DISAGREEABLE TRUTHS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1775, 4 October 1862, Page 3

DISAGREEABLE TRUTHS.

Mr. Editor, — It has been a maxim affirmed by more than one great politician, that a con. siderable latitude must be allowed in the discussion of public affairs ; or the liberty of the press will be of no benefit to society, and a want of conviction and adherence to that great truth, in a great measure has been the cause of the present political condition of the colony of New Zealand.

Little more than two brief years ago, a part of this country was involved iv all the horrors and miseries of an internecine war with the Native race, and at that period an opportunity was afforded the British nation to assert its supremacy and place affairs, as between the Colonists and the Maories, on a firm and equitable basis. It is not requisite, that on the present occasion I should enter into a consideration of the rights and wrongs of the late war, suffice it to say, that even admitting that it might have been founded on injustice on our part, still there can be no question, but that it was abortive and fruitless in its results, and that instead of leaving a wholesome and salutary impression on the Native mind of the strength and prowess of Great Britain, its operations were carried on in such a weak, vaccil-

laling, and imbecile fashion, that when the mockery of a treaty of peace, was at length entered into between the two races, a conviction remained in the minds of our opponents, that the peace was the united result of fear on our part and courage on theirs; and that in the futuie they had only to threaten the renewal of the strife, lo enable them to extort from us whatever concessions they might desire.

The history of after events has thus been one of braggart assumption on one part and slavish concession on the other. The Stafford Ministry, whose principles and action were wrong, passed away from the political stage, and were succeeded by the Cabinet of which Mr. Fox was the head. Well, it was then thought, that the salvation of-the Country had been achieved and ceites if one man more than another was fitted to grapple with the almost unsuperable difficulties of the position, it was the chief of that Government. The stern logic of events, has however, shown, that the policy of philantrophy and conciliation adopted by them, has not settled the question ; aye, and even Sir George Grey, with his plans of Native Government, has not been more fortunate. Two years have elapsed and matters still remain in their original position. Mr. Fox has certainly merited the credit of stajing the sword, and keepiug the j Colony in a state of peace, duriug his tenure of office, but the flame which was supposed to be utterly quenched, is only smouldering, and may, nay will, I am convinced burst forth afresh, with more than its former fury, if that flame had been completely trodden under foot, even to its last embers, suf ficieuttime has surely elapsed to prepare the Natives for the reception, with open arms, of the Constitutional privileges, and means of elevation, political, social, and moral, which have been so persistently pressed on their acceptance by the present Governor. How have those boons been received? Have the Natives, after all the excitement and bitterness evoked.by the late struggle has passed away, been ready to grasp our hands in friendship, and devote themselves earnestly to that task of self-government for which we have provided the machinery. Alas, no ! All our offers have been met with suspicion and distrust, our institutions have been laughed to scorn, our philanthrophy has been derided, and at the present moment, the state of Taranaki, with the Queen's mail stopped and a Maori toll gate barring the road, is a bitter satire on the solemn treaty of peace, which at present exists on parchment. It is perfectly true, that some tribes have nominally renounced the King, and given in their adhesion to the Queen, but how far are they to be trusted, or how long may that .allegiance last? Sir G. Grey, than whom no man is supposed to have greater influence amongst them, has travelled up the West Coast from Wellington to Wangdnui, but with all his previous prestige, he has accomplished but very.liltle. Letauy man peruse the accounts which have been made public of the meetings at Otaki and Wanganui, the correctness of which cannot be impugned, and if the legitimate inferences aye drawn of which they are susceptible, the conclusion must be arrived at that we have not advanced a single step in solving the S reut difficulty of the day. Disheartening as it may appear, the great fact nevertheless stands, that whils the representative of royalty is interchanging expressions of esteem and goodwill with nominally friendly tribes the most powerful section oi the whole body 'still stands aloof, keeps the standard of rebellion floating proudly in the breeze, retains one of the Mail boxes of the Colony in its possession, and virtually assert 3 a right of property in the wreck of a steamer which has by misfortune beeu cast ashore upou their Another and »no»'e telling fact which yet rears, its head and emphatically demands cousideration is the present condition of the settlement of Taranaki. That district, it is alleged, is to be reinstated, and a loan of £200,000 has beeu voted for the purpose. But how stands the case? Will the expenditure of a sum of money suffice to accomplish the object in view? 1 fear not, and looking to the present condition of that settlement, tue conviction is ine,istioiy forced on the mmd of every thinking man, that no permanent reinstatement cau ever take place until the Queen's anthority is established, uot nominally, but in actual verity throughout the land. Let it be supposed that this loan will enable the unfortunate settlers there once more to raise their heads, and redeem their holdings from the v,aste and devastation to which they have been subjected, let us even admit that the foretaste of a dawniug prosperity may again be felt— what security exists in the present aspect of affairs, that the disastrous dwma ol former years may not be repeated? Warned by tbe experience of the past, and guided by the indications of the present, I say that uo guarantee exists for the continuance ot peace for a single month. The eyes of the country have been anxiously fixed on the Governor, ever since his arrival, aud mauy hailed with joy the announcement that a mild and philanthropic policy was about to be brought into operation by him. It was due to" a great and a Christian nation that every effort should be used in the shape of moral suasion to accomplish our aim aud cud, but when it is found, that such an endeavor is fruitless, it is time to prepare for the adoption of other means. Nothing can be more jreuaoie or foreign to my intention, than to advocate a war policy ; but, I contend, that we should stand prepared to meet either fortune. We have done more — infinitely more, than oittier legal or moral considerations called for. We have not only tried our best to educate and civilize the Native race, but we have even passed a measure vesting them with an exclusive right and title to the waste lands of the country. Every substantial advantage has thus been accorded and now it behoves us to make a stand. It is due to the dignity and position of a nation, foremost in the history of the world, that generous concession should not degenerate into slavish and truckling submission, and it is now thedutyof thepresent ruler of this Colon}, and his (alas, not responsible advisers), to turn neither to the right hand nor to the left ; but, without further hesitation to vindicate the Queen's supremacy, — to open the West Coast communication from the north to the south, — to protect the settlers of Taranaki in their homesteads, aud if compelled by ajstern necessity toappealto the God of battles to support the right.

Demoorixus.