THE DEFENCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2802, 30 January 1871, Page 3

THE DEFENCES.

I Sir—The storm cloud that is gathering over England may soon burst, and its consequences will be felt in her remotest colonies. We are here quite defenceless from attack, and we may rest assured that if war occurs with Russia or America, we will not escape the attention of the enemy. What more tempting prize could attract the cupidity of a rapacious antagonist like Russia than the richly-laden gold ships which sail from Melbourne ?.- Should we: continue our present relations with England, we shall become involved in her troubles and complications, neither able to assist her nor ourselves. < Why, then, do we continue this sham con--neetion which impedes our action in an, .emergency like the present one ? What are our leading politicians about ? Do they notrecognise the gravity of the situation, or are they- so absorbed with petty provincial: politics that they cannot rise equal to, the. occasion ? Let ns boldly assert onr independence, and have it ratified by a plebiscite on the basis "" of manhood suffrage. Xkere be no delay Jin adopting this. 1 eoar.'je, for in a short time it may bs too late. I have V6ry many opportunities of learning; the opinions and sentiments of the masses of our population in relation to thase matters, and I sm sorry to say that many of; them are I quite indifferent to the fate oi- New Zealand. - j Some say that they would pilot in either the Russian or Yankee, and show them the banks. The labouring classes believe that any change must be for the better, and whether they are governed by Russian or American is a matte? of indifference to them, they have been so long accustomed to the conservatism and illiberal institutions of New Zealand, aa to have learnt to despise it; and in the event of our having to repel foreign aggression, I fear very much that the masses will not be very eager in rushing to the rescue. The fight will be left to the squatter, the banker, the merchant, and their clerks. No doubt, they would fight bravely^ I bat their puny efforts would be unavailing without the strong arm of the "working men, to aid them,—l em. But., F.C.