THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1868.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 346, 2 April 1868, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1868.

Tiie peace of the Westland community lias been disturbed in a manner that few persons could have anticipated a few weeks ago. It is no exaggeration to say that at Hokitika a state of affairs exists which closely resembles a state of siege. The public mind is excited day by day to an extent that can hardly be credited by those who have not been a t.ial witnesses. And tlie worst of it is that — as on all occasions of popular excitement — there is great danger that the passions of the time will supersede souud judgment. We are well aware that this is not a time for tlie concealment of opinions. A crisis has arrived when every man in his private capacity, and especially those who assume to interpret the views of others, should aud must speak out. We do not intend to shirk tlie responsibility, nor to evade the risk of giving utterance to opinions which may possibly be opposed to those extreme views which arc influenciu" 1 popular feeling at this moment. What is the real position of affairs just now ? A number of persons, whose sympathies are with the last movement which has been established for obtaining the inde. pendence of Ireland, took upon themsslves to signify their sentiments, but in doing so committed a breach of the law of the land — possibly with a vague idea that what they were doing was right and proper. There can be no doubt that it was neither one nor the other ; because in a country like this, where every man, be his nationality, religion, or political opinions what they may, is placed on a footing of equality with his fellows; where the laws are administered with impartial justice, and where no class can possibly find a pivot on which to rest a grievance ; any act which is calculated to disturb these relations is criminal and wrong. We can quite understand tlio. feelings of nationality — of intense national sympathy — which are to be found more or less in the breast of every Irishman. And we can understand and sympathise with any legitimate efforts to redress any grievances which may exist in the government of any country. But we cannot understand, still less can we approve of, the meana which have been adopted here of

giving effect to extreme opinions. Nothing that any jieraqn or body of persons can flo in Ne\y Zealand can possibly affect tlie course of events in a a sphere removed in every respect from our pwn. Ppmp.nstrations may be made, opinions may be uttered, and acts committed hone which, £»o far as any real effrct they can produce else, where are coneprned, are useless and impotent. But not only are they useless in that re. 1 pect, but they are highly productive qf present evil. The only result they can effect, and have effected, is to set in motion a spirit of partisanship, and extravagant party feeling, which, benefiting npbody, does harm to all. The receuj; demonstration in connection with the precfciqn pf the Celtic Cross at Hokitika was in every way a mistake. It was a. mistake because it could have no possible influence on the course of events at Home ; and it was doubly a mistake because it >vas the means of creating a political disturbance where anything' bf the kind ought not, and has no right to exist. The authorities- hare not the less been to blame. They should have at once aud at all risks insisted on the law being observed, and have taken steps for ensuring that observance. They did not do so ; they allowed the law tp be broken, and, like all weak and vacillating Governments, first permitted the law .tp be brought into contempt, and afterwards were compelled £q adopt extraqrdinary means to make it respected. T^ie result has been what we now see — a reign of terror. Men's minds are unsettled, class antipathies and party feelings have been aroused, and the whole machinery of society put out of order. We do not intend to enter upon any discussion regarding what is termed Fenianism — a term, by the way, which is now popularly becoming synonymous with everything that is disorderly and detestable, because it can ao no good. Some one says that Fenianism means one thing, and some one else says it is something entirely different. The position we wish to take is this : Be Fenianism the most highly patriotic and purest sentiment of an Irishman, that feeling has no right to be allowed to interfere with the peace of this community. It has interfered with it. A great deal of nonsense lias been uttered and printed ; men's senses have been carried away byini pulse until passionate heartburns have heen created, personal antagonism been aroused, and national prejudices excited, which will take a long time to allay. In endeavoring to restore the lost equilibrium, let not reason be put on one side. Let the majesty of the law make itself felt in a dignified and emotionless manner, and in time we may hope for social quietude. But nothing could be more uufortunate than for the governing powers to be led or swayed by popular excitement. Extremes sometimes meet.