Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-12-09
MlSCELLAN

The ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC. =
When congress meets it will, if it ever
gets organized, want some work which
is above and beyond the reach of party
beyond bribery, and which is purely
patriotic and national. 1t must be SC
manitestly useful as to command the
sympathies and desires of the whole
country and have no elements of the
old party issues in it. Certain islands
of the Pacific have offered themselves te
US, desiring to become part aud parcc
of the United States. Nearly all these
islands exhibit the same features-A de-
caying native race, fast decreasing and
disappearing, and an increasing race o.
Europeans and Americans. Just, there
fore, as the old races occasion no trouble
in the management of the possessions
we have acquired from Mexico, from
France and from Spain, SO it seems quite
certain that the native races of these is
lands never could be an element of sufii
cient Importance to need the slightest
special consideration in legslating.-
Like the Indian tribes, they will, by de-
grees, disappear.
But those islands are and will become
an increasingly valuable possession fo1
us if we own them, or dangerous if in
habited by pirates and enemies. Many
parts of them are surprisingly FERTILE
They are situated in many various eli.
mates, but all, or nearly all, surrounded
by so balmy en- atmosphere, as to be de-
lightful and healthy beyond expression
Their chief utility so far has been in con.
nection with the whaling ships we have
sent out there, and as stations for the
trans-shipment Of the oil collected by
our vessels, and the trade connected
with this business, which is most protita
BILE. But they must and will become
increasingly important in connection
with the trade to China and Japan, and
the whole coast of Asia-a trade the
vastness and importance Of which in fu
ture years no figures can compute. These
new treaties of China, which must and
will be signed with other nations as with
our own, and go into operation, will a,
once create such a trade as we have
never yet contemplated.
These Pacific Islands will be the call
ing stations for the steamers engaged in
these expeditions. The trade Of carry
ing thither coal and supplying the steam
ships will Of itself be large business, in.
volvng an immense amount of tonnage
training up a large number of seamen,
and altogether forming a mercantile
navy, which will necessitate and involve
the dominion of those seas. Whateve,
power first aud most largely is estab
lished in all this commerce, will, by ar
inevitable necessity, have degree no,
only of wealth but also of dominion O.
the greatest possible consequence to the
future history Of the world. What one
adventurous man may do to secure this
to his native country, the recent history
of Borneo shows.
Our American missionaries have done
work for our country in this respect, OF
far greater Importance. They have con.
quered the Sandwich Islands, mot by force
or fraud, but by truth and kindness and
the gospel. And many of these Islands
now ask admission to the United Safes.
They will add to us more wealth and
power, and commerce, than California
ITSELF They will give us the natural
dominion Of the Pacific, and draw in by
degrees the whole of that vast ocean in
the Temperate zone to be but an Amer.
lean lake.
The only three nations, between whom
any sort Of competition for this can exist
are France, England and ourselves. The
English are already extending themselves
there in the more southern ATTITUDES; and
the French are anxious to extend them.
selves and their brandy trade, and their
ecclesiastical domination to the north
ward. But the English aud the French
have no interests there at all, compare.
bls to our own. Our whaling fleets, and
our trade with China, and our important
coast along the west Of the Pacific, which
must at al hazards, be protected, alike
from pirates and from foreign powers
these oil render it imperative on us to
promote an American shipping interest
In the Pacific, and to watch with jealous
eyes Ill other navies and establishments
in that vast watery dominion. The
saaiest way 70 effect thu, i to accept az