THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 186, 16 June 1879, Page 2

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

The Patea Mail says" The Maoris are going to settle the native difficulties. Their evil genius is hurrying them on to their destiny. Fearing nothing, because knowing little, they are rushing forward to meet the extinction that would have ■ overtaken them had they fled from it. When the grizzly bear, after the sawyer had escaped, insisted on trying conclusions with the circular saw revolving at full speed, and hugged it accordingly, lie did just what the noblo savage insists on doing now. We do not underrate the Maori's power for .mischief; they will doubtless find opportunities for inflicting dreadful calamitios on tho settlers by murdering, burning, and plundering., But disasters of this kind only stir up the aup'foor race to use its power. They cannot be'igarded as weakening European ranks.' ■ These little gaps, like scratches on a healthy body soon fill up, and are forgotten. The loss that means annihilation to a waning race that is numbered by thousands, is nothing to tho multiplying race that is numbered by millions, In the crisis that seems to be now at hand, the settler, who has to bear the brunt in labor, loss, and danger, must try to lose his individuality in that of the mighty people to which he belongs, This is perhaps unpleasantly like the comfort that was administered to the man of Uz. Yet surely there is comfort in knowing that one's own side must win. Those who may have to fight will not despise the enemy any more than they would despise a tiger, But though they might run the risk of being mauled or eaten, they would know that the result of war between their race and all the tigers on earth would be a foregone conclusion. We cannot help speaking of the struggle that appears to be at hand, as if it were inevitable. Our people, for the sake of peace, will endure being called slaves, while the title is obviously ridiculous—what's in a name—but to be treated as such is more than they are prepared for. There are some settlers who have courage to restrian their courage, who could submit to insults and threats rather than strike a blow that would kindle war throughout tho Island. But there are a greater number who have only one kind of courage, who will resent injury, or insults, let tho consequences be what they may. It is pretty certain then, that sooner or later the insolence of some fanatical Maori will procure for him a broken head, and then ."