“The Press” In 1864

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30553, 23 September 1964, Page 16

“The Press” In 1864

September 23. THE NATIVE QUESTION To dictate, nay even to indicate a policy at such a time, is not the duty of the press. But we may call seriously upon all those who are about to take part in the coming session to apply their minds at once to the task of thinking deeply over the measures which may be necessary to restore the colony from the desperate state into which its fortunes have been plunged. That the present Ministers will be permitted to remain in power another year is scarcely likely, and yet to speculate on their successors is impossible. In the absence of all party feeling, and the dissolution of all party ties, it is impossible even to speculate on those who may be called on, or may be able to work together in the difficult task which will be entrusted to the next Government All we can

rely on is on the public spirit and unselfishness of the leading men in the Assembly who, whatever faults they may be guilty of, have ever evinced an entire absence of that low ambition which seeks office for personal ends. If it could be said last year that the peace policy had been tried and failed, now, at all events, it is evident the failure of the war policy has been ten times as conspicuous. But the peace party have, at all events, one advantage —their ranks have been cleared for ever of those who, having no principles to guide them, adopted the symbols of political faith merely for party ends. But it is not the question of peace or war only, upon which the next Ministry will have to dwell, nor round these questions that new parties will cluster. How to restore the credit of the Colony, not only on the Exchange, but in the

Parliament of England—how to raise the character of the colonists in the eyes of their fellow countrymen at home,— how to rebut the imputations under which they lie by inciting them to actions in compatible with the baseness with which they are charged—how to organise the internal Government of the colony, so as to take away, with the causes of discontent, the motives for future wars—-how to obliterate the memory of past hostilities in the enjoyment of present prosperity, and the anticipation of a bright future—and above all, how to include both races in the same hopes, and inspire them with the same interests—these are the tasks which the Colony will confide to its next Government, and to which it will expect its ablest men to abandon all party or personal considerations.