Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 260, 25 November 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zctxlandcr. Sir, — Perhaps " Memnon" would be kind enough tr> answer the following queries, suggested by a peruial o( a great deal of unintelligible matter in his letter in your journal of Saturday last. ,„ What induces him to think (< that the moral barbarities of the 19th century seem to have wrung as many and as bitter tpars from the eyes of mankind ai thoie [query, tean ?] more boldly heralded in the «anguinary lrgrnds of feudal ascendency." Ii it the abuse, of Captain Holhou by a colonial newspaper, and that, gentleman'? death by paralysis ; if so, does lie think the premises warrant such a q aye and sweeping conclusion ? How can censures be " comparatively just?"' The very definition of justice negatives iti qualification, anil, if just, how can censuves become unjust by mere; repetition ? They may become ineffective, but the ir justice still inheres. Why is the Government of NeViS a " humiliating appointment to a moat equivocal position" — its salary, I rank, -and dv ies, are all superior to those of a Lieutenant in the navy, or a Colonial Secretary of New Zealand. I could not have thought that representing I Her Majest* anywhere wa» humiliating, or moit equi- ! vocal. I think that " Memnon'' must be the exclusiveholder of such an opinion, for both Mr. Rhortland's fii°nds and lots v.nc quite surprised at his having received inch u maik of her Majesty's favour and confidence, and he could not have anticipated it in the slightest decree. "What was the <l biting chn^i in" that the editor of the Southern Cros» was called on to digest; and if the editor had to digest it, is it not more piobable that ho must have bitten the chagriu thun that the chagrin should bite him ? What does "Memnon" mean by " dictatorship of his predecessors," when, some few sentences before, he says that the antipathies of a "clique" had frustrated the emb of the administration, and it became linpniso sant. — Are dictators generally impuissant ? What does " onmiftc words" applied to " no quarter signify ? How does nn intractable enemy become subsidized' and how does that piocess, combined with '• lifting him up to a social eminence, higher possibly than that to which his most sanguine anticipations had ever aspired, standing by itself alone as a strategic expedient, travel bovond the misconceived hauteur of a previously retnliative opposition." Where werejthese 4 travellers pomg r and what distance did the " misconceived hauteur," &c, go— what conveyance did each use ? If the f< enemy 1 ' was " subsidized," why is it difficult to conceive by what talismanic spell his political bias was diverted from its primitive course?'* Is it a proof of neglect of duty, and of " a fickle guardian of the public weal," not to resign your seat in Council, although your recommendations are not ■ adopted ? I, in my ignorance, supposed just the contrary, and tint desertion of post under such circum* Btances»would have been a far more satisfactory proof. Perhaps " Memnon" would also he kind enough to throw a little of his superior enlightenment on this part of the subject, for the charge against the editor of the Southern Cross seems to be a little confuied. He 19 praised for protesting, then told that he should not have protested more than twice, notwithstanding all the misrule and impolicy, which it tikes " Memnon" six* teen lines to desci ihe, and which it was the "Member's" sworn duty to check, as best he cou'd— still, in spite of the duty which the "Member 1 ' owtd both to the 1 cflotiy and to hinnelf, he ought, according to "Memnon," to have resigned after Ins " second protest"— then, after having been blamed for excessive protests, when there seemed so much need for them, he is suddenly and simultaneously accused of honeying over the gioss errors of an infatuated ruler, " until the very deformity of his political conceptions became pleasing shidows in the eyes of his readers." Having asked so many questions of " Memnon," I will now answer one of his. He asks of what importance is it that the public should know his name. I w.U tell him, none — as far as concerns the public, but much as concerns himself; for, l<*t him take my word, whoever he be, thut anonymous accusations, gravely affecting personal character, are discreditable, and, I believe, unusual. It is un* English, ungentlemanly, and — if" Memnon" belong to neither of these classei — I will say, it is unmanly, to hold up any one specifically to public reproach, as guilty of hunting a Governor to the grave, of gross coiruption, anil of dishonest motives, while oneself takes erne to he concealed in ambush. Moral stabbing in the dark is at best a moan advantage— not that " Memnon's" dagger is dangerous, for it is a very wooden lath ; but the innocuousness of the act does not exculpate the error of tha attempt. "Memnon," perhaps, will say that my signature involves me ia a similar offence, but he mutt remember that I am not attacking a known individual, as he unmistakeably did, and what is of far more importance, I am imputing no crime of motive, but merely gross u'line^B and error of judgment. I would charitably allow the best of motives to a political opponent, and therefore' I do not lay that " Memnon" is actuated by 3pite, or by vanity ; all I wish to show is that, by writing trash, he ii conferring no benefit on the community, and by anonymous slander ho ia compromising his own respecta* bility. It is too bad to claim a column of valuable space for literary rant, which would be hissed in a barn tragedy, for a chaotic multitude of quadrasyllabio words, resonant on the ear, but inaudible to the reason— projicil ampullas et sesquipedalia veiba— for imitation daubs of Junius,that endeavour, frog- like, to swell themselves into the oxen dimensions, of their prototype. I reprobate the political course of the Southern Cross as heartily as any one lam no friend, not even a personal acquaintance of iti editor. I think both, are fast rushing into political bankruptcy — losing rapidly that little influence which they once might have had, and I think it it far best to leave then unheeded on their suicidal coune, and I feel sure that they will not be written down by " Memnon"— although I must own, it is quite correct, at he naivety reminds us, that the " regeneration of Rome" wa» effected by " the idiot slave of Tarquin' —and, to ba generoui, I will give him another instance, which perhaps, ha might have appropriately quoted, viz., tha capitol of Rome being saved by the cackling of geese. By all means l«t « Memnon" go to " Pbillippi," and meet the editor of the Southern Croat thtre, and fight it out ; but, for pity's lake, let him not drag there, u an audience, the innocent public of AuckUnd, who ara much less alarmed at tbe dangerous reiults of the Southern Cross, than at the threatened infliction of aa infinite series of inane lucubrations. I am, Sir, . Your most obedient »errant, Anti-Memnon.