GOVERNOR EYRE AND THE JAMAICA BUSINESS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 448, 21 January 1867, Page 3

GOVERNOR EYRE AND THE JAMAICA BUSINESS.

(From the Taranaki News, 3rd January,) Xf we search the annals of history for the last five hundred years, wa could not find a story more pregnant with truth and evidence than of Governor Eyre of Jamaica. That unfortunate gentleman is as much a living instance of the (shall we say it) injustice of Englishmen at home, as he is a brilliant specimen of wisdom promptitude and courage. Sitting by one’s peaceful fireside, it is, no doubt, a comfortable thing to abuse men in high command; but it is worthy of being remembered that even great men are only men—that they have feellings to be lacerated and lives to yield up, the same as all other vulgar humanity. Governor Eyre is at present one of those sacrifices that an unhealthy state of society demands. A fanatical section of our countrymen has decided that this ill-fated gentle, man shall be immolated; and behold, it is done; moro than done indeed; for, not content'with ruining the unhappy gentleman’s prospects in life, their religious enmity still pursues him further and endeavors to distort the action of a truly humane manner and far-seeing mind into idiotic and brutal cruelty. The history of Governor Eyre of Jamaica, possesses deep interest for us; for, although thousands of miles removed from each other, we are also contesting the soil with the black man. Disciples of Exeter Hall and other sentimentalists, may rave about the children of the forest, but we (who have learnt by bitter experience) know the reality, and are aware that “ uusophisticated natives ” mean men and women who will gouge your eyes out aud eat them, rip out your heart and use it the same, when the opportunity offers. Giving the New Zealand natives credit for their full share of barbarity, we are fully alive to the fact that that barbarity is not confined to them. St Domingo has recorded evidence for us, and if it had not been for Mr Eyre’s swift and determined aetioe, the probability is that every white man, woman, and child in the Island would have been murdered. Regarding it from this experienced point of view, Governor Eyre’s careerjis to us marked with great discretion, and we cannot refrain from deploring the persecution of a gentleman whose only fault has been his ceaseless anxiety for the preservation of the lives and property of of bis country people. For this Mr Eyre has incurred the displeasure of the Colonial Office and Exeter Hall, but we, who know the unconquerable characteristics of the savage races, estimate Governor Eyre’s conduct by a more true standard.

Had Governor Grey been animated by sentiments similar to Mr Eyre, and had he acted with equal courage and promptitude in suppressing the first evidence c.' rebellion here, many lives of great value would have been preserved and very considerable wealth to the country saved. Although a prejudiced portion of the community at home is displaying deep hostility to Governor Eyre, British colonists, “ who have savage aborigines to deal with,” will fully appreciate his far-seeing sagacity in acting as be has done, and it only remains for us to hope that the true English spirit will ultimately assert itself, andd that Governor Eyre shall have at all events, fair play.