Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-07-23
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The long continued difficulties which the Gov
eminent Of the Sandwich Islands has had with
the French, has led to the agitation among the
Islanders of the question of annexation to the
United States. An agent from the Sandwich
Islands is very shortly expected ut washington
city, if not already there, who, 1t is understood,
will ask the Government to accept the protect
crate of the Islands, and in the event OF this not
being done 10 make formal cession of them to
the United States, upon the condition that they
be accepted as territory, and that form OF
Government similar to that of other territories
of the u. s. be given them. The present King
and his Ministers, majority of whom are from
the United States, it is said, very earnestly press
annexation.
A large and steadily increasing portion of the
population of these Islands is American, which
fact in connection with their Importance to our
maritime and commercial interests, it is thought
will secure favorable hearing on the part of
our Government. Prior to the annexation of
California, nearly three quarters of all the ship
ping stopping there was American, and since
then the number Of our vessels trading thther
has greatly increased
Whatever may be the result of the present
negotiation, we regard it as inevitable that our
Government is destined, ultimately, to sustain
some other than her present relation toward the
Islands contiguous to the American continent.
If they are not annexed, and thus made integrel
parts of the great whole, our commercial inter-
course with them will, before quarter of GEN.
tury have become too important to admit of the
disturbances which it would any time be liable
TO by the policy of Great Britain or any of the
Governments of Continental Europe. Annexa-
ton, then, or some kind of guardianship, or some
satisfactory treaty stipulations with European
Governments whereby their security for all time
to come shall be guaranteed, must sooner or la
ter be brought about.
As regards the Continent ITSELF the extension
of the Government Of the United States over
the whole of it is merely question Of time. 1t
is no less law of politics than Of physics that
the larger body attracts toward it the smaller.
An ocean bound Republic" is sure of realiza.
ton. To the Anglo-American has been assign
ed this mission, and he is sure to fulfill it. The
only danger to be apprehended is, that he will
grow inpatient Of the hardness of Providential
movements, and strive to anticipate, by his own
unaided act, what he can best effect by co-opera-
ting with higher power. Perhaps the con-
quest of California and New Mexico was, in this
sense premature. 1t is the order of Nature that
fruit shall remain on the parent stem until the
proccss Vi ripeHihS 10 iuiiy PeIlecteu' Ihey
who pluck and eat sooner may expect not only
their teeth to be set on edge" but their stom.
achs will be untitled, for while, for wholesome
food. We are not sure but this is our condi-
ton now. The spasmodic, i.advised attempts
upon Cuba, and later upon Sonora, look very
much like it. What our" go.ahead" people need
now more than anything else, is patience--pa-
thence to await those Providential movements,
which, if properly taken advantage of when they
occur, will result in the greatest good to the
whole country, and the highest glory of our
Government. Chicago Gem.