The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2807, 25 July 1866, Page 4

The Daily Southern Cross.

LTTCEO, NON URO. ' If I have been extinguished, ret there *>•• a. uousftna oeacons iroqi the ip&rk I bore."

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25.

The despatches which -we last published from Mr. Cardwell to the Governor of this colony are well worthy of a very careful consideration by every colonist of the Northern Island. It is never without some benefit that we study the opinions of able men who look at subjects 'nearly concerning ourselves from a poinj of view different from our own ; but this is especially the case when circumstances give these observers special means of forming an opinion on the subject. In some respects, it is only reasonable to allow that Mr. Cardwell has special claims to consideration amongst all outside observers. Thinking, as we do, that he is not a very first-rate Secretary for the Colonies, we must yet yield him the praise of being an able man, and a very clearsighted one, up to a certain point. There is, of course, ground for saying that he is narrow and one-sided in some of M 3 views ; but it is well to remember that even in this narrowness there may be an advantage found. Most men who see only a small space see it clearly, just as the short-sighted man sees more vividly than others the things within his own limited range of vision. And this we regard as being very neai-ly the case with Mr. Cardwell. He has shown himself incapable of placing himself, by the exertion of a wide sympathy, in the position of those with whom he had to deal. He has shown that he could just as little place himself, in imagination, in the .position of a New Zealand colonist as in that of a Hauhau fanatic ; but he has also shown, that lie knows very well what the people — and yet more, the Parliament — of England think on colonial matters, and that he is able fully to sympathise with them. We ought, therefore, to find peculiar interest and instruction in these despatches. "We shall not find in them any full appreciation of our position with regard to the natives. "We shall not find them models of wide statesmanlike principles, applied to matters with ! which, it may be, the writer is not very intimately conversant. Least of all, shall we find in them a genial spirit of sympathy, such as binds colonies to the parent countiy, even in the absence of great substantial benefits conferred. Tnese things are wholly wanting in Mr. CardwelTs despatches, from first to last. They are calm, frigid, and narrow in their views, and at times" peculiarly annoying in their harshness of language ; yet, withal, they are the thoughts of a very able man, and they give us a view of our own affairs which we do well to take notice of and act upon. Since Mr. Cardwell first took the portfolio of his department in the British Cabinet, the relations of this colony and the mother country have undergone a great radical change, even while in appearance they have suffered little alteration. By the action of the late Duke of Newcastle this colony had been obliged to assume the entire responsibility of native affairs, in addition to ordinary colonial matters. This was supposed to be final then, but it was not looked upon as anything like a declaration of independence of Imperial control, or even as a great step in that direction. *The war which succeeded proved a heavy drag upon England's finances, while it was so managed as to be a yet heavier drain upon her sympathies on behalf of the Maoris in rebellion. Then it was that Mr. CardwelTs peculiar views were fully developed. He disliked the war, and he was jealous of the existence of any power which might tend, directly or indirectly, ;to prolong it. By am

ingenious, although hardly ingenuous gloss upon the contract entered into by his predecessor and this colony, he practically annulled the grant of full powers to the colony, and replaced them in the Governor's hands. No secret was made of the ground of this act, and it was broadly hinted that, if the colony would remove the cause, this effect at all events would cease at once. This was clear enough, and, had it looked a little less like taking advantage of our necessities, would probably have been received as by no means a liard measure. As it was, the thing might be just, but no one in the colony felt that it was generous. However, the alternative was accepted, and practically the thing is done, and the entire responsibility in native affairs is once more transferred to New Zealand. The grand difference in the position of matters now and formerly is this, that we have- not now received the government of the colony into our hands as a gift, but have paid a price for it lo the Home Government. They have said, " Release us from all claims " for protection from your internal enemies, " and you may do practically what you choose " in your own colony with natives or Eurc- " peans ; but, until you do this, we shall curb " and thwart you at pleasure." Of course, there could be but one answer to this. That those who manage things must be responsible, is a principle which all can understand, and few can fail to assent to : and when Mr. Cardwell had explained to us that even a partial responsibility would not give us the control of our own affairs, he had reduced to a certainty the course which this, or any similarly situated, body of British colonists would pursue. We say that now the matter is settled ; and, in proof of this, we need only refer to the despatches published by us on Monday last from Mr. Cardwell to Sir George Grey. In one of these, which goesat great length into the merits of several of the Acts of last session of our Assembly, he warns the colony that at least one, probably two. of these Acts, are very dangerous pieces of legislation in his opinion ; but having done so, he proceeds to leave them to their operation. This is significant. To follow Mr. CardwelTs argument, and to -agree with it, is, we venture to say, equivalent to condemning utterly the policy of the Acts referred to. When we have done this, we find that her Majesty will not be advised to interfere in the matter. England has washed her hands of us in such matters as these, and the reason is manifest — we give it in the Secretary of State's own words — because " the Home " Government could not profitably exercise " the responsibility." This is the answer to a good many otherwise puzzling questions about England's policy towards her colonies ; and it is for the colonies themselves to accept and profit by, the answer. It is a great responsibility that is thus cast upon our representatives in Parliament, for what they do is likely to be- final now. Even where Acts seem fraught with danger her Majesty's Government will not interfere — in fact, do not think they can do so any longer. - It is likewise a cause of no small satisfaction that this should be the case. England withdraws from a task which she cannot do justice to ; it will now be the j>art of the colony to imitate her to some extent. The, South is as far from knowing how to manage our affairs as Mr. Cardwell can be, and it is not unreasonable to hope that she will imitate him by refusing to £n.«ov£si.>o lv T,Lat ohe kuuws bo lii,Clo a/DOUt.