The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1869.

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

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1869.

A letter has been addressed by the Colonial Secretary to tho Superintendent of Taranaki in which, after expressing deep sympathy for the inhabitants of Taranaki, Mr Stafford goes on to to say: — The Native policy of the Government has been steady and consistent, that policy being in fact to encourage education and industry among the peaceful and loyal, and not to interfere with those natives who desired isolation and remain inaggressive, but to meet all thwir advances frankly and liberally, 10 hold out the hand whenever an opportunity of doing so with propriety occurs; and to meet a sincere return to loyalty ■with prompt generosity, and at the same time to punish as far as possible, outrages such as the late murders. We must confess that this declaration of the ministerial policy is far from finding favor in our eyes, it savors too much of the old, and we had hoped exploded, spirit of leniency which has all along characterised our dealings with the natives, and which is now to be more ■dreaded than a repulse at the hauds of Titokqr Waru. Past experience has taughf us what we are to expect from « "holding out the hand when everjan opportunity of doing so with propjiety occurs." We have been much too f|ud of holding out the hand, and we hja&rd found that without exception the operation has invariably been attended witfr the same results — that whilst the Maiiri will -seize our outstretched hand -wiiii one of his, with the other he will

wield his tomahawk and strikea deadly blow at the friend who is receiving him to his too confiding bosom. It is possible that Mr Stafford raiy have been writing iv an ironical manner, and that in panning the above liu^s he was at the time perfectly aware that the opportunity of making friendly overtures to the Maoris would never occur " with propriety ;" if so, we perfectly agree with him, and we go still further, we say that the Minister who would give credit to the peaceful professions of those of the natives with whom wo have been at war, would be guilty of an act of the grossest impropriety, and would be answerable for all the bloodshed and ruin that would sooner or later most assuredly follow such a display of folly. Again, a "sincere return to loyalty is to be met with prompt generosity." What does this mean ? Are we to understand that Messrs Titoko Wuru and Te Kooti if they profess " a sincere return to loyalty " are to be forgiven all their past misdeeds, and with " prompt generosity " to be placed on the same terms as our allies, who have proved faithful throuohoutthis miserable rebellion. The mania for loving the Maoris as ourselves, is occasionally carried to such an extent, that it is quite wi'hin the bounds of possibility that if Mr. Stafford be allowed to carry his policy iuto effect, the House of Representatives may one of these days receive an important addition to its numbers iv the persons of the two cannibals to whom we have referred, aud it will form an interesting item in Hansard where these amiable creatures relate to their honorable friends the particulars of the tragedy at Poverty Bay, and the slaughter of our troops at Te Ruaruru. But we canuot believe, after all the lessons we have received on the folly of trusting to peaceful professions from the natives, that for the future, any confidence will be placed in them, and we are sure that the country will allow no more patched up peace, simply for the purpose of affording our euemies time to recruit their strength and increase their supplies of ammunition. The views of the colonists of New Zealand are, we believe, similar to those expressed by General Sherman in a communication to General Sheridan, on 14th October last. It appears that in Kansas U.S the Red Indians have been harrying the settlers, and murdering the women and children, I and General Sherman thus writes — "I will say or do nothing to restrain our troops from doing what they deem proper on the spot, and will allow no va<rue charges of cruelty or inhumanity to tie their hands, but will use all the powers confided in me to the end that the Indians — the enemies of our race — sbali never be able to make war again." The couclnding sentence of General Sherman's letter we recommend to Mr Stafford's especial notice as an excellent model on which to frame a despatch to Col. Whitmore or Major Mair: — You may go ahead in your own way, and I will back you with my whole authority, and stand between you and any efforts that may be attempted in your rear to restrain your purpose or check your troops. I believe that all the departments of our Government, civil and military, are now united in this conclusion, and I have no fears but that Congress and the people will always sustain us, provided we meet with reasonable success.