THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1880. NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2068, 9 October 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1880. NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Thk Native policy of the Government has reached a new stage, and no one can complain that there is any want of originality and boldness in the Government schemes as they from time to time are developed. When we look back on the inefficient blundering of the Grey Government, on the way in which they allowed themselves to bo pushed now here, now there, by events which seized on the opportunity of a Cabinet that was afraid to act, to take a direction entirely unfavorable to the European population, we shall learn to appreciate by comparison the firm policy of the present Native Minister. The Opposition, indeed, when they do ,not entirely concur in what is being done, are reduced to the single cry that

the said policy is one of surprises, and that the Government are sailing too near the wind, for that the slightest contretemps may bring about a war of races. But in point of fact the current of events does not justify any such apprehension. Who can affirm that the country now is one iota nearer a Native outbreak than it, was at the time when the Ministry took office ? The, contrary is the fact. In the Maori mind prestige is everything, and the law has vindicated itself of late in a manner that has not failed to leave its mark. But it is justice tempered with mercy that has been meted out. A firm and generous policy has been pursued, and the Maoris have been shown that, as long as they respect the laws under which they are living, they may expect, to be treated not as enemies in any sense, but as friends. The release of the twea'y-five political ploughmen is avowedly an experiment, but tile idea is none the less sound for all that. Whore the basis of calculation is the mind of such a man as Te Whiti, it has been felt to bo altogether impossible to predicate what the effect of any given course of action may be. A line must bo planned at once free from rashness, and from a nervous dread of irritating the Native mind. The olive branch must be held out, and the responsibility of accepting it or not must be left to Te Whiti and his following. The whole course of Government, action will show to tho prophet that with him, and him alone, lies tho future of the Taranaki Natives. Tho West Coast Settlement Act will have illustrated the firmness of the Government, the release of tho prisoners their wish to temper justice with mercy. The unwavering faith of tho lately released prisoner in Te Whiti is one of the most curious of the features in the present position. How they can reconcile tho present situation with what they must have been led to expect is one of those problems that only those most versed in the intricacies of their present superstition can solve. One of the supreme difficulties to be encountered is that fooling which sways tho actions of one party while it is not even understood by the other. But although, throughout all history, sound argument has invariably been thrown away on fanatics, none the less is it incumbent on the other party to act on lines of reasoning which must commend themselves to a civilised nation.