CHAPTER XI.
MODE OF DEALING WITH THE ABORIGINES—THEIR RELATIONS WITH THE WHITE SETTLERS— LAMENTABLE WANT OF SUCCESS OF THE MISSIONS, AND PROTECTORATE—EXTRACT FROM LORD STANLEY'S DESPATCH ON THIS SUBJECT.
"To civilize the rude unpolished world,
And lay it under the restraint of laws;
To make man mild and sociable to man;
To cultivate the wild licentious savage;
With wisdom, discipline, and liberal arts,
Th' embellishments of life;—virtues like these
Make human nature shine, reform the soul,
And break our fierce barbarians into men,"
In considering the proper mode of dealing with the aborigines of Australia, it is desirable that all extraneous difficulty should be got rid of. Many persons when arguing on this subject turn round and say, "Well, after all, I do not see what right we have to come and take away their country from them." This is a mixing up of two questions, which should be kept perfectly distinct. And it is of importance that the right to colonize should be settled in the first instance; for if we have no right to occupy the country, no course of subsequent dealing can, in the forum of conscience, cure the original defect of title; and the sooner that we retrace our steps, and that every European departs from the shores of Australia, the sooner shall we have shown a sincere regret for the injury we have already caused to the natives.
