THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 289, 15 October 1864, Page 6

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

We extract from tlic Wellington Independent the following able article on the present position of the Colony. With few exceptions ilie tone of the Southern press is opposed to the imbecility, tergiversation, and political dishonesty of Sir George Grey : — We we Icome the intelligence brought by the present mail, as a kind of relief. For months past, in fact from the time 'when Mr. Cardwell's first despatch was received, we have strenuously protested against the attempts of the Crown to set aside [Responsible Government, and place the Colouy under the rule of a Military Dictator. We contended that the instructions given to Sir George Grey, were inconsistent with constitutional privileges, and we anticipated that if he chose to interfere with the Assembly's policy,—a policy affirmed and approved by liim and his masters of the Colonial office—the Ministry which had been placed in office to carrj' it out, would be bound to resign when a fulfilment of tlieii; pledge became impossible. AN eek after week, the course of events lias verified the soundness of these views. Hacked by overwhelming Imperial power, and told by Mr. Cardwell " that his responsibility to the Crown was paramount," Sir George Grey lias systematical!}- disregarded the wishes of his Ministry, assumed the supreme control of affairs, and resumed tliat policy of mystery and inaction, for which he was so famous Ln the past. . For a time there was no Government. The Ministry ceased to tender advice to the man who, at such a momentous crisis, was degrading the dignity of bis vice-regal office, by sending peace offerings of flour to the escaped prisoners, and abjectly entreating them to return. Verily ! it was "a great and an inspiring spectacle. A war but half finished; an army of ten thousand men standing idle ; the rebels headed by the flower of Xingism, bidding defiance to British authority in Tamilaki and the South ;an opportunity presented fo crush the rebellion for ever and the M inistry and the colonists eager to aid in the work, while Sir George Grey, the only man who could either act himself, or allow others to act, is employed in a great experiment, of " personal influence," —an experiment- as ridiculous and degrading, as it has been useless and unsuccessful. It is said that some men of the highest intellect are mad on one particular point. Perhaps this may explain the imbecility of his [Excellency's proceedings. Able and skilful in the ordinary conduct of affairs, he is yet apparently the victim of a mania. This is the mania of " governing by personal influence." He thought by " personal influence" to settle the native difficulty - v he thought by the s.nnemeans to bring about a .satisfactory peace at an}' moment ; and lastly, he thought hv " personal influence" to keep the Maori prisoners at Kav.au without a guard, and when they escaped to lure them back again by the same potent spell. The policy of any one of these experiments would have satisfied a sane man that the specific was useless. That Sir George Grey should, at the present moment be still exhibiting his nostrums, can therefore o.ilv be explained by the theory we have advanci d. But the crisis has come at last, and we draw a breath of relief. The [Ministry have resigned, and the colony is no longer responsible, either directly or indirectly, for the unjust policy of Cardwell or the insane proceedings of Grey.

Let us a\v;ml to the men who have ceased to act. a merited tribute ot'praise. They have kept faith with those who placed them in power. Tliey have struggled resolutely to carry out. tlie policy atlirmed bv tlie Assembly and approved by tlie eoiuitiy. (lcs|)ite tlu> mnchinationx of the Political Sneaks, backed by Imperial iiiterventiou and vice-regal interference. Their plan was to crush the rebellion, to make tliis the last of ]NTcw Zealand wars, and to vindicate the Queen's supremacy throughout the whole island. Tliey were determined to make the Queen's writ run throughout tlie land, and to assert her power not merely in Waikato and Tanranga. but in Taranaki and the Patea also. That they Lave failed to do this is 110 fault of theirs ; it is due to the Imperial Government, its representative in tlie colony, and to tlie Political Sneaks, who, both at home and abroad, have lent tlieir aid to brng about such a result.

\V hat.is now to be done ? Is the destiny of the Colony to be ruled by the potentate of Ivawau ? Is responsible government to be sacrificed, owl Imperial ret/fme to be resumed ? Is Governor Grey to carry out his objects " of great Imperial concern," and the Colon}' be ultimately asked to pay largely for his futile and costly schemes '■? Surely this cannot be. It is time for the colonists to be up and doing. Let them with one united voice demand that the Assembly be called together, to decide on a future course of action. There is abundant work to be done by the tribunes of the people. Tliey have to consider the conditions stated by the mother country, on which money and men will be given ; they have to decide whether tliey will accept the Imperial guarantee for the one million loan, with all its iniquitous conditions, and employ Imperial troops at a cost utterly exorbitant and ruinous, or reject the aid altogether, and, repudiating liability for the past, on the plea of faith not having been kept, resolve

to settle the native question in the future at th cost and risk of the Colony. The. necessity f 0 action every day becomes more pressing. man Of common sense in the sight of past ern e rience, can now entertain any further eonficl e , lc in Govcrnqr Grey. He wants to make a rep u u tion with the Imperial Government. To pleas, it and his friends of Exeter Hall, he is ready t< patch up a bastard peace at the first opportunity He foresees that his tenure of power here wil be but short, and that his recall—amidst tin execrations of an indignant people— must b, close at hand. And foreseeing this, he may ap point a Ministry of Is ominees, or failing j n attempt, continue to refuse the resignation o those still in office, and carry out his plans with out consulting them at all. This must he pre vented. His Excellency must not be allowed t< smooth over the present difficulties and depar for England, bequeathing their real settlemen to the Colony. Ere he does depart, let it bi shown that lie has failed —utterly failed— it everything which he has undertaken, and let hi: attempt to gain a reputation at the expense o the colonists be foiled. To do this, the firsi step is to have an immediate meeting of the Assembly. The decision of the Seat of Govern•merit Commissioners is already known in Auckland, and if Wellington has been eliosen as the future capital of JNew Zealand, let the meeting take place here.