MR WARD’S PROTEST. Thebe was an incident of last week’s pro ceedings which cannot be passed over in silence. We refer to Mr Ward’s protest against some criticism addressed to him by a newspaper during the week, in reference to his financial position. What the writer may have meant exactly, when he referred to financial pressure, has not been ex plained, and need not be. What a section of the public believed it to mean is too well known to require any special reference in detail. Suffice it that Mr Ward’s state ment was a complete and very effective denial of the correctness of the ideas im puted to the article in question. Had he not been prompt to vindicate his character, those imputations would undoubtedly have grown, and in growing they would have gathered force. When public men vindicate their character promptly it is a healthy sign. Mr Bryce’s —Bryce v. Rusden—is the leading case. Mr Bryce on that famous occasion was re garded by his best friends, at the begin ning of his enterprise, as Quixotic. But the striking success of his long journey and his battle in tho law courts altered that opinion very materially as was made evident at the banquet given to him on his return. It was then generally admitted that Mr Bryce had established a tradition which ought to be observed carefully by all public men. Mr Ward’s effort was, of course, not on a par with Mr Bryce’s magnificent campaign of vindication, but it was worthy of its spirit. THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. The leading article in our issue of 6th April last, in which we expressed our view that “the vulgarities of Sir Somers Vine” had much to do with tho undeserved un. popularity of the Imperial Institute, ap pears to have given great offence in certain quarters. The full account of an interview our special reporter had on jfchat occasion

with Sir Walter Buller was made the text of that article. Our criticism of Sir Somers Vine was not deduced therefrom, but came of our independent knowledge of the facts of which we treated. Nevertheless Sir Walter Buller has been made the subject lof retaliation. 