A VEXED QUESTION.

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 949, 6 March 1897, Page 2

A VEXED QUESTION.

Shall Richard Go Home ?

It is the only public question of any consequence that is engaging general attention at present, and it is being manfully wrestled with under exceptional difficulties. That is to say, Richard is not on the spot to give us his own views, and, so far, he has made no sign from abroad. In fact, all hiß energy is needed to pass unscathed through the course of banquetting which marks his triumphant progress through Australia. So far his staying power and his iron constitution have proved equal to the ordeal imposed upon him, but one cannot tell what a terrible price he may have to pay in a disordered liver, an impaired digestion and a developing gout for that wasting process of high living to which he is being snbjected across the water. All this peril he is cheerfully, and with characteristic fortitude, taking upon himself for our sakes.

Under the circumstances, is it humane for us to aßk the Premier to ruin his health entirely by undergoing the far severer test of physical endurance which a steady and formidable sequence of banquets will impose upon him in London ? No doubt, if we require it of him, he will face any ordeal that the rejoicings at Home may prescribe, let its gastronomical terrors or consequences be what they may. But have we any right to use up our Premier at such an alarming rate ? That is the question which confronts

In the absence of the Premier the newspapers have been busy taking the opinions of the leaders of the Opposition. Of course, they are quite willing their redoubtable antagonist should be put through this severe course of sampling British cookery, and matching his strength against all sorts of foreign vintages. In fact, they want to put him in the way of powerful temptations. They fancy that even should his hardened constitution bear up stiffly against the nndermining influences of the made dishes and the ardent beverages that he will have to cope with, he may, at least, fall victim to the meretricious glitter of some gaudy decoration, and that he may return to us with his democratic locks shorn, and clad in the livery of St. Michael and Bt. George, or, more dreadful still, in the masquerade role of Lord Seddon of Kumara, or the Earl of Notown.

Even the prospect of this fearful declension from his democratic virtue does not content them. They want him to make a few preliminary sacrifices in their favour even before he goes Home. Mr Rolleston and Mr Geo. Hutchison stipulate for full information, as to finance and other matters ' before he takes his departure to address himself to the labours of Hercules in England and ' the Continong.' With this full information, 'as to finance and other matters,' they may hope to manufacture plenty of political capital in his absence, and knock the stuffing out of him should he ever return. But Sir Robert Stout is prepared to go one better. He does not see why the session should not go on in Mr Seddon's absence. Of course not ; while the cat's away the mice will play to some purpose.

Still, these are trivial considerations in comparison with other contingencies that present themselves to our perturbed im-

agination. If we let our Premier go, can we assure ourselves that we will get him back again, even as a shattered wreck ? Is it not likely that Lord Salisbury may avail himself of his rare diplomatic talents and send him to Turkey to solve the Eastern Question? Then, too, the Irish party badly want a leader to don the mantle of the lamented Parnell, heal their dissensions and lead, them on to victory. Mr Seddon is the very man to fill the bill. And what about the syndicate promoters ? Inspired by the success of the Anglo- German Syndicate here in New Zealand in capturing him for their Advisory Board, chey are sure to make a dead set at him. They may even adopt a suggestion from «The Gondoliers,' and form him into a Limited Liability Company to boom decayed enterprises with the glory of his name, or to shed the halo of his substantial presence over decrepit social functions.

On the whole, this projected trip Home is fraught with strange and sinister consequences. Mr Seddon is the keystone of the Liberal arch. If tbe Conservatives can, by hook or by crook, dislodge it, won't the whole structure tumble to pieces ? ■ At any rate, one hope remains to us. We recognise that the Premier's presence in London ie a necessary factor to the entire success of the Jubilee rejoicings there, and we are prepared to make large sacrifices for the benefit of the Empire. But at the same time we must discharge a sacred trust to the unborn millions of this Greater Britain of the South by preserving him from annexation or spoliation. Let the conditions of his going be simple but explicit.

In the first place, in the interests of his health he must faithfully promise to limit himself to one banquet a week and to seek his little bed not later than 10 p.m. on the other nights. In the next place, he must turn a deaf ear to all overtures from political parties and magnates at Home, and pledge himself to return to New Zealand not later than Christmas next. Finally, he must refuse peremptorily to allow himself Tio be floated upon the market in joint stock shares or to be seated upon any more Advisory Boards, or in any way to be made nse of by syndicate-promoters. When these conditions are subscribed we really think we might paddle our own canoe for six months or so and let Bichard go Home. And we would give him a free hand to accept or reject as he pleased all the knighthoods, earldoms, foreign orders, ribbons, medals, dignities and distinctions that are sure to be thrust upon him. We want him back again, even if we lose a plain and homely Dick Seddon and have to put up with a belted and bedizened Earl of Kumara.