LOYALTY AT HAWKE’S BAY.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 115, 2 May 1868, Page 5

LOYALTY AT HAWKE’S BAY.

Captain Curling, a Resident Magistrate for Hawke’s Bay, and a member of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, appears to have some curious notions of what is due to the Crown. Recently at a public meeting for passing an address of condolence to Prince Alfred he is reported in the Hawke's Bay Times to have said:— He did not feel the utter repulsion from Eenianism which had been expressed by some of the speakers, and did not connect this outrage at all with Eenianism. All great causes had been disgraced by ruffians, and he hoped that if there were any Eenians present they would shake this disgrace from their name as they would shake off a filthy and venomous reptile. Mr. J. N. Wilson thought some explanation was required. He hoped the speaker did not consider Eenianism a great principle. Captain Curling resumed : All the Eenians seemed to him to be a class of men who had certain objects in view and gave utterance to certain principles, such as “ a Republic for Ireland,” and “ Ireland for the Irish.” Worse things than this were taking place in France at present, in the Republic of Germany, and in Prussia. All he wanted to do was to exculpate any body of Irish from participation in this odious deed. He should like to see our detestation expressed in stronger language in the address at present before the meeting. It would be a historical document, and. should therefore fully express our feelings on the subject, and should be a credit to the inhabitants of Hawke’s Bay.

Mr. J. H. Wilson said that he had come With no intention of speaking; but it had been asked what Fenianism was. To this he had a very ready answer: it was treason. He did not believe it was a great cause ; he had never seen anything great about it, for all its actions had been dictated by treachery and cowardice. Ho Englishman could have a particle of sympathy with a cause which countenanced assassination ; they would far sooner contend with open rebellion. It had been said that their object was to establish a republic. He hoped no republicans lived under the British crown, and that no one at that meeting would have the audacity to talk of a republic at all. His Honor Mr C. I). R. Ward said that as they had that evening heard one judicial authority almost offer an apology for Romanism he thought it was only his duty to express his heart-felt abhorence of the crime which had been committed, and his love and veneration for our widowed Queen, whom we until now had thought to be protected by her virtues ; every line of whose history was interwoven-with the history of England. How, however, the life of a Prince has been attempted, in his sacred character as the royal guest of Australia and the son of a widowed mother, — this evil deed has been committed, and as surely as night followed the day would woe follow the perpetrators. It was useless to deny that the Eenians were concerned in this —the would-be assassin had confessed that they were, and that he drew lots with twenty others to decide by whose hand the black deed was to be committed. Say, who were these Fenians, men who abused the sacred names of liberty and patriotism : —what were they but the rank scum of the seething cauldron of American war, foreign mercenaries, who were first in the plunder of a Southern city, and last in its assault; last in an onset, and first in retreat. When peace was restored, these men found their occupation gone; and then originated Fenianism —a vast swindling scheme, trading in the name of patriotism—the last refuge of scoundrels in America. That great country had no love for assassins; it had -suffered from them too greatly and too recently itself; and the Fenians, relying as they did on the protection of her flag, never struck a worse blow for themselves than this. The feeling of the American people to the English' was a friendship almost like British loyalty and'they wonld' nwmor# attempt to' keep' W

Fenian murderer from English justice thari England would have shielded the assassin of President Lincoln; To>show ho# little popularity this precious movement had id Ireland he need only mention that at the only outbreak in that country two hundred police scoured the whole district. He would venture to say that there were no men in that room who had no ties of friendship or connexion with Ireland—-few more than himself. Englishmen and Irishmen, lay side by side on a hundred fields of battle, and he believed that among the gallant Eoyal Irish in Napier there was not one Fenian—that if they took the whole detachment, from the Colonel to the lowest private, they Would not find such a renegade to religion—such a traitor to his. Queen. England had not shed the blood of any mere political offender, and she heeded these contemptible traitors as the lion heeds the vermin which shelter in his mane; We might watch a scorpion crawl past with a lazy indifference, but should it attempt to sting he would be crushed at once. He trusted that henceforth this pest would be dealt with in stern j udgraent; there was d time when mercy to the criminal became cruelty to the country. When men rose face to face with their country in open rebellion, there was something to be said for their manliness; but when dastards resort, to the secret knife and bullet, the day of mercy is past, and the day of vengeance has come. He rejoiced to see such at crowded meeting and such universal feeling on this subject, and thought that whatever province in New Zealand might be first in loyalty, Hawke’s Bay could gallantly hold its own. (Cheers.) ..J The address was then put to the meeting and carried without dissent;