Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Quarter of a Century.] WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1900. THE HON. CAPTAIN RUSSELL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6432, 3 January 1900, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established Quarter of a Century.] WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1900. THE HON. CAPTAIN RUSSELL.

Is another column our Wlmkataki correspondent pens :t graphic sketch of the Lender of the Opposition in tlm New Zealand Parliament, the Hon. Captain Russell. Although ' Captain Russell does not exercise in politics that dynamic force which emanates from Mr Seddon, he is, as a mill, equally popular. The members of the Government party . evince n sincere liking for him, are proud to have him in the Houso and on more than one occasion have j openly praised him as the type of a good parliamentarian. According to our correspondent Captain Russell's motive for taking up a political career is a sen,so of the obligation of citizenship, but if we remember rightly Captain Russell himself defined it upon one occasion as an Englishman's love of governing. The general traits of Captain Russell's character are admirably depicted by our correspondent, Captain Russell is a type of the better class of politician which is fast disappearing from our House of Representatives. Singularly enough New Zealand once had a parliament almost.exclusively composed of Captain Russells. A portraitof the members of this parliament was recently published by' the Canterbury 'limes, and when we look through the group . and recall face after face that we were familiar with in the sixties, we feel proud of the third parliament of i New Zealand and a little ashamed i of its degenerato successor of the present day. If we take almost at random a few mimes from the picture of the third Parliament, what a list of grand men is presented. There is David Munro as the ceutro of the group, with William W. B. Mautoll, R. G. Wood, F, D. l!ell, Crosbie Ward, William Stafford, W. C. Richmond, and i Alfred Domett above. On the right aro Hugh Carleton, W. W. Taylor, Thomas Russell, and Alfred Saunders, and on tho left, J, Jj. Fcatherston, A. Do Bathe Braudon, Jno. Williamson, John Cracroft Wilson. Below are J. C. Richmond, l W. Coleneo, 11. A. Atkinson, W. Mason, and Francis Jollie. The Liberals in that Parliament were represented by men like William Fitzhorbert, A. W. Renal), and Charles Rooking Carter, and wore distinguished perhaps by greater average ability than is to be found in our Parliament of the present day. We trust our Whakataki correspondent is right in the-prediction that some day a reaction will set in, and tho people of the Colony will eschew adventurers and carpetbaggers as their representatives, Tho best men iu New Zealand, the best and most trustworthy colonists are now outside Parliament. It is a mere accident that a man like Captain Russell is still a Member. Someday, however, the Colony will be recalled to a sense of its obligation to choose uobler and better mou to pass its laws and administer its affairs. In ability they may not be moro conspicuous tliau rulers like Messi'B Seddon, McKenzio, and Ward but in other respects they will possess stronger claims for public confidence. Eei euring to Mr Cecil Rhodes and the war, Air Stead, in the Review uj Reviews," saysMr Rhodes, linding the war was inevitable, suddenly found himself restless at Capetown, and, yielding to an uncontrollable impulse set out for Kimberley on tho vory cvo of its investment .by the forces of the Boors. There he is, and thero he is likely to remaiu. Hp has equipped a force ot 100 men at a cost of £15,000, and cheerfully awaits th£ development of events. Of the wisdom of pluciug himself iu such au exposed position, almost within urasp of the enemy, it is Accessary to speak. Mr Khodes is not

h man who acts upon calculation in such a case, but upon instinct. Tlio same instinct which curried him into the Mnloppos wlion it wits necessary to induce tho Matabelo to lay down thoir arms led him lo throw in his lot with tho liclcatjuerctl town which lias Bprunß up round tho diamond mines of Dc Jlccrs. Tlio futu of Kimbcrley is ns nothing in popular estimation compared with tlio fate of Mr lihodes. lumbcrley might ho tnlten and relukcn. Tlio valuable machinery of De Ilcers might he destroyed, and tho I own razed to llii* ground. These incidents of warfare would be regarded us mero triviallies compared with the sensation that would lie produced if Mr lihodes were it captive in the hands of President Krugcr. It is doubtful whether ho would over he taken alive, and throughout the limpiro tho disappearance of Mr lihodes would be counted a loss that would bo dearly purchased by the annexation of both the Dutch Jiepiiblics of South Africa. Great men arc always rare, and tho loss of Mr Jihodcs would he felt alike by our friends and foes throughout the world asn greater blow to the Empire than any conceivable reverse that might bo inllicted upon British arms, llence it is that tlio news from Kimhorloy is awaited with such intenso anxiety, mid the telegrams reporting the nonchalance and cheery confidence which Mr lihodes is manifesting within the beleaguorcd town do much lo counterbalance tho anxiety which is undoubtedly fell in well-informed quarters about the military position in Natal.