TWO MODES OF CIVILISING THE SAVAGE.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 443, 12 July 1879, Page 3

TWO MODES OF CIVILISING THE SAVAGE.

An American writes a long letter to the Neio Zealand Herald, chiefly devoted to a comparison of the Maoris with Indians, and the' Pakeha-Maoris with what are known in the States as “ Sqnaw men.” He says—“ I think New Zealand should look to America for a precedent of behaviour towards a dying out race. The Government should take all •of the MaorLlarids over into their possession in trust, giving ample allowance to each tribe in the way of a reservation; proclaim illegal all land purchases made by white men of any portion of these reservations. The Government commits a sin in purchasing land from the Natives, and giving them the m oney. ” The following remarks from the same letter are also suggestive:—“ If there is a grain of English fair play or consistency in Sir George Grey, why does not he devote his heaven-directed talents in surpressing the liquor traffic amongst the, Natives? Bush Natives in New Zealand hold licenses to sell whiskey ! This is what I call civilisation with a vengeance, and means volumes. In the of heaven, what would be the difference between selling liquor wholesale to aboriginals, or in sending a smallpox patient up to Parihaka. In America we chastise pretty severely aboriginals who murder our surveyors, but we do not sell them liquor. The white man who dares to sell liquor to a Native is punished with five years imprisonment. This fact came under my immediate notice in Dakota, a short time ago. Boasted English fair play will give a poor bush Native whiskey, and have him reeling drunk in Shortland street, as I observed on Saturday. Englishmen have often praised to me about their method in civilising aboriginals, as against the method pursued by Americans; but alas I the more I see of your method, I think the less of its humanity, and if I were a Maori, I would take a bullet in preference to going down to that disease arid death that are sure to overtake them by your PakehaMaori and whiskey civilisation.,’