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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 82, 9 April 1869, Page 2

A late issue of the New York Tribune makes some remarks on the iriend-of-the-savage policy, which are equally applicable in New Zealand: — " The trouble with Peace Societies lias been that they are too good for this world. We cannot say that the memorial on behalf of the Indians, sent up to Congress by the Universal Peace Union, sbows'it to be any exception to the rule. A very humane and generous, but likewise a very unworldly, spirit pervades it. Nobody can read it without acknowledging the justice of its s'rictures upon our dealings with the Indians, or smiling at the innocence, of its practical suggestions. ' What a diabolical inhumanity and wanton indiscretion/ it exclaims, — ' destroying the winter supplies of the Apaches, at the verytime when they are most needed ! Instead of erecting fortifications in their very faces, we should relieve their pressing necessities, furnish them seeds, agricultural implements, tools, and teachers ! ' Could anything be sentimentally more humane, and practically more foolish ? Imagine a member of this most excellent and benevolent Peace Union remonstrating with our army officers about the cruelty of destroyingthe supplies of the enemy ! Conceive Sheridan's rough riders stopped in the midst of a charge on a party of painted Apache or Kiowa braves, while some peaceful sergeant rides forward to ask the savages if they wouldn't rather have some seeds, tools, and teachers, instead of the impending carbine, balls, and sabre cuts ? The excellent members of the Peace Union do not need to be assured of our entire sympathy with their general views on the Indian question, as well as with the humane purpose that prompts their present effort. But we must assure them. that their error is a grave one of being right at the wrong time. We cannot stop in the midst of a fierce fight with savages to talk farming at them — much as the subject of farming concerns them. We are into a war, and must either fight our way through or submit to a humiliation in their eyes which will render subsequent efforts to control them by peaceful means futile Having undertaken the taming of our horse Cruiser, we must first conquer him, or he will conquer us. Kininess is excellent, but even on the Karey plan the objects of the kindness must first be taught that it is backed by irresistible power. Suffrage for the Indians, railroad building, constitution amending, may come in time ; the work now in hand is to enforce peace with a vigorously used army." A tragical occurrence has just taken place at Beslon Marc-he. M. Lepelletier, mayor of that place, had died from an attack of apoplexy while returning from the funeral of M Haviu. He was still lying unburied when a dispute on some question arose between his son and his daughter's husband. The former at length lost all control over his temper, and on his mother intervening and reproaching him for his unseemly behaviour, he discharged the contents of a gun into her side, wounding her dangerously. He then went into a field and blew out his own brains. The Geelong Register says:— "A young man, whose name is not known, met his death in a frightful manner at the Blue Mountains. His clothes were caught in the machinery of a thrashing machine which he was attending, and his body was literally torn to pieces." The Dunedin Water Works Company have declared a dividend of eight per cent. — Weekly News. Incipient bookmaker: " Now then, what are you going to lay on the next race, old cock ?" Ancient party (with mild dignity) : — " My lad, are you not aware that 'old cocks' never lay?" Ex-Queen Isabella is credited with a design to start a paper in Paris in. her own interest. A lively editor declares this sufficient evidence of her insanity. The best "vest for the season : The harvest. Of Course : Why is this a round world? Because* its whirled round, stupid!