The Evening Star SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2969, 24 August 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1872.

The further the stoim raised by the Stafford party progresses, the less reason has the country to be satisfied with the prospects that open upon us, should the motion be carried. The subject is wearisome enough; but it is necessary to face it, because just now we have the task remitted to us of sending a fresh member to the House of Representatives, and it depends upon the votes of the electors of Caversbam whether they will give their support to a Ministry of stagnation or one of progression. It would be well therefore for every one, and especially those who have to vote next week, carefully to consider the class of men who arc now endeavouring to expel a Ministry, who, notwithstanding their blunders, have done more for New Zealand than has ever been done before. Former executives were almost entirely absorbed in one subject—the subjugation of the Natives. In the prosecution of this, they had but one idea, and that was badly carried out. To conquer by arms was the leading thought. It never seems to have entered into their minds that there was a higher obligation, and that although, in governing savage tribes, it is necessary to assert superiority of physical power, to rest in the triumph of brute force is to degrade both the conqueror and the conquered. Yet this was the course pursued by the Ministries that preceded that of Mr Fox. It is necessary to recall these things to mind, because there is an evident tendency to forget them when a popular cry is raised about mal-ad-ministration, expense, and so on. It is necessary to remember them, because men in power are liable to be blamed for faults not their own. Take, for instance, the remarks made on the amount of interest payable on loans. The Fox government have actually had it thrown in their teeth that they, in providing in the easiest manner for the country for payment of interest on money wasted by their predecessors, are guilty of doing that which will lead to insolvency. We often think the man who aspires to public honors must imagine the electors of constituencies are cliildren to be hoodwinked by such flimsy and unjust accusations. It is true that the Native wars have cost much ; but had the Stafford party remained in power, the expense would in all probability have been accumulating now. We have a right to assume this, for the preparations for a continuation of the war policy were on an enormous scale ; and a portion of that debt, for which even this year provision has had to be made, was in reality incurred then. Nor had this policy the redeeming feature of leading up to a happier state of affairs. The peace that was contemplated as the end to be obtained was not one of willing submission to

law, leading to Maori industry and prosperity. It was one of destruction or sullen endurance of a hated yoke. There was no amnesty in prospect cementing the friendship and unity of the two races-no idea of raising the savage to the dignity of an intellectual and moral citizen by education and inducing a love of peaceful industry. Instead of raising up a race of producers as the present Executive are doing by the measures they have adopted,"there would in all probability have been tracts of country without inhabitants. The Maoris now are rapidly becoming a tax-paying people, and in a few years, should no renovation of the past system take place, they will contribute largely towards paying the cost of the wars in which their race engaged with the Colonists. But this is °not all. However thoughtless or prejudiced men may condemn the acts of the present Executive, every candid thinker will acknowledge that to their wise Native policy is owing the capability of giving attention to those large public works which are now in progress. Men whose intellects have slept like those of Mr Cutten, may condemn those works, and fancy they will burden the country with additional taxation. He ought to know better. If he were to look over the careful estimates of traffic made by competent men, lie would sec that every line of railway is likely, almost immediately on portions being opened, to pay more than the interest of the money expended in construction of that portion. Confirmation of their paying prospects is given by the willingness of Mr Brogden to form a company to construct all the railways in New Zealand—a proposition, however, which must not be too hastily adopted, with Indian experience to guide us. It must be remembered then, in considering this Ministerial crisis, that the proposition is to hand to Mr Stafford, who proved himself an unwise ruler, the power to mar the work of men who have had to correct his errors and to mark out for themselves an untried plan, ■which is equally benevolent in its conception as it has been bold in execution. The danger of such a course is manifest. Mr MTjEAN will not work with him : nor can this be said to arise from personal antagonism, but from the experience that that able Minister has had of the manner in which the course that has proved so successful was thwarted by Mr Stafford when in office. The folly of seating Mr Stafford is manifest —for even the burnt child fears the fire ] and our experience of his party should lead to hesitation in trusting them again. The ingratitude of such a course should be manifest ) but we suppose such a thing as political gratitude is out of the question. But though gratitude is too romantic a sentiment to influence a country, there may be such a thing as policy ; and as a matter of policy, it is worth while to reflect that to return Mr Stafford’s faction to power might go far to damage our national credit.