The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4012, 7 November 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1881.

Wbal will the Government do with Te Whiti and Tohu ? bas been a question asked repeatedly to-day. Hiroki will without doubt be tried for the murder committed by him years ago, but what have Te Whiti and Tohu "done to merit imprisonment P The query is not very easily answered. It brings forward all the issues discussed at the time the ploughmen were arrested, and if the Government at that time found themselves at a loss how to treat such men, who it might be said were doing some wrong ip erecting fences over land seized or owned by the Government, such cfimcja cannot -be laid against Te Whiti and Tohu. These latter it may be be said instigated ;by speeches and harangues their followers to resist lawful authority, to call in question the actions of the Government of the state; but did they in so doing break any law ? Even the proclamation only accused Te Whiti of contumacy in refusiug the terms offered by the Government—rejecting the offer of 25,000 acres in settlement of his claims. The only reason also set out by the Government why a settlement was necessary and should be arrived at, was that the disquietude occasioned by the presence 'of Te Whiti and his followers was causing a great wrong to the Colony generally, the native people as well as the European. Te Whiti may say in answer "I was not rebellious ; I always counselled peace. I only followed the course Europeans would donp under similar ciroumstauoeo—l protested. I questioned the right of the Government to take from me my land, and drive me from my home, and the homes of my ancestors. The land is miue; I am satisfied with my title; it is you^-the Europeaus—that called my conduct rebellious, my words seditious, and my title incomplete." It will be somewhat difficult ' for the Government to contravert such cootontiou?. It bw been frequently said

thai Te Whiti was acting under tLe advic i of the most eminent lawyers in this colony, and even the name of the AttorneyGeneral of Victoria was mentioned as one who bad giren an opinion to the «ld prophet. 7et even with the best .advice, and with, the-fullest conviction that his policy was right in questioning the claims of the Government, few men with all the boasted advantages of civilization, would have acted so heroically as the old chief at Parihuka, or displayed such forbearance or mugnauimity. He had men as numerous as his opponent by his side- men panting for leave to fly at the throats of the hated pakeba—and yet he calmed them by his words ; so allayed their outraged feelings by Win own calm ness, that they sat meekly lookling on while he, their leader and teacher, was arrested. Besides all this, he had prepared for his enemies a feast—soo loaves of bread were oflVred as a peace offering to tbe tneu who came witb arms in their hands, and ready at a word to deal death and destruction. Buch magnanimity hai seldom been displayed, and is not to be excelled. If the man be a fanatic, if much study of his grievances hath made him mad, if the perusal of the prophesies of the Old Testament hath put vain fancies in his head, be has shown at least a great appreciation and a practical exhibition of the teaching of " ihe Great Master " in returning good for evil, and in praying for the safety of those who despitefully used and persecuted him. But in answer to our first question what will the Government do with him, now that he is in their power ? We doubt if and injury can be done him ; even if it is lawful to hold him under arrest. He is a British subject, entitled to the protection of the laws, and the benefits of the Constitution ;: and what says the Great Charter of our liberties: " That no man be arbitrarily fined or imprisoned, that no man's property or liberties be impaired, and that no man be in any way punished, except after lawful trial. That justice shall not be sold or delayed." It is plain that if justice is to be done it must be done speedily, and that no man's liberty is to be endangered, yet arresting Te Whiti is depriving him of bis liberty. , If, as we have mentioned, the old chief is acting under legal advice, he has now another cause of complaint against the Government of the colony. The Cabinet, it is said, are about to issue another proclamation, and probably pro vision will be made in that document for the future treatment of Te Whiti and his follower, Tobu, so that further discussion of the subject may be dismissed for the present.