The Waikato Times.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 628, 30 May 1876, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

Equal and exact justice to all m^n, Ot whatever stuto 01 pcisua*um, relignus or political # * # # # r TorD slmll thePrcsn the Pfoiu.u's rij:ht maintain, UniUNcrt by infiucucc and unbribid by gain.

TUJttDAY MAY M, 1576.

sill in tho language, whose unfailing patience and good temper" it is acknowledged even by his opponents " parliculiarlv qualifiy him for dealing with (ho native"," undertakes' a delicato mission such us that on which Sfr D.,nald McLean is now engaged, a mission which, if sncce->>ful, will give ossmed 'peace to our frontier setLl&niGntß,.and bp tho means of removing artificial barriers which Maori obst i ircti voness has raised between the Hmopean'/si-ttlements at either exlreme'of the North Island. In such circumstances ono would havo thought men of all parties of every shade of political opinion 1 ?, would lvwo held their hands and watched the issue with interest and auxietv, re.uly to assist, but ©ireful by no word or net to innr its success. The object is not the glorification of party, but the accomplishment of common good — not tho vindication of the opiuiop. of any one set of men, but ! tho attainment of what is desired by all alike. To such expedients, however, are the Opposition driven, so keen is their longing for tho Provincial flpsh pots, so desperate are they, so utterly reckless of all consequence, that sooner than their opponents in office should have credit with the Assembly and the country for consummating fo general and important a good as this, every effort is made lo thwart the Niilive Minister in his endeavour 5 ", no artifice considered too mean to resort to for deceiving the public as to his real object, and intentions. 'Emissaries are employed to arouse suspicion and jealousy in tho minds of ihe native**, to incite 11. em to continued contumacy and foster intertribal and pei.sonal jealousies for the purpose of neutralising the efforts of the Defence Minister. And this is statesmanship ! This their leader and his immediate followers conceive to be the fair and legitimate functions of a political party, content to walk into office over the ruins of the best, interests of the colony ! It is not enough that our gracious Queen shall be alluded to in the Auckland Opposition Press, as was the case last week, as " the old girl," that tho leader of the party in his place in the House, and in his speeches on public platforms outside tho House, shall breathe of covert rebellion and open disaffection th.it — impotent to s^eep them away by one bold and decisive stroke of statesmanship — he, point by point, nnd step by step, seeks to h-irr.iss and .innov the Government by every paltry dodge and contemptible obstruction. All this is not enough, but we miut have |,ho dearost interests of tho colony sacrificed to p'U'ty si rife and party meanness. Thorn is n limit, however, to public fur'neanmce, and that limit hns been stretched to its utmost, and already the signs of a growing public indignation are not wanting at the attempt now being made to stab the Mini 'try through the Defence Minister nrnl Im"h native policy at the imminent risk cf the peace of the country. Tho Kawau has given from it retirements not a cincimnitus, but a cataline to the colony.