HIGH GROUND.
New Zealand was not colonized for the aggrandisement of europeans, but for the protection of its aboriginal population. This is native gospel, according to Bishop Selwyn. This is high Christian ground, according to entire tribe of high church mission philanthropists. The Bishop does but express their “outward and visible” doctrine when he says Boshee must be protected at whatever cost to British civilization or British pocket. That doctrine will meet sorry reception here; for here the native population are known ; here the logic of native fictions can have no force as against the logic of native facts; here the real meaning of native protection is patent to everybody. But Bishop Selwyn and his high ground friends may carry their point in Downing Street. Nor can we, for one moment doubt that at Exeter Hall their high ground doctrine will be received with enthusiasm.
Much of English philanthropy—■ is an unweeded garden, That grows to seed ; things rank, and gross in nature, Possess it merely.
Much of English philanthropy has no purerer source than ignorance, no stronger support than cant, no nobler object than pelf. Trinculo wished he had Caliban in England, because “any strange beast there makes a man : when they will not give a doit to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out teu to see a dead Indian.”
Such was English taste in the good old times of Queen Elizabeth, and such we find Exeter Hall philanthropy in these “ enlightened ” days of Queen Victoria. It is the philanthropy of benevolence professors who will blubber over a dead Indian or an oppressed New Zealander ; who have scoured the wide earth for evidence of white man's inhumanity to black n an, or brown man, or copper colored man, or yellow man, or any man warranted heathen and savage. At these precious philanthropists Thomas Carlyle launched his sarcasm when lie recommended the formation of A Universal Sluggard and Scoundrel Protection Society. From them, no doubt, the doctrine that New Zealand was colonized for exclusive advantage of Boshee will receive warm encouragement.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Examiner, Volume IV, Issue 275, 23 June 1860, Page 2
Word Count
343HIGH GROUND. Auckland Examiner, Volume IV, Issue 275, 23 June 1860, Page 2
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