JUSTICE TO NATIVES.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 30, 16 July 1857, Page 2

JUSTICE TO NATIVES.

The phrase “Justice to Nativer.,” is differently interpreted by different people; and probably, but few of those who admire that phrase have any definite conception as to its meaning. If by “Justice to Natives” is to be underct >od the putting of Natives on exactly the same footing as Europeans, the “ full stop” is soon arrived at; for not only do Native ideas but Native interests render equality of that kind pure chimera. Ideas shape destinies. Perfect political union may be possible between peoples whose mental growth is equal or nearly so. But between two varieties of the human race, when oue variety radically and essentially differs in mind from the other, no perfect political union can be realised. Now, Native mind agrees as little with European mind as oil does with water. Our habits of thought differ widely from theirs. Neither mutual action nor mutual understanding can be arrived at. Tbeir feelings are not as our feelings ; their interests are not as our interests; and, as a mitterof course, their waysarenot ourways. The phrase- “■Justice to Natives ’ sfems to imply that Natives should not only vote for those who nasike the laws, but be eligible to a seat in our National Assembly. Now, suppose we bad dene with shamming, nnd that these rights were exercised by the Native population. Who the®, would govern ? That question is worth considering? In this colony there are more Natives thaa Europeans. At the game of arum ting noseswe should lose. If we are mentally superior tothem, it cannot be denied they are numerically superior to us; and therefore the-“ numericalbasis” is unsafe. Nothing in arithmetic clearer than the fact that Europeans pist on the same footing with Natives would by Natives be-out-voted in the proportion of six, seven, or perhaps ten, to one. But Natives outvoting us at our own polling booths, and putting us into Provincial. Council or Gene: al Assembly minorities would! only be one phase of the new order- consequent upon realising “Justice to Natives.” Mißiades explained how h’.s infant sou ruled! the world by saying the Geeeks ruled the world-,, he ruled tho Greeks, his wife ruled him, aud the 1 ittle Miltiades ruled his wife, In like manner we are able to explain how,if “Justice to Natives’.’ were made perfect, Missionaries would governthe colony. Natives would govern us and Missionaries govern Natives Missionary mind is far in advance of Native mind; hence that influence so potent for good or evil that the Missionary can at any time bring to bear upon the Native. The common idea of Natives voting may be absurd. Well, suppose it so, and then tell us what, upon such hypothesis, becomes of the common idea concerp'pg “Justice to Natives.’’