The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2472, 18 January 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1871.

i l riE Sydney papers have taken alarm at the repotted warning having been Veceived by the (Government of New '■South Wales respecting possible comfflications With the tint ted States and threat Britain. We suppose, liad this been teally the case, our own Government would have been In possession of Similar information, and we should haVe ‘notice to prepare ourselves. Not having received such intimation, we are sceptical as to the truth of the report, although we are by no means doubtful as to the expediency of preparation. We are chiefly surprised at the apathy displayed by our fellowcitizens, notwithstanding the experience of the past eighteen years. The

last Russian wav has become historical, and. thousands in the Colonies have grown up to manhood and womanhood who were infants when the Great Britain, released from quarantine, alarmed all Melbourne witli the sound of her guns of rejoicing. Never was alarm and bewilderment more displayed. Crowds of men, women, and children climbed the gentle slopes, to gather a glimpse of what was passing. The brave laughed : the timid trembled : Volunteers and Cadets mustered. But what was mainly evident was that an immense force—equal to dealing with any enemy that might put in an appearance—was useless, scattered, and unavailable through want of organisation. Now although defence against an outside enemy is clearly a General Government duty, it is equally a Civic one ; and one of the main duties of our Civic authorities is to see that measures are taken for that end. In this respect we fall far short of the manliness and energy of our forefathers : not that we imagine for a moment there is less courage in the present race, or less patriotism, but mainly because from our childhood we have been accustomed to lean upon paid soldiers for defence against an enemy. So free from all danger of invasion have we felt while in England, and so confident have we been in the sufficiency of the nmuigeimnits for public safety, that we cannot bring ourselves to acknowledge the tact that we must depend upon ourselves in case ot attack. We brought this subject before the public on Monday—and, referring to what we then said, a friend of long military experience remarked the matter ought not to rest, for the people appear not to understand their danger. We quite agree with him. The hunted ostrich may hide its head in order not to see its pursuers —but it does not get rid of them by that process ; and there may be those amongst us who may close their eyes to the chances of war, but they are not the less real on that account. We have in our day witnessed that sneerers at precaution, when no danger is present, are usually the meanest cowards when required to face it; and, moreover, one consideration ought ever to be present with us— lf it he km uni we are well prepared, there is always less danger of being attacked. We do not suppose that the old notion of weakening Britain by ravaging her Colonies will be really entertained even in barbaric Muscovy ; but the Russian Government may have an idea that they can profitably employ their lightdraught frigates from the Yellow Boa in laying the rich Australasian Colonies under contribution ; and it must not be disguised that although Melbourne may be richer than Dunedin, it is not a more attractive place to rob, for its large population and resources render attacking it a more formidable under taking. New Zealand has many points to defend : Victoria and New South Wales, notwithstanding their seabord, comparatively few. Were it even possible to spare the Armed Constabulary from the North, there is no means of transporting them with sufficient rapidity to where they might be wanted. We must liave the means of defence at immediate command, and this can only be attained by cordial co-operation on the part of the inhabitants of the City, “ Forewarned is forearmed ” is only true if men accept the warning and act upon it : and as every man is equally interested in the defence of the women, children, and property in Dunedin, history would record ijt an everlasting disgrace if through negligence or apathy their homes were destroyed, themselves helplessly slain, and those wlunn they ought to have protected exposed to inwcry and insult, A little of that exuberant energy displayed in candidate-bullying, might much more profitably be expended in learning how to act shoulder to shoulder in selfdefence.