Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on tbe West Coast. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1884. THE RECIDIVISTE QUESTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 178, 25 June 1884, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on tbe West Coast. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1884. THE RECIDIVISTE QUESTION.

There is a danger looming m the near future 6f New Zealand which niay yet prove a serious one, and involve us m difficulties, from which it may be no easy matter to extricate ourselves. The French, with their .charactjeristic r politeness, J aiijd with that obsequiousness which , so peculiar to their nationality, show a -strong inclination to remove a want which they see exists m the Pacific Islands, and to give us a consignment of neighbours^ whose characters of the past have not been of the -very first water, and whose ; probable inclinations : ih ; the future r will be to gain for the land of their, forced adoption a reputation 'as yet' unequalled south of the line, and : any Wiing but pleasant for u^ m New Zealand. Curious to say, the Imperial Government have not taken either stringent or active measures with a view of warding off the impending danger ;: but, on the contrary, it would appear from their replies to questions m the House of Commons, that the only action yet ■taken has been a desultory exchange of communications with France, .with . no. -final-arrangements- or-de-finite understanding. That Australasia will take a firm stand against the French, is a matter of absolute certainty ; that\we*shall by. force of arms prevent her from establishing her outcast criminals. in so uhpleasantly neat proximity *P' these Islands, is equally sure ; and, moreover, should we , be^compelled to.do this, unassisted by the English Government, t|fere is no knowing what fcompli.datiplis| may arise therefrom, sor whal state_.we shall ;be Yin whe# wa are ultimately free from the difficulty. ; Th« English press has published several able letters on the subject, notable amongst which is one signed " Australasian." The'" manner m which ther writer points out what would take place, were England not to assist us m the event of ■ our going to ■ war with! France, is a perfectly correct one and cannot be denied as such by anyone who reads it. He shows that if A ustralasia 1 s appeal to the mother country for help were not successful, the results would hi extremely serious. First, Australasia might drive the French out of the Pacific without Imperial assistance. If so, the Colonies would at once assume their independence. America' has done so, aiid the operation would be repeated. Secondly, if Aus.tralasia failed, to keep French con- ! victs out of the land of cohtehtiohV France might not be satisfied with seizing an inch, but might seriously obstruct our ports, or even dp worse tilings still. TLTrider 1 either" bi 1 these circumstances, British commerce with, her Australasian ..dependencies, would be very seriously diminished. Thirdly, if Australasia were to appeal !tb America for^ the , assistance refused by England, Tthere is" not a doubt but that energetic nation eagerly seize such a glorious opportunity for annexing jsuc.h 'jVast > yurd valuable depe)idenciesi?isatiid^ Vwould it once free" "us of any-J unpleasant neighbors, i^-the .Pacific. This|pouid mean|thaf| Britain^ immensej annual trade with these doloilies^ would ceasd ©ur^wools would be manufactured m America and ;sphi at 'H(jme, and[ m every way^' the results of such annexation would givelHe English Government something^to brpodroyer; for /many years to come. " All 'of these Vverits* might be the putcome^fthe ( present inyolyed llecidiviste Question. Better^rar^if the mother country gives that >protection to/her dependencies which » k^il her-du^y and interest to afford ; but, on the other hand, the dependencies'are to all appearances likely r to resent its being wkhheldrif some final means are riot adopted, and that -without undue delay or procrastination.