MONTHLY SUMMARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 971, 30 March 1870, Page 5 (Supplement)

MONTHLY SUMMARY.

NEW ZEALAND SEEKING RELATIONSHIP WITH AMERICA.

While English politicians are plotting liow best they may shelve the Colonies, and thus facilitate the perpetration of the most gigantic blunder ever committed by British statesmen, it is significant to observe that New Zealand seeks relationship with America by direct steam communication with San Francisco — one of the most flourishing of her States. The intent of this communication is primarily, no doubt, to take advantage of the rail across the American Continent, lately completed by our energetic cousins, for the purpose of speedier intercourse with Great Britain. But if it is viewed in conjunction with the late development of the colonial policy of that country, which consists as far as this Colony is concerned, in making a cowardly retreat in the midst of a war which she herself originated — a retreat which could not have been safely made without the shelter of the colonial forces — it will be seen that the effect of that policy is beginning to make itself manifest. While England ■was viewed in the maternal light, which we fondly hoped she reciprocated, she was all ia all to vs — her politics, her trade, her troubles, her successes were to us matters of deep interest — in her days of sorrow we sympathised, and in her hours of triumph we rejoiced with her. The same strong heart supplied us with the vital fluid necessary to national life, and we were one people in feeling and purpose. This is now sadly changed; not from any desire on our part, but against our wishes, the bond which united us has been severed, and though nominally under her rule, practically Great Britain is now to us (sentiment apart) simply what America is, or France, or any other nationality. From habit or convenience our commercial intercourse will for a time remain unchanged, but only for a time. We sought to maintain an intercourse closer than tnere business requires, and we have been ■ungraciously repulsed when we required j it more than ever. Our sensibilities arc too acute to relapse into a mere platonic attachment — we fear, as in the case of America, they will drift into bitterness and hate. This is the curse of English •Government — ministries may change, but the power invariably drifts into the hands of a governing class to whom sympathy is unknown, and instead of fosteringthose feelingsof attachment which naturally spring from a people of the same origin and race it manages to freeze up and extinguish any warmth of feeling which may be showu. The sympathies of the American people having survived two wars with England, were almost extinguished by her cold attitude while she was struggling for the maintenance of her national life. This want of sympathy has been shown to be costly, and in the case of the c Alabama' the bill which must be paid will be a heavy one. The natural result of the unwise policy tinder which we are now smarting, will be to induce the Colony to maintain closer relationship with other countries. The great American Republic which we now make use of as a highway to reach England, may in time absorb our trade — she will, in fact, open up to us new sources of wealth ; her enterprise will assist in developing our great natural resources; her practical experience of the art of colonising will furnish us with more correct views of encountering the difficulties of the wilderness; and the ingenuity of her people in adapting themselves to circumstances and devising mechanical expedients to overcome natural difficulties, will assist us in securing in a shorter time the reward due to the labour of the industrious colonist. In return we shall probably find employment for the skilled workmen of America, in furnishing us with those articles of general consumption which we find cheaper at present to import, such as cutting tools and machinery, and those numerous articles which a young Colony cannot profitably produce. In the meantime England will have experienced the results of her colonial policy. England without colonial markets, with closed workshops, resulting from a decayed colonial trade, with her teeming unemployed population, would speedily sink into the position of a second rate power. This is no mere ideal picture, the workshops of the Continent are beginning to successfully compete with England in her own markets, and the effect is stagnation of trade in the great centres of industry. If this movement receives an impetus by the gradual falling away of the colonial trade, it requires no prophet to tell the effect on the social position of England. However, that is a matter of secondary importance to us, we must look to our own position. We have taken the fust great step to complete what England has begun. The opening up of the Californian route has been brought about through the enerpry and business like despatch of the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Yogel. That it will be of immense practical benefit to this Colony allwill pdmit, but the political consequence of th.; iDteicour3e with America is not quite so easily foretold. At no remote period it must obviously iniiuence our commercial aud political ideas, and

tend to widen the gulf which the policy of England has created. In the meantime we shall benefit by the commercial advantages which it places at our disposal, and speculate on the tendency of the change which Aye have no doubt will prove an era in our history. While ocean communication has been secured, it will be seen that the interprovincial service has not been neglected, tenders having been asked for the conveyance of mails to all parts of the Colony. There are three routes from Manukau, taking in Taranaki, viz., to Wellington via Nelson, to Wellington via Wanganui, to Hokitika via Nelson, so that it will be observed that the interests of this Province have been cared for and easy means of communication by sea provided.