THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOV. 28.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2127, 28 November 1868, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, NOV. 28.

There seems to be very little doubt, among the people at large, either as to the mismanagement of Native afiairs by the General Government, or the duty which they owe that Government in the present crisis. It is but too clear that the heads of the Native department have not been equal to the successive emergencies with which they have been called upon to deal. Excuses may be made for them, doubtless. They have been taken by surprise ; they have not hat! at their disposal the necessary means for carrying on war ; they havo been obliged to rely upon men on whom little reliance could bo placed. Making full allowance for these and other difficulties of the kind, it it yet impossible to feel satisfied with their management. One disaster has followed another bo rapidly that our forces appear to have been driven hither and thither like sheep. Such a condition of affairs points to a general delusion on the part of the colonista, up to the time when thia outbreak commenced. Believing that no danger was to bo apprehended, we have pushed forward our settlements far beyond our means of defence We have reduced our standing army by degrees un'il its efficiency lias been squeezed out of it. With very little warning, we have found ourselves engaged in a war, and now we are threatened with a general rising of the tribes. Government and people alike must stand convicted of conduct which may bo leniently termed fatuity. Tho Government is of course responsible, and on their shoulders the responsibility directly rests. But tho responsibility of the Government is shared by tho House of Representatives, which maintains the Government in office. If the House had done ita duty throughout, the Government would have been compelled to do its duty also. A portion of the House wakes up at the last moment and proceeds to call the Government to account. Well and good: but why were theao warning voices not raised before ? Was Parliament not sitting when the colony was stripped of all means of defence 1 The legislators who vociferously endorsed the selfreliant policy are now pronounced unfit to deal with the Native difficulty. The demand for a dissolution of Parliament implies a conviction, on the part of those who make it, that they have no confidence in either Government or Opposition. The conviction is a logical one. If the I'arliament as a whole has given proof of incompetence, tho fact that one party has failed to do its duty to the country is no reason for placing faith in another.

There can bo no question among impartial men as to the duty which tho people owe the Government at tho present time. So long as it remains in oilice, it has a right to expect support in its efforts to crush rebellion. That support is due to it merely because it is the Government, and because it is engaged in defending tho country from a common enemy. If we refuse to support it, we strengthen tho enemy by so much aa our support would have strengthened the Government. Wo cannot remain neutral. It may be all very well for political partisans to raise an. outcry against the Ministry. They have their political interests to servo. They cannot afford to lose sight of tho3e interests, and tho public interests must necessarily give way to them. To expect such men to support the. Government, during any crisis in the publio affairs, is to expect patriotism, from office-seekers, and self sacrifice from men who have no law but

their own interests. Their denunciations of Ministerial mismanagement can mislead no one, for such denunciations are stereotyped. Political prejudice blinds them to the fact that faction becomes treason, when the commonwealth is in danger. It is fortunate indeed that «he power of faction ia limited. It does not carry the body of the people with it, and it cannot bo aucccasful until it docs. The attitude of the colonists generally is in striking contrast withthatof onrpoliticians. Tho formeraro generally agreed that this is rot a time for the display of political prejudice, Hit for unity of action. In the city of Wellington, certainly not a Ministerial stronghold, tho Ministry is supported by public opinion. Speaking of a public meeting in tliat city, our correspondent says : — * The floating opinion out of doors was that the Government should bo strengthened in any active measures it was taking in reference to tho East and West Coasts. Almost everybody appeared to sink political differences for the moment and address himself to the common emergency.' Dr Fkathekkton* expressed this floating opinion decisive terms. In answer to a deputation which requested him to preside at a public meeting in Wellington, he said — in the words of our telegram—that at such a juncture it was his duty to workto the utmost of his power with the Government for tho preservation of tho peace of the Island. Tho duty of tho citizen, in times of public danger, is precisely analogous to the duty of the soldier. The latter may entertain very strong convictions aa to the incap.-icity of his officers; but no convictions of tho kind would justify him in exciting mutiny or insubordination. Obedience is his first and only law. Tho citizen is equally bound to obey, when the public safety is endangered. Ho chooses his own rulers, and as long as they remain in power they have a right to his support in great public emergencies. With every honest man, the first consideration must be the salvation of his country. That can be secured only by bringing all the energies and resources of the country to bear upon the enemy. To excite political disaffection at such a time is to divide the comtry against itself, and to strengthen the hands of the enemy ; it is to pl:iy the part of an insidiouß traitor, concocting conspiracies for tho gratification of his hate. Let us first crush the public enemy ; let us put a stop to massacre and pillage, and then let us discuss at leisure the merits of our rulers.