The Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2148, 25 March 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1870.

It was excusable in Mr Hall to congratulate himself and his colleagues on their expulsion from office ; but there are not many who will endorse his opinion that the late Ministry succeeded better in subduing the rebellion than their successors. They certainly employed a larger and more expensive force; they projected more expensive expeditions; and they were equally unsuccessful in catching Te Kooti. But in order fairly to estimate the difference between the two administrations we must go further back, and ask how was it that this rebellion which Mr Hall affirms tho Stafford Minis- : tvy did so much to crush, arose. He in common with his party, keep that carefullyj out of sight. They do not

carry their rooollfictions back to the disgraceful surprise and defeat at Fatea, to the almost criminal remissness at the Chatham Islands, to the ill-con-ceived and impolitic attacks on the escaped prisoners, in which, from want of preparation, the Colonial Forces were almost invariably worsted. It is convenient to keep these out of sight, for—

What would offend the eye in a good picture The painter casts discreetly into shade. Bui while it may suit Mr Hall and Mr Stafford to choose a starting point for comparison with the present Administration, it is not for us, who have suffered through their incompetence, to forget these things. Had even the. commonest precaution been taken, Tl Kooti would have been still at the Chatham Islands, and the sad of life consequent upon his rebellion would have been spared. The nonsense of “no difference ” between the two Administrations cannot be more apparent than in the mode of dealing with the prisoners taken. Even allowing that there was no law fc<D justify dealing as criminals with Maoris taken in arms before Mr Fox assumed office, it was competent for Mr Stafford to have introduced such a measure into Parliament. But it was not done. Then the idea never seems to have been entertained of sending a number of rebels for safety to such a place as Dunedin, where isolated from their fellows, and subjected to a strict and careful supervision, their labor could be utilised, and their time spent better than in hatching plots for escape and continued insurrection. No difference ! Why, no sooner did Mr Fox come into office than a rapid settling down took place in the revolutionary spirit. Alarm had reached its height. In the Waikato, in Taranaki, at Opotiki, even in Wellington, the ogre Maori was invested in imagination with all the malignity, fierceness, and strength of a giant of old. In fact, these was simply a most unmanly panic, in which, no doubt, the present Government participated. The Stafford Government were really engaged, like Frankenstein, in endeavoring to destroy a monster they had created. It seems to us, then, a most impudent assumption to ask again to be trusted with power. Ordinai-ily those who evinced such incompetence would have been glad to have remained unnoticed ; but politicians are not easily abashed, and, unfortunately, their blunderings always find apologists and advocates. We shall shortly be called upon to elect a member for Caversham, and it will be attempted to put one in opposed to the present Government, A great responsibility, therefore, rests upon the electors. It is not a question of personal preference, but of political fitness. When Mr Stafford and Mr Fox are contrasted, it is only as men representing different systems—neither of them perfect, but Mr Fox’s more nearly in accordance with justice to the the South Island and the general interests of the Colony than the other. The question of financial Separation must be insisted upon. Reason, common sense, and justice, require that the Middle Island should be relieved from expenditure for war purposes. The North Island is well able to bear the burden, and should be compelled to do it. The justice of this arrangement was partially acknowledged by the Fox Miuistry, but it must be forced upon them or any others that succeed them. Wo yesterday mentioned the name of a probable candidate, whose views are understood to be opposed to this arrangement. Surely the electors of Caversham will not allow the election to go by default, but will take steps to secure a man of the right stamp on whom they can depend, so that' the influence of Otago in the Assembly may be maintained.