Occasional Notes.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 87, 9 March 1876, Page 6

Occasional Notes.

By Colonus.

SIR JULIUS YOGEL.

A tolerable period has now elapsed since I did myself the. honor to criticise this worthy statesman. -... The return of .Sir Julius to New Zealand and an im- j portant result of his enterprise, the completion of telegraphic communication between this Colony and Great Britain, seem to offer a fitting opportunity for making some further remarks upon the character, and labors of the great man. Though I certainly am not prepared to profess myself an out-and-out believer in the great Minister, I should consider it a. despicable proceeding to endeavor to deprive him of any of his well-earned laurels. It is rather early at present to form a completely accurate judgment of the value of the services of Sir Julius to this country. We are - not yet out of the bush so need not exclaim. After the lapse of a few years we may be able to form a better opinion of the woi*ks and immigration policy, and of the manner in which that policy has been carried out than we can do at present. One thing, however, appears tolerably certain, that in great measure, to the sagacious, temporising, and conciliatory policy of the Yogel Government, we owe our present exemption from the curse of Native war, and the prospect of a lasting peace. That the Premier possesses a large amount of ability few will be prepared to deny. There is much of the inventive element in the composition of his active mind, as evidenced by the schemes of more or less utility which he is constantly evolving. That he is a clever tactitian and able general in political warfare, his antagonists have found out to their cost. Sir Julius appears at Wellington to have Come out in the character of a friend of the_ working man, having received an ovation from the " 'orny'anded "of that city. Sir Julius is of course the great hope of Wellington, but whether or not he proves himself the friend of working men throughout New Zealand will depend in great measure upon whether or not he initiates and faithfully carries out a land policy. We have yet to learn what are the extent of "thej Premier's constructive powers. It is easier to destroy than build. It is as likely that Sir Julius ran full tilt at, and overturned the Provinces because he found them obstruc tions in his path, as that his doing so proceeded from a well matured convic-, tion that a constitutional change was absolutely necessary. It seems rather doubtful whether Sir Julius is a close economist and skilful manipulator of national monetary resources ; anyhow his ability in this respect is inferior to that of that prince of "economists the Hon. W. E. Gladstone. I observe Sir Julius Yogel is acredited with being the author of an article in a late number of ' Erazer's Magazine,' in which he has expressed a belief that the artificial character of modern society necessitates a monarch, and that the States of North America cannot long do without a King. President Grant on the other hand has enunciated the idea of a general republic of the British race, or English speaking people. I started this idea in some of my published writings sometime before the President I think. Perhaps, however, there is nothing very extraordinary in the notion. It is a more probable event than that the States will ever saddle themselves with a monarch. I rather think monarchism is generally on the wane. Prance is an old country, and may yet be said to be thoroughly king-sick, as we speak of a field being clover-sick. I suspect there are several modern civilised nations, which, if they could once succeed in shaking off their monarchial trappings, would not be much disposed to put them on again. At present the British Empire is well represented by Queen Victoria, but it seems probable that eventually English speaking people will discover the advantage of being bound together under one Government, and subjecting* themselves to one code of law, and will then adopt the common sense course of endeavoring td select from time to time the wisest head among them to be President, or Chief Magistrate of the Republic. Then perhaps there may be an end, or nearly so, of war, which is certainly a great barbarity, though it cannot be denied that in the pursuit of it many noble qualities have been occasionally called into play. Whether this colony would have got as far as it has at present, without the aid of the active mind of Sir Julius may be doubtful Our debt is Jarge, but is better incurred for works than war. I am quite disposed to accord to Sir Julius all the honor to which he is rightly entitled, and to estimate his services to the Colony at their highest value ; still there is undoubtedly room for dissatisfaction in some respects with his management of the affairs of the nation. Unless it. shall appear that the internal and export trade of the Colony during the few next succeeding years are sufficient to make the large outlay of borrowed money reproductive, the Colony may suffer considerable inconvenience, and possibly Sir Julius, or the Prime Minister for the time being, will have a* hard task to prevent New Zealand being involved in financial disaster of more. or less extent. It is, however, highly probable that before long this fine country will become a favorite field for immigration. ,-- r