The Evening Star THURSDAY. APRIL 28, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2176, 28 April 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY. APRIL 28, 1870.

Our mis-leading morning contemporary has at last got his blood up, and kicks. Time after time he has beep hit hard •without reply, but Mr Fox, like Balaam, has found he had only to strike hard enough, to rouse his thick skinned stoic to speak, and he has spoken in self defence, although he has not succeeded so well as Balaam's companion. Without the inspiration of truth he

has reiterated his faith in his lying prophets, and repeated their self-evi-dent falsehoods. “ Unweave his web of sopliestry in vain ; The creature’s at his dirty work again.”

There is no occasion for us to trouble ourselves to defend the present Ministry in their conduct of the Native war. The clear exposition given by Mr Fox, saves us from any such duty, and we leave our readers to contrast the simple authoritative statements made by that gentleman, with the palpable absurdities published by our contemporary this morning. We have a graver duty to fulfil, from which, in justice to the people of the Middle Island, we cannot shrink. Charmed as all must have been with the eloquence of the Premier, one thing is plain, he is a North Island colonist, with North Island views of the relation between the two islands. We have no doubt that he expressed his true sentiments when he spoke with admiration of the sacrifices made by the people of the Middle Island for the sake of the North, but there was not even the remotest hint of relieving them from future liability. He spoke of the Middle Island and the North as of one community, sharing in common dangers and suffering. Against this view we must protest. It would be unfair to assume, because he did not formally enter upon an exposition of the views of the Government on the subject, that they are bent upon maintaining our present relations unchanged. It was not to be expected that he should enter upon a topic of that character fin its present stage of development. Although in its infantile acquaintance with the practice of statesmen, the Daily Times assumes that “it is not usual for a prime minister “to appear on a platform ” to explain the policy of the Government of which he is a member, we are quite willing to admit that common as the practice is in England, no topic is dealt with until it has taken so deep a root in the popular mind, that legislation upon it has become a necessity. But this is one point that must be definitely settled. It is exceedingly gratifying to find that the measures of the present Ministry have been followed with such beneficial results, that peace is looming if not achieved, that industrial avoca tions can be followed in comparative security, that the Natives are at last acknowledging European superiority, and that a force of reliable men has been organised under the Armed Constabulary Act. It is possible were the present Ministry secure in office for a given number of years, the Natives might so far accommodate themselves to colonial views as to become decent and respectable civilians. But constitutional governments are continually changing. It is not by any means certain that, efficient as the present Ministry has proved itself, it may outlive the session. Mr Stafford has evidently his eye upon the premiership. He will be by a number of grasping place-hun-ters, military crotchet mongers, and disappointed log-rollers; and we have not sufficient confidence in the stability of opinion in the House of Representatives to imagine that the present Ministry are secure in their seats. It is for the Middle Island to make itself safe against tire consequences of a change. Mr Stafford again in power means a reversal of the peace policy of Mr Fox’s administration. It means rash and ill-considered Native government. It means placing the conduct of the war in the hands of military officers, who, however gallant and able as commanders, entertain notions of glory and good government inconsistent with that conciliation which would overcome evil with good. It would follow that the Middle Island would again be burdened with the expense of Northern defence. Mr Fox points to improvements already made in inter-communication by the construction of roads, and to further expenditure in that direction as a part of military strategy. Now we ask is it fair that all this should bo done, and two-thirds of it paid for by the Middle Island! These military roads improve the value of Northern estates far more than the outlay, for they not only open up the country to troops, but to the colonists, Cobb’s coach can travel on one of them, and find it profitable. The fair induction is that along the line there is a settled and thriving peculation. It may be gratifying to our feelings to receive the thanks of the Northern colonists for the sacrifices already made, but the object has been achieved. What has been paid we are willing to give them, only let any future expense be borne by themselves, and without financial Separation there is no security for this. We must have financial Separation.