OMNE IGNOTUM PRO MAGNIFICO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 2, 1 May 1885, Page 16

OMNE IGNOTUM PRO MAGNIFICO.

One of our contemporaries is not quite satisfiei with the appointment of Sir George Whitmore to the command of the Colonial Forces. In the estimation of the writer to whom we refer Sir George is too old a colonist to be fit for the office, and, as he would seem to argue, consequently too ignorant. He is also evidently of opinion that it is only necessary to send home for an officer, to get the genuine article. Well, we are rather sceptical as to the certainty of always securing the real thing by importations from Home and we really thought that a sad experience had cared colonists of the craze of runing like babies after new comers Hitherto any one from Europe with plenty of assumption was sure to be run after, and notwithstanding the many proofs lately afforded that they were made of brass and clay we regret to find that a cure has not been effected. One would have thought, however, that a public writer holding a responsible position would have felt himself called upon to sustain an appointment made by the Government on its responsibility, and have abstained from vilipending its iudg ment before trial, and from flinging distrust in the face of a brave and proved soldier at the very first moment of his appointment. l\ ow is the time to endeavour to inspire confidence, not distrust ; now is the time to sustain the Government by willing and encouraging words, instead of labouring to sow the seeds of distrust and weaken confidence in the leaders of the country. "We do not desire to eulogise Sir George Whitmore, — he is above our eulogy but we do think that his experience of the Colony, his knowledge of its geography, people, and resources is one of his chief recommendations, and wehave little doubt that, all things considered his appointment is the very best that oould have been made! We must say we entertain the greatest distrust of strangers pitchforked over the heads of able and tried colonists, simply because they are strangers. There is a great deal too much of that spirit which legaids everything not our own as necessarily something better than our own, amongst colonists, and which cannot be bettter described than in the words of our heading—" Omne ignotum pro magnifico," — which may be freely translated by the old saying : Cows far away have lonsr horns. 6