THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1677, 5 July 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1879.

The determined attitude of the country at large on the Native question is commencing to have its natural effect on the Native mind. That mind had been unduly puffed up by the absurd vagaries of tho Premier and tho Native Minister. The Premier, with the view of exhibiting himself to the world at large as the “ Great Maori Medicine Man,” had shot ludicrously wide of his mark. Before any man proclaims to a listening country that ho is on tho eve of performing some great feat, he should be quite sure of two things. First that the feat is worth performing, and secondly, that ho is capable of performing it. Supposing, for instance, Sir George had boon an acrobat in a physical instead of in a political sense, and he had entered the circus arena attired, say, as a courier of St. Petersburg. Suppose, further, that the Master of tho ring had informed tho company that the world-celebrated courier was about to perform the miraculous feat of taming a wild horse newly captured on the prairies, and riding on him barebacked. If a peculiarly meek quadruped, with a white Roman nose and without a symptom of vice, were introduced as the said wild horse, the laugh would bo decidedly against the acrobat; hut if, further, the acrobat proved totally incapable of riding even the Roman-nosed animal, the audience would certainly come to tho conclusion that ho was an unmitigated humbug. Sir George Grey when ho entered office declared loudly that he, and he alone, could manage the Native question. This was tho wild horse that the man in spangles was going either to tamo or to dio in tho effort of taming. The quadruped, in tho form ef a well-disposed white-nosed creature, was brought into tho arena, tho man in spangles mounted him, struck a limp attitude, and was immediately pitched heavily into tho sawdust. Now what does tho man in spangles do ? Ho does not retire from the scone, as ho should do, but, in foar and trembling, he coaxes, grooms, and overfeeds this Roman-nosed quaruped until, after much labour, he succeeds in turning it into an unruly beast that requires a vary strong hand indeed if it is to he at all kept within hounds. Sir George Grey, by his imbecility, succeeded in turning the Maori, who before his accession to office was a well-disposed individual, into a dissatisfied man with a vague longing after what he has no chance of obtaining, an •verweoning idea of his own importance and a contempt for the Government he had succeeded in worsting. Such was the position until within the last few weeks —we might almost say, days. But mark what follows. Tho Government, terrified at the spectre it has itself evoked, is paralyzed, and adopts a “ policy of rest.” Like a snail at the approach of danger it shrinks within its shell. Sir Goorgo telegraphs to tho sufferers from Maori outrage advising patience, informing thorn that a Commission will ho sent to inquire into their grievances, and tolling them that a very similar occurrence to tho Maori ploughing happened in Kent when ho was a child, which county, it is to be presumed, was at that time partially peopled by fanatical savages. But the country at large was determined not to stand such utter nonsense. A “ roi faineant ” is had enough, hut a “ roi faineant ” who twaddles feeble advice is worse still. The country pushed tho feeble Government oh one side and took action on its own behalf. And what has been tho consequence ? Tho Maori has found that Sir Goorgo Grey does not represent tho country, and that the Pakeha is not tho feeble vacillating individual that his chief is. Tho effect of this sudden discovery is, as far as can ho seen at present, peculiar. With regard to tho fanatical portion of the discontents under To Whiti, it has yet to he seen whether they will he amenable to reason. When the factor of fanaticism has to ho taken into consideration, the host calculations may fail. But with respect to the hotter class of discon-

tents, the followers of Tawliiao, the matter is different. A telegram, to ho found in another column, will show their views on the present situation. They are cowed by the attitude of the country. “ Where have wo guns or powder to resist the pakehas if they attack us,” they say. They recognise the fact that a divided minority of 40,000 can have no possible chance against a united majority of 400,000. “We can only ho quiet,” they declare, “ and lot them kill us without resistance.” What a satire is this attitude on the imbecility of the Government ! Those are the men before whom the Government have bowed down! Into the company of these men when assembled at Te Kopua, our chosen chief sneaked uninvited, passing before files of half-armed guards uniformed like Christy Minstrels! The country puts down its foot and the barbaric bombast vanishes into thin air. But the incapacity of the Government leaves its mark, as all incapacity ever must. We have yet to reckon with the fanaticism of Te Whiti’s followers, and, even if no evil results follow from this source, we have yet to pay the heavy account incurred through the arming of the population, the forwarding of the Armed Constabulary and munitions of war to the front, and the other necessary expenses connected with the necessity of being prepared for the worst. Besides all this, the disturbance of trade and the injury to our credit must be taken into consideration, and last, but possibly not least, the ridicule, which will inevitably be heaped on the heads of Sir George and his Government, will be reflected, in the eyes of those not thoroughly acquainted with our affairs, on the country at large. The position of the Government is not an enviable one. They are on the horns of a dilemma, from which they cannot possibly extricate themselves with dignity or honour. It is the duty of the country to call them heavily to account.