The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-12-29

NeSSASNA " CAANSC, LuCll SuUuuc
by the vocabulary of mathematics"
The enemy on the Star followed up
the first article; and at last Mr.. Title
Hunter Seddon interfered. The follow
ing letter was sent to the offending
journalist
"Premier's Office,
Wellington, 9th Feb. 1900.
"Sir-My attention has been called
to an article in the Dunedin Evening
Star of the Goth of January last which
quoted what purports to be extracts
from a letter written by you dated
from Wellington, 9th October, and
published in the New York Times of
November 26th, commenting OH the
action Of this and other Australasian
colonies in connection with the de-
spatch Of contingents to the Trans
vaal, and shall be glad to know if
you were really the author of the let
ter in question: have the honor to
be. sir your Obedient servant
"R. ]. sEDDON.
y. Grattan Grey, Esq,
Chief Hansard Reporter
Is not this delightfully."- reminiscent
of the missives sent by Mr.. J. Nugcnt
Lentaigne, on behalf of the Lord Chan
cellor. to Mr.. Kendall O'Brien, Mr.. Tom
Barry, Mr.. Conor O'Kelly, and the 9th
er chairmen of county and district
councils in Ireland WHO ventllrc.l to
doubt the wisdom and justice of the
infamous war against the Beers?
The upshot was that. on February
10Th Mr. Grattan Grey wrote to the
previous premier again. He said
Il will preface my reply to your re-
quest for information as to the author
ship of the article by observing that
this is not the first occasion OH which
the same individual connected with the
Dunedin Evening Star has displayed
the strongest possible animosity, and
has shown personal malice to an eX-
tent which must meet with the repro
baton of all honest, upright, and re,
spectacle journalists. The individual in
question, however, is not Journalist
of any weight or position outside the
parochial radius of that papers cir
culation, and very little within that
limited area. Professional etiquette,
ight-forwardness, or the instincts
of journalistic camaraderie could not
be expected from such an uncultured
source AS to the article
contributed to the New York Times
from which the extracts have been re-
published, beg to inform you that 1
was the author of that article, and
that I adhere to the opinions therein
expressed, regardless of conse-
quences."
A bold vigorous, and eloquent vim
dication Of his principles followed this
manly and outspoken declaration on
the part of Mr.. Grattan Grey. He
concluded by asking:-
'Is it possible that have been under
a delusion all the best years of my
lfe and that am now to realise that
freedom of thought and speech in New
Zealand-that boasted palladium Of in
dividual and collective liberty-is moth
ing but myth after all?"
And so he found it. For, after an
all-night debate in the corrupt, servile,
and jingoistic New Zealand Parlia-
ment, he was dismissed from the
splendid position which he had won
by the best part of lifetime of honest
and brilliant service as g Journalist
and obliged to leave his adopted coun-
try and return to the Northern Hemi-
sphere and his native land.
Space does not allow us to tell the
tale of Mr.. and Mrs. Grey's journey
home. 1t is satisfactory to know that,
although the majority of the New
Zcalandcrs are as violently and ignor-
antly jingoist as the most barbarous
tribe Of Cockneys, there were honest
men and women enough in the colony
to appreciate Mr.. Grey's noble stand
for principle. \ series of meetings and
presentations preceded his departure;
and lady from amongst the sympa-
thisers who thronged the Auckland
wharf on September 3rd to see Mr..
and Mrs. Grey off, handed them copy
of verses, from which we take the fol-
lowing lines
Good luck go with you, Grattan Grey,
Across the wide blue sea;
May fortune shine upon your path
Wherever you may be.
''True son Of Erin, in her cause
May he whose name you bear
Inspire you from the Land Of Shades.