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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 66, 18 March 1871, Page 2

The Neutrality of the Colonies?-— Mr. Michie, of Melbourne, who Las recently been writing on this subject, says : — " When I ask myself will colouial enthusiasm, iv f.avor of the mother counlry, last under all possible experiences of war as of peace, I call to miud the no less inspiring language of the giant to the dwarf in the fable, when that enterprising vand courageous pair sallied forth on their warlike partnership. At tha outset, the dwarf, covetous of., fame, led whereever\dapger promised glory. But when the dwarf, as affairs proceeded, found that he was minus a leg in one action and ani arm ie another, while the giant seemed to monopolise the glory, no compliments the dwarf received from his big partner seemed to him to be reasonable-compensa-tion for the amputation he had suffered. Instructed by experience, he retjred from a connection, honorable but disastrous, and productive of a . repentant tyate. of mind he never thought wo\jld be his on entering the business. Even such, I do uot hesitate to say, would be the mood of mind of colouists in general if hereafter they should suffer heavy and substantial losses in war by reason of the British connection. Sincere enough as a sentiment doubtless is the so commonly expressed attachment of colonists for the old country, but the strength or endurance of the feeling has never yet been tested by our being called upon to suffer ruin on its behalf. Probably not all the logicians from Aristotle to John Stuart Mill could evev.so effectually work less romantic ancLjwore practical views on this subject into the colonial mind as would a few score or so of 3001 b shots dropped through the roofs of warehouses, newspaper offices, and banks."