Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-02
The Islands of the Pacific.

we are not surprised 10 see ire bondph
Quarterly Review, advocating with earnest
ness the establishment of British authority
in that large group of Islands, known as the
Fejec, in the South Pacific This cluster IS
situated about 800 miles from New South
Wales. comprises about 50 inhabited islands,
the aggregate areas of which are some l3,-
OO0 square miles, with an active and ener-
getic native population Of some 200, 900. and
with il fertile soil in which sugar, coffee, and
cotton can be successfully cultivated. Our
readers know that Christianity has within
the last few years achieved Il marvellous trl-
umph in those misunderstanding race OF the
most debauched idolatOrS and confirmed can
nibaS, into people in no small measure
civilized and ChristianiSed. This great work
was accomplished by English missionaries:
and it is not strange that this fact should
have operated to attract the Fejceans to the
English name. The Supreme Chief OF the
Fciees has recently sent British officer to
England, expressly commissioned TO tender
the sovereignty of the entire group to '9ueen
Victoria. NJ answer has yet been rendered,
but every organ of public opinion, we be-
lieve, that has thus far spoken upon the
subject, decidedly favors the proposition, and
there can he little doubt that it will be ac-
cepted and carried out by the Ministry. The
possessions of these islands would be pccu-
iiarly advantageous to England since it
would secure an open route Tor the postal
line of steamers from Australia and New
Zealand to either Panama or British Column
bia. They already are beglnnlnS to have
some commercial Importance. The trade at
the Fejee. in American vessels only, year
before last. amounted in imports to about
100000. and in exports to $l6O, 900; and con.
siderable traffic is also had with the Austria
liam ports.
If England takes the preferred hold of
these islands, We shall see the three lAost I'M
portant groups Of the Pacific under tn" IN
iluence of three different nations. The
Sandwich Islands, though nomlnally IN m
dependent sovereignty, are TO all lntentS and
purposes American. Our influence prcdom-
mates there, and always will. In fact. 1t is
probable that the islands will, after Il season,
be ccdcd outright to our government The
native population, notwithstanding their
conversion to Christianity, are fast dlmn-
ishing: Americans are taking their place,
and in due time the American flag will fol-
low. The French are permanently Installed
in Tahiti, and all the Society group, though
their occupation thus tar-as in fact is the
case with all the outlying possessions Of
France-has rather the character "t mill
tary outpost than a Commercial Colony
Tahiti is bat small in extent, being only cigh-
ty-four miles in circumference: but 1t is most
alvantageously situated for purposes of com
mcrce, and ought to be the great lnsular
mart Of all that part of Polynesia: under
Frenchmen, however, this can never he cX-
pcctcd. 1t will be remembered the French
Government some five years since, seized
upon New Caledonia which is distant from
the Australian coast only about 200 miles.
Demonstrations have also been made by 1t
upon Marqucsas and other groups in the
South Pacific. OF course our own country
neither expects nor desires to extend It's
power to that distant region but our people
wish well to England rather than French
progress there. England has aS yet acqulr-
ed no hold anywhere between New Zealand
and the American continent and if she sees
fit to accept the Feiee Protectoratc now Of
fered her, we do not believe there will be Il
word of complaint this side of the Atlantic.
Americans have never learned to be Jealous
of aught that really tends to advance COM
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