prolonged and very wearing strain. The fact, indeed, of his thus monopolising the functions of the whole Ministry m the House weakened his own influence there very much, and concentrated upon him all the antagonism which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been distributed amongst all the members of the Cabinet. But for his unwearying exertions, though, the business would inevitably have fallen into utter confusion, and the Ministry would most probably have been driven from office, through sheer incapacity for carrying their measures through. Mr Stout was quarrelsome, dictatorial, and often unreasonably obstinate ; but he always had his work well m hand, and invariably proved himself equal to any legitimate emergency. Against the intrigues of his own colleagues he was, of course, powerless ; and he had to submit to grievous humiliation m consequence of them, on several occasions. Even, however, from such matters as the Barton scandal and the Beer and Companies Tax Bills, m which he was flagrantly betrayed by the Premier, he managed to come himself, and to bring .his colleagues, with, something like ' a show of dignity. Like the Guards at Waterloo, he did not know when he was beaten, but under the most disheartening circumstances was ever quick to rally, and to meet bis assailants again with, a determined front and irrepressible energy. "FT™ bitterest opponents could no f deny him the credit of

wonderful courage, adroitness, and inexhaustible application. It was, indeed, a subject of general regret, even among his own supporters, that such great powers should be spent m promoting the theoretical schemes of political doctrinnaires, rather than m furthering the political welfare of the country. Apart altogether, however, from the merits or demerits of his political views, Mr Stout's qualities as a Parliamentary tactician were undeniably powerful, and his retirement from the Ministry at the present juncture would necessarily place them m an exceedingly embarrassing position. In the first place they would find it very difficult to obtain any man of standing from the ranks of their own party to succeed him. If a lawyer is indispensable, that difficulty would be greatly increased. There are several lawyers on the Government side of the House, but any one of them would, we believe, be quite sufficient to wreck the Ministry. We presume, however, that a lawyer would not be indispensable, because the Ministry already have one lawyer, Mr Sheehan, m the Cabinet, and another, Mr Wilson, m the Executive Council, and also because they got on very fairly without an Attorney-Gene-ral for several months after they took office. Among the non-professional members of their party, though, there are very few indeed, who would strengthen them at all by joining them on the eve of the session. The only one of those who supported them" last year, who would be a really valuable accession to them now, is Mr Bryce, Member for Wanganui ; but we doubt very much whether he is still m accord with them at all. Their tenure of office is far too precarious for Mr Montgomery to identify himself decidedly with them. Mr Gisborne might do so m a rash moment, but he would be sorry for it directly afterwards, and would m any case be a sad burden to them. They would, we fear, have perforce to allow Sir George Grey to bring m one of his young friends or humble companions, such as Mr Seymour George, Mr Bees, Mr De Lautour or Mr Moss ; and that, we need hardly say, would be the prelude to the fall of the Ministry. They have a terrible array of troubles to face, m meeting Parliament next month; such an array of troubles, probably, as no Ministry ever yet encountered successfully ; and if they are to be deprived beforehand of their only tower of strength, Mr Stout, they will be m anything but an enviable plight. We may add most sincerely, that Mr Stout's retirement will be a great loss to the House as well as to the Ministry.