Evening Post. MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1881. THE PRESS ON MR. BRYCE.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 72, 28 March 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1881. THE PRESS ON MR. BRYCE.

♦ Vbbt wide differences of opinion were sure to be created by the speech recently delivered at Wanganui by Mr. Bbtcs. It was one of those stirring appeals which axe apt to carry away the hearer or the reader at first so thoroughly, that he is inclined to feel almost indignant when any attempt is mode to disturb the conviction which has rushed into his mind with the torrent of eloquence, and which seems at first so inseparably associated with the latter, that it is almost painful to have the spell broken by the cold analysis of passionleaß criticism. And so it is that we find some of the New Zealand journals enthusiastically lauding Mr. Bbtce's policy as disclosed in his speech, while others, calmly discussing it find it altogether objectionable. The Otago Daily Times is an instance of the former, and expresses the opinion that " Mr. Bbtce, in his very able speech at Wanganui, has decidedly made out a good defence of the line he proposed to pursue in regard to the West Coast difficulties daring the last few months. . . . Who can doubt that the course proposed would have proved successful in its main issues, and that the occupation practically by the Armed Constabulary of this nest of rebels, the possible, though scarcely probable, arrest of the murderer Hibobt, and the almost certain arrest of Te Whiti himself, would have entirely broken down the mana of the prophet chief, and rendered him in the future politically helpless and uninfiuential. Such counsels, however, did not please the Cabinet. . . . The majority were easily impressed with the apprehension that a general outbreak of the disaffected natives all over the North Island would be the infallible result of such determined measures. Feeling convinced of this, they can hsrdly be blamed for not being willing to risk so much ; but we are inclined to think tho grounds for such a conviction were not too closely investigated. . . . Mr. Bbtce, in our opinion, has all the probabilities on his side, though it is hard to say what might have happened had the arrest of Te Whiti, and his removal from the district, been carried out. Admitting that the responsibility was great, we believe a decisive step like this would have caused the existine' difficulties in the way of the occupation and settlement of the Plains to collapse like a house of cards. The Government, however, thought otherwise, and so thugs remain much as they were It must be left for the debates of Parliament fully to elucidate the Ministerial reasons for rejecting the bold and manly policy of their colleague. Mr. Bryoe's reputation will certainly not suffer by the self-denying course he took of resigning the emoluments of office rather than abandon what he regarded as an essential part of his policy: A bold and courageous course in dealing with the natives will always commend itself, at least to South Island men, who are strongly inclined to regard the whole native question as a bogey to soare money out of their pockets." The T imaru Herald takes a very similar view. It says : — There is a. manly ring in Mr. Bbtcb's speech which we greatly admire. The story of his parting with his colleagues, and the history of the events which preceded the severing of his connection with them are told so straightforwardly, and with such a conscious strength of self determination, that one cannot help regretting that the bold measures initiated by him for the settlement of the West Coast troubles were not allowed to culminate in those still bolder measures — a sketch of which is now presented vs — through the timidity of a majority of the Cabinet. Seeing the success of the initial projects, there was every reason to believe in the successful perfecting of all the later arrangements. But these were altogether too original and too bold for men who had not the courage and pertinacity of the ex-Minister Mr. Bbtce argues that the mana of the former chief |_Te Whiti] is yet strong and is capable of much mischief to the whites. To destroy that mana, and to show the natives who believed in it that their prophet was not what he represented himself to be, was one of the main objects Mr. Bbtce sought to accomplish. It ' would have been the best thing which could have happened for the solution of the West Coast difficulty.' And we think so too." But the Timaru Herald and the Otago Daily Times seem to be the only leading journals which do think so. The Lyttelton Times does not love the present Government, but it likes Mr. Bbtce's proposal even less. It says : — "His [Mr. Brtce'sJ native policy is set forth in his speech at Wanganui. That policy is neither just nor generous. Mr. Bbtce expressed a strong wish to seize Te Whiti in order to destroy his mana. Now what right has Mr. Bbtce, or any one else, to seek to use illegal force for the snppression of that which is proper in itself, and has been lawfully and honorably acquired? Te Whiti has as much right to have influence over his countrymen as anyone else has, not even excepting Mr. Bbtce. The injustice of denying that right is made still more striking by the fact, acknowledged, by the Ministry before Mr. Bbtce left its ranks, that Ts Whiti's influence has been invariably used for the prevention of bloodshed and the outbreak of war, sudden, implacable, and of guerilla character. The justice of punishing the man who has preserved the peace for years, is a striking kind of justice certainly. The generosity of forcing terms down his throat, without giving him a chance to make a single remark, is equally so. The country, at all events the Middle Island, will, now that Mr. Bbtce has spoken, be more delighted than ever that Mr. Bbtce has laid down the office of Native Minister. Mr. Bbtce evidently, by his own account, dislikes both justice and generosity Such pettiness of mind, BU'-h narrowness of official view, such hard-headed stupid obstinacy are well banished from the circle of Ministers: Now that they are banished, their owner has the assurance to stand before the country and tell the people that his firmness averted war with Ts Whiti. The fact is that Tk Whiti would not allow his people to be goaded into fighting. The escape from war is not due to Mr. Bbtce at all. The credit belongs to Te Whiti. Mr. Bbtce, by his own confession, wanted war, in order to destroy Tk Whiti's mana. Foiled in his atrocious expectation, he claims credit for having preserved peace. Mr. Bbtce, while a member of Major Atkinson's Cabinet, learnt a lesson in the art of claiming credit where credit is not due, yhich he has not forgotten. Mr. Bbtce, we remember, was the peculiarly honest Minister. Very peculiarly so indeed, as it turns out." The Christchurch fresß is amiably disposed toward both the Government and Mr. Bbtcb, but for once it agrees with its local contemporary, the Times. The Press eayß ; — " A careful study of the whole matter confirms us in the opinion we nave all along held that Mr. Bryce did not act with his usual calm judgment when he recommended that he should make his appearance at Parihaka at the head of an armed force, and put an end to the whole difficulty by one decisive step. Mr. Bryce has evidently by no means the same high respect for the recommendations of the Commissioners which are held by the majority of members on both sides of the House. He nevertheless wnMnfAjng that the course recommended by him would not have been a departure from the rules laid

down in the report. We are bound to say that we cannot agree with him on this point. . . To have taken a step which might_ have resulted in a aisturbance, and at a time when the new Commissioners had hardly entered upon the task of defining the reserves, would have made it difficult for the Government to justify their action to the House. We do not deny that Mr. Bryce has made out a very good cose for himself. He holds that his policy has been consistent throughout, and his last recommendation quite in keeping with his previous action. Now, the crossing of the Waingongoro was undoubtedly a Btep which might not improbably have led to war, and the making of the roads over the plains was undertaken at firat with such a contingency most certainly hanging oTer us. But there is a wide difference between the circumstances then and when Mr. Bryce wished to march on Parihaka." The opinion of the Wanganui Herald is interesting, as beine presumably that of Mr. Ballancb, who was Colonial Treasurer in Sir G. Urey's Government when the West Coast difficulty assumed such formidable proportions. It is curiously similar to that which we expressed on the some evening. The Herald remarks that on certain points "His (Mr. Bryce'B) explanation was unsatisfactory in the extreme. The Governor's letter he never noticed, although we had pointed out that its appearance immediately before his resignation required explanation, for no one seemed to be able to understand it He said on Wednesday — 'I believe the idea of negotiating with Te Whiti to be perfectly preposterous.' Yet he advises the Governor immediately upon his arrival in the colony to commit a ' perfectly preposterous ' act ! But he does more ; he adviseß his Excellency to write in the warmest terms of friendship to a man whom he told us on Wednesday evening was a harborer of criminals, and. whose influence led to the commission of crimes. . . . Within a week or two after the writing of this letter Mr. Bryce resigns because the Ministry will not agree to make a raid upon his ' friend ' the ' man of peace,' who has done nothing_ in the interval bnt reply that * the potato is cooked !' He waitß for fifteen months, then advises the Governor to negotiate and use terms of friendship, and immediately after resigns because his colleagues will not consent to incur the risk of either a war or a massacre ! . . . . What did he do to clear this tangled mass of inconsistencies? We fear even his friendß must admit he has got still more deeply involved. It is certain that the Ministry could do nothing else but allow him to resign. To have agreed to his proposed cmip would have brought to them instant ruin." Turning to the Auckland papers, we find the New Zealand Herald thinks " That the late Native Minister is a man of honor is sufficiently proved by his resigning office when his policy was rejected by his colleagues, bnt, notwithstanding, it is clear from his own statement that while the Government hod one policy Mr. Bryce had a further one which was diametrically opposed to it. It is evident that, apart from the .abstract merits of Mr. Bryoe's policy— merits which we quite admit— the Government were right in their view. 'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' The Colony will have to face the native question, and pursue a resolute policy — a policy which will not permit Maori violatois of law obtaining a sanctuary amongst Maoris — but the state of the finances and the feeling in monetary circles with regard to the Colony at the time Mr. Mr. Bryce would have pursued a resolute policy, completely justified the refusal of the Government to assent. We are quite as firmly impressed as Mr. Brycb with the necessity for a resolute native policy, and, under other circumstances, we should have gone with him ; but a prudent Government will always consent to be controlled by ciroumstances, and in this instance they were adverse, and there was no choioe but to await a more convenient opportunity." And here again we have the Evening Star for once agreeing with its morning contemporary. The Star says: — "Mr. Bryce has succeeded in putting forward a very plausible defence of hia own views. We agree with Mr. Bryce that a conscientious Minister, unable to agree with his colleagues on an important question of policy in his own department, should retire, and it iB due to him to repeat what hag been said by nearly all who have criticised his resignation, that his conduct has been that of an upright man. But to a certainty it would have been cheaper for the Colony to acqnire the whole of the hind by purchase than conquer it at an expenditure of £150,000 a year, and it could have been done. Still, Mr. Brtce is not to be blamed, for this policy on the West Coast was not his policy, nor any one else'B for that matter. The Government gradually drifted into it. It waa well, however, for the Colony that Mr. Bryce's ambition to execute a coup de main on Parihaka was restrained by those who have had longer experience of the ' wretched past ' of New Zealand compensation. To that restraint we attribute the peaceful work of settlement which, on all the frontiers, the Waimate Plains included, is steadily pushing the native difficulty out of existence." We have given these copious extracts as fairly representing public opinion at the various- centres of population, and it is quite clear that the weight of this opinion is decidedly against Mr. Bryce's now celebrated proposal.