WILLIAM THOMPSON’S PEACE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 276, 9 June 1865, Page 3

WILLIAM THOMPSON’S PEACE.

(From the Southern Cross. 27ih May.) ' " There appears to be some little danger that in discussing the whole grammatical question of Thompson’s “ covenant” and its strict interpretation we should lose.sight to some extent at .least of the more practically important point of its immediate bearing upon our position. All the views held upon this subject seem now to be practically narrowed down tp this that Thompson’s “ covenant” was a very peculiar affair, if it was to be regarded as a grand finale to the war, and that Mr, Graham’s efforts had resulted pretty much as might have been expected, in a very remarkable mess. The various views as to mo and ma seem gradually to approximate, as people get more reliable information, and no doubt the crowning farce of all will begin to dawn upon all minds when the new word, “Ingiki,” comes under consideration, and all will see how much the “ covenant” really meant. Wa say how much, because it would be a superficial view which should merely ask how little such a thing signified. It is true that look at it from whatever point of view you please, you can make little or nothing of such an expression as “ Ingiki.” Positively it has no meaning ; negatively, however, it has a considerable amount of significance. In a word, it means non-committal of the parson using it and of his people, to anything they do not see fit hereafter to be committed to. Under these circumstances, the minor question, as to mo and ma and all other grammatical distinctions, is of no consequence whatever. The one plain fact is that Thompson says ho has made peace, and has ratified it for himself and his people by signing a document which means, look at it from whatever side you may, simply—nothing. Yet wo do not look upon the thing as at all unimportant on that account. Wo do not even say that Mr. George Graham's blundering and stupid, though, no doubt, wellmeant efforts at diplomacy, have been utterly fruitless. On the contrary, we say that Thompson’s now, like alt his old attitudes, is important; and that we consider the flounderings of the hon. member for Newton to have landed him upon a spot worth reaching, if wo could but , see and understand it. The first quest ion to be considered evidently is, what was the war undertaken for which Thopson professes now to have ended, so far as his people are concerned in it ? It as it begun for the purpose of seizing the land of Waikato, as the Canterbury Press, and other ignorant or malicious maligners of the colonists are not slow to say it was ? If so, then Thompson’s consenting to sign a meaningless paper, which however, is a seal of-peace, is quite satisfactory so far as he is concerned. All that would, in that case, be wanting would be that ail other natives interested in the confiscated territory should do likewise, and our object would bo gained—our plunder, so far, secured. This, however, is not the colonists’ but the anti-colonists’ view of tho war. It is a view which, with very good reason the colonist has raised his voice against, again and again, in unwearied protest. We expect indeed, to hear the Press sing a song of joy on the subject, as being a great triumph. We expect to hear that all is given by Thompson wo can, possibly ask or wish for, and when wc do see this, we shall only bo the more convinced, if that is now possible, of the inherent selfishness cf the views of the Preis, so very mugniloquently put forward st all times as something grand and generous. The Press will be satisfied with this submission, and in so doing will show clearly the utter inadequacy of the idea- it has formed of the objects of tho war, and the spirit which has made Auckland people sacrifice and endure so much to support it. If Auckland men, however, he asked what has caused the war, their answer will be a very different one we venture to say. They will reply that it was lawlessness and contempt of all authority which reigned amongst the Maoris themselves, aud was rapidly extending to their dealings with us. They will say that it was the determination of the natives to set up the law cf force as the rule of their conduct towards tha European, as well as towards eacii other, which was already finding vent in acts of violence and oppression, and was threatening to culminate in conspiracy and massacre. They will say finally, that it was because there seemed no hope of any change for the better arising from within, but every prospect of its becoming daily worse and worse, and not only threatening but destroying tho Hvcs and property of European settlers, that they gladly took up arms in the hope of, in the course of time (for those who knew tho circumstances were never sanguine of a yery rapid success) imposing a law which should have power to curb this internal lawlessness by a force that ■should manifest its ability to crush all attempts at violent resistance to its influence. This, we feel sure, is a true exposition of our own views of the war, and its origin, as it is held by the people of this province who, whatever may be said by our Southern fellow-colonists, have been borne the burden and heat of tho struggle ; have lost in comparison with them their all; and,unlike them, have not grudged it while they hoped, .to see really beneficial results. And we would place it before our readers and the colony at large to judge whether this view' does or does not render more intelligible the attitude now assumed by Thompson ; and whether at all events it does not afford a very excellent reason for our going further .into the subject, and trying to see where we really stand in the matter. As any attempt to go into this question in-the exhaustive manner in which alone it can be justly treated would cause our article greatly, to extend its usual, limits, .we must reserve its further consideration for Monday, only in the meantime commending it to our readers, notice as a matter worthy of demanding the most serious consideration of all as to where the present aspect of affairs really tends. '