Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-Weekli, Price 1d. FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1887. Hon John Bryce.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2092, 15 July 1887, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-Weekli, Price Id. FRIDAY, JULY 15, 1887. Hon John Bryce.

" Akd he had a little small bull pup, that to look at you’d think warn’t worth a cent. , . But as soon as money was upon him be was a different dog. . . And a dog might tackle him, and ballyrag him, and throw him over his shoulder two or three times, and Andrew Jackson— which was the name of the pop—never let on but what he was satis, fled. . ." But, " all of a sudden he would grab that other dog jest by the j’int ot the bind leg and freeze to it—not ehaw, yon understand, hot only just grip and hang on, ’till they tbrowed up the sponge, if it was a year.’’

Mr Mark Twain, the Americaii humorist, thus describes ia the vigorous vernacular of the “ Wild West,” a typo of character which Anglo-Saxon races love, whether it be found in a bull dog or in a man—unostentatious talent combined with indomitable pluck and tenacity of purpose. It hj those qualities that have enabled m ju of Saxon lineage to conquer nations and even nature herself j and it is the possession of just these ica that has made the gentleman ' T *!;.isc name heads this article one of the most popular of esteemed statesmen

in New Zealand. MrJ Bryce will, we are sure, pardon us for saying that we never think of him without thinking of that typification of staunch courage the immortal Smiley’s bull pup, Andrew Jackson. Mr Bryce has originality, talent, and high character, and no man in this country knows better how to grip and hang on to what he deems the true and right. There is nothing tawdry, nothing flashing about Mr Bryce ; he is not a professional patriot; he is something bettor —a real one. He is never heard

in voluble assertion of the people’s right, but he respects jealousy, and guards those rights. When once he has decided upon any course of action Mr Bryce goes straight and fearless to his goal. He undertook for instance the settlement of the Native difficulty—a herculean labor, the benefits of which Mr Ballance reaps—and having resolved upon his nwdm operandi, Mr Bryce, heedless of din and clamor, carried out his policy as inexorably as grim death itself. Take another case in point. A certain historian published in England gross slanders regarding Mr Bryce and his native policy. Mr Bryce did not indulge in feeble moans or feebler vituperation. No ! he proceeded to England, dragged his traducer before the Courts of Law, and there, face to face, compelled the retraction of the slan-

ders on his own name and the fair

fame of New Zealand. Moreover, by his courage, straightforwardness, and invincible determination, Mr Bryce gained for himself, and for the country of her adoption, the admiration and respect of all with whom he was brought into contact. Nor, in the hour of bis triumph did he forget his modesty as a man, nor neglect to shew how to temper mercy with justice. This is the stamp of man Mr Bryce is, and it goes without saying, such men New Zealand cannot afford to ignore, and should in her own best interests delight to honor. Last week Mr Bryce met bis constituents at Patea, and his address to them was charactertic of the speaker. He drew no roseate and delusive pictures of a prosperity that does not exist, nor insulted them with a glib ready-to-face-anyway policy. He spoke truth, grasped the situation as it is, and naught extenuated, naught set down in malice. The debts of the colony, he said, including public and local bodies’ debts and mortgages amounted to nearly £90,000.000; he showed that the public debt of the colony last March was really understated by £31,688,000 and that the whole of

the Customs duty, beer duty, property tax, and three other sources of revenue were allocated to pay interest on public debt. Speaking of retrenchment he said—*' I will not be found supporting any protection fads or spoon-fed settlement absurdities ; I have always preached and practised economy, and the colony must give up some things.” There was no beating about the bush here, no high falutin about “ judicious borrowing and judicious spending.” JSo! that is not Mr Bryce’s way ; he is one who seeing truth will tell truth, no matter who is pleased or who offended. He knows well enough that we might continue our wild borrowing for a time, but (hat to men and nations alike the day of reckoning must eventually come, and that, without wo as a people face facts and insist upon retrenchment, such reckoning will be ruinous indeed. On all the questions now agitating tho community Mr Bryco spoko fearlessly truth as he saw it, and we can but wish that a few more of our politicians would do the same. It is earnestly to bo hoped that in the new Parliament Mr Bryce may occupy that high position in the Ministry to which his talents and honesty entitle him.