The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-26
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN ANNEXATION or
TERRITORY
ALTERED TONE or ENGLISH OPINION.
From the London Times, May A.


As il is the province of newspaper provide all sorts
Of news we have not excluded from columns even
the dissertations upon British policy with which the
Unrers has been pleased to favor its faithful and
single minded subscribers But the subject has really its
important aspect If nellgenty viewed, and
continental readers that if they wish to know
the opinions of this country about territorial conqucsts,
acquisitions annexatons and FORTH they may receive
what follows very near the truth indeed.
There was doubtless time when we, like most other
people, identified the extension Of national dominion
with the promotion of national prosperity, when we
imagined that every square mile of territory occupied
matter where, added much TO Importance, wealth.
and power, and when the occupation of island in
the Caribbean thought very satisfactory
preston of military naval triumph But though
may have been possessed by these sentiments
have certainly outved them W. hare no longer as nation
any for dominion Grazing for trTTfI gam 1t is not
that We have become mngnanimous in the matter,
that we have adopted any policy Of serene or lofty
dsdain Our present views have been forced upon
w by the lessons of experience which taught that
the old system not only delusve but unprofit-
able to boot. Sidney Smiths fiction Of the volcanic
island in the Pacific occupied fortnight after
Its EMERSON by governor and lieutenant governor
oekeeper and deputy storckeeper garrsoncd by half
argument defended by sloOp-of war; and figuring in
the estimates for many thousands yearly expressed
very happily the ideas which had the pub
lie mind. Even ancient colonies regarded
IN an entirely fresh light Useful things they were
doubt but not in the had been supposng Their
true utility became manifest exactly in proportion
discarded all prcconceved notions the subjects
we made them selfgovernng, sefsupportng, and self
dependent As for any fresh conquests the project would
have created much agitation fresh taxn fact it
would have been argued pretty loudly and pretty plaus
bly, bya vigorous section Of politicians that the two
things to very much the Some stir has been
lately made about the isle Of Perrin We venture to say
that not fifty in these islands know jot
about this precious rock If they told that any
have been taken to improve facilitate the overland
route to india they will be gat6ed at the intelligence
Tor they know that it will tend to the benefit of their
k'nsrnen countrymen well to the advantage Of
trade If they informed that any piece Of terri
tory has come into possession they will simply hope
that Is not Of much consequence, and perhaps ask
whether the end could net have been gained without the
responsibility of the occupation.
1t will be said perhaps, that for all this, domn
Ions do extend themselves, for instance, in India
This true, but the event has been unavoidable, and 1t
has certainly not caused any satisfaction in this country
let any person look Mt the debates the discussions and
the controversies which have attended Of late years the
acquisition of any province IN the East such the
Punlab or Pegu 1t harder work TO pacify the Par
lament and people at home than to win the battles
abroad The authorities responsible for the and its
results had always uphill game to fight They were
met with charges of piecipancy, waste loss of blood
and treasure, needless outlay and needless venture their
arguments to prove that the conquest would really pay
is own expenses credited and the result
simply accepted necessity which could not be evaded
The Punjab, indeed, not annexed till we had made
VAN trial of the only alternative before Nor this
nerey the view OF al economical and sOpkeeping pub
hc 1t the traditional policy of the Indian govern
ment itself in far that government controlled
ny the company at home Every in the least degree
aquanted with the subject is well that the
tons sent from Leadcnhal street to Calcutta always
%strngently and imperiousy pacific they could be-
out the irresistible course of events hurried governor af
Ter governor into war;
any person still fances that British dominion in
the East implies graspng overbcarng, and insa
liable power let him observe proceedings beyond the
peninsula of India. In the Straits Of Mnlacca the high
road to the great Asiac archipelago and the attractive
empire Of China have three settlements about which
We take such small concern that when they ask they
md the other day to be acknowledged directly by
ac parent State, they take little by their motion Pass
me Straits and look at Boneo, of the finest islands
,hc East There the sovereignty Of It's Northwestern
mat is its most important offered to us by Ra
,n brooke and we turn away and make reply to his
anes recital of it, capabilities and advantages In
Nhna itself what have doncy We once, for the pur-
*es OF our trade, barpaned for really valuable settle
the island of Chusan and after had got 1t
gave up again. conentng ourselves with what il appa-
hy one of the least desirable pieces of territory in the
nord-the island OF Hong Kong. For the have
heed ourselves 70 be confined TO our factories on the