SIR ROBERT STOUT IN THE FIELD AGAIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1671, 5 March 1890, Page 5

SIR ROBERT STOUT IN THE FIELD AGAIN.

THE LATEST MOVES ON THE POLITICAL CHESS-BOARD. Our Dunediu correspondent writing on Monday says:— No one wonders very much now what Sir Robert Stout says or does ; therefore, you will not be much surprised to hear that after all the gasconading and trumpet-blowing he is not now going Home. This will be a big disappointment in Europe when the news gets there, and will take the gilt off the London season. The news is bad, almost calamitous ; it will set all the •• barrownights " and the " hupper sncles " weeping, and the Colonial Institute— for which a very intimate friend of his tells me Sir Robert has been preparing a series of those ponderous, unireaning speeches of his, full to overflowing of the usual philosophical jargon— will certainly go into mourning. It cannot, under the circumstances, do anything leas. As I have just said, the news is very bad, and will be regarded as a disappointment by the people of the colony. The wish among all people who have the colony's welfare at heart was, not only that he might go but that some kind Providence would intervene on our behalf, and keep him at Home with the title he so many times cursed— before he was offered it— and his fads and his sham Liberalism and his coat of arms ami all his other miserable pretences of aristocratic lineage. At Home in voluntary exile with his friend and brother patriot, Sir Julius Yogel, the colony would be sure of a period of rest and tranquility. He has never been at ease since his humiliating defeat for Dunedin East, continually proclaiming his intention of retiring from politics, and when that failed to stir the democracy to its depths he allowed it to go abroad that he had actually decided on going Home. But now, as the probabilities of an election begin to assume an appearance of certainty, and certain other circumstances of a favourable nature come into view, Sir Robert, despite all his previous refusals and protestations, has suddenly changed his mind, and now he neither goes Home nor retires from politics. The truth was broken quietly to the public in an inspired paragraph in the " Daily Times " in to-day's issue. Business arrangements, it is said, caused Sir Robert Stout to abandon his intention of visiting the Home Country, and that he had been approached on the subject of offering himself as a candidate at the next election, but had not as yet given any definite reply. The contrary is altogether the case. Sir Robert has not only made up his mind to come forward at the next election, but has also convinced himself that he is likely to be at the head of the Government in the next Parliament. The fact has been made clear that Sir Harry Atkinson is not likely to be in a fit state of health to face the hard work of next session, and it is at present on the cards that he will retire from active politics for some time. He has been far from well since his return from Tasmania, is unable to stand the worry or fatigue of business, and it is not improbable that he will, after he gains a little strength, go Home as Agent-General. Sir DiUon Bell it is well-known, has repeatedly signified his desire to relinquish office and return to the colony, and it is understood that he will do so and be replaced by the present Premier, unless that gentleman's health soon improves, which at present looks very improbable. All these things have been represented to Sir Robert Stout ; he knows how the land lies, sees his opportunity, and has again definitely announced to his friends his intention of re-entering politics. I have it on the authority of one whom I have always found to be infallible in reading the political barometer that there will certainly be a dissolution shortly after the House reassembles, if, indeed, the Government meet the House at all. It has also been definitely arranged, now that the city constituencies are to be amalgamated, that Sir Robert Stout will once more face the music. You will also have observed that Mr John M'Kenzie, M.H.R. for Waihemo, a blind worshipper, by the way, of the apostle (so-called) of Liberalism, has again decided to stand for his old constituency. This decision on the part of Mr M'Kenzie was arrived at only after Sir Robert Stout had made it distinctly understood that he was again to re-enter politics at the next general election. You will, therefore, clearly understand that the "Daily Times" paragraph appeared after the whole course had been mapped out and everything decided on. As regards Sir Robert's chances of election in the amalgamated city constituencies, I don't think there need be much doubt on that point. He has improved his position very much within the past twelve months, though among the workingmen he is, and always will be, distrusted and loathed for his utter want of principle in the past. On the other hand, his position among the Presbyterians of the old school is much better since he washed his hands out of the Lyceum, and it would not surprise me much if, before the next election, you saw Sir Robert back again in the church of his fathers. Further, I need only say that I predicted not so very long ago what has now been decided on. There is not one of our public men who loves popular applause and the power and putronage that place brings half as much as Sir Rjbert Stout does; and let no one, therefore, think he will remain out of politics an hour longer than he can help.