The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-01


The great subject which occupies the attention Of the
wiseacre mates kings princes ani colored royalty
Of this mighty kingdom TO that Of the Bsaresn Of
great republic. The problem, am informed At
headquarers gradually being worked out the only
er they shall be admitted State Territory, In
order flor the protection Of the native populaton) to
avoid the chance Of slavery The king and all the chiefs
tenent of the question left In the hands Of Judge Lee
the part OF the chiefs they AL have implicit faith
IN him. and he Yields ore influence among them by far
than any other Uhite the island. In view Of
the Hpal settlement OF this question: have already
two steamers comir down for pterisand navigation
and two TO between San Francisco and this port
branch Of the banking house OF Page Bacon Co., Of
San Francisco, with capital OF 100000 and
the prospect Of being with all sorts Of
ragsmu Gins, vagabonds, spectators, traders and
broken down gamblers from San Francisco AS we hear
that Geo passengers win be down during the next two
months. We have already had taste OF their quality
the last arrival brought fortyseven passengers from
that quarter and every vessel that arrives brings more
less What the effect Of this nroad Is TO be- heaven
only knows but apprshend that competition and over
trading will bring about anything but pleasant results
to the business community who have been residing here
As We have but limited population, numbering in all
not over 20, 900 and we have now . large surplus
stock of goods in Warehouses II Ia not unlikely that
shall be inundated with goods, we'll as adventurers
have been trying to purchase some land but If every
square foot contained ounce OF gold the owners could
scarcely be more tenacious Of it, or exobtant 10
their prices.
The talk in case Of the annexation Of these islands Is
to make them the West Indies Of the Pacific; bat the
periMents which nave thus Tar been tired upon the SOIL
have, in most cases. failed most lauentably partially
perhaps from the nexperience Of those who would draw
from dame nature those productions which wont to
flourish upon tropical SOIL and partly from the great
difficulty In procuring labor the natives being very
much averse to work Of any Kind, and in my
opinion, deficient in intelligence, capacity and
activity, that several generations must be bora
ere they can reach that point Of civilization
which viii enable them to compete successfully with
white men, In addition to this drawback, large por.
ton OF the soil is fitted only for pasturage the valleys
being in fact the only part which will amply reward the
labor Of the husbandman and they, in all mountain
Gus countries Of limited extent, and arc most OF
them used for the cultivation Of the taro the main
port Of the native population Their taste FOR this spe
ces Of food carried to great excess for whatever
may b. the dsntes set before them servei up civil
lied style, native is satisfied however much he
may have ce,oured land they not at all deficient In
point Of appetite unless he have his calabash OF
poi 10 finish his repast, and he winds up with couple
Of quarts Of this nourshing article after eating meal
that would appsl either you or me.
The productions Of the country sugar, coffee
bacco, arrowroot and indigo which latter article grows
in great profuslon spontaneously and will doubt not
At some future day form important staple In the
ports Of the country Sandawood formerly grew in large
quantities. but the shorsghted folly Of the Chiefs for
temporary gain almost extirpatcd this article which
they are now prohibited by law from exporting There
are two plantations the islands which have proved
prohts bic and only two-one sugar plantation and
coffee.