The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-07-30

The Islands Of the Atlantic and Paciac-The
Buttresses Of tho Relsh.sc:
The letter which We publhh this morning
from the Sandwich Islands furnishes some very
curious facts In regard to tho political and
diplomatic events in that quarter Of the globe.
We have also In the statements made some
general idea Of the importance Of those Islands
to the United States and the extent to which
Americans and American capital have been At
trscted there. Il seems that these islands are
TO our Pacific coast what the West Indies are
to the Atlantic. Consequently great interest
is manifested in regard to the policy which our
government will see nt to adopt In reference 70
the future control Of that territory. II would
appear that Great Britain is striving to obtain
supremacy and establish protectorate over
the islands-a move that Il strongly opposed
by the American residents there, % well a. by
our population along the Pacific coast They
look upon the principal island Of this group ~
the Cuba Of the Pacific, naturally belonging,
and should be annexed, to this county, or, ct
least II there Is to be proteotorate established.
our government and not European Power,
should be the party 10 exercise II. II ID on this
point that great anxiety d now being mani
tested. The advantages which would have ac-
crued to the United States in the possession Of
Cuba and the adjacent islands during our late
war, are urged in behalf of the Sandwich Islands,
together with the necessity Of our reaching out
our hands when it is within our grasp.
It is evident from the statement in regard to
crisis will soon be reached in the present gov
ernmens This fact Is urged upon the atten-
ton Of this country in order that our govern
ment may be ready to take advantage Of the
events which may arise. The British govern
ment, which seems to have taken upon itself
the duty of collecting together all the islands
that it can find scattered around the world, is,
no doubt, exceedingly anxious to add these
to her list and thus strive to balance her lost
prestige elsewhere. It seems that they have
managed to dispose Of one king, who, during
his reign over the Sandwich Islands, was pre-
pairing to place them under the jurisdiction Of
the United States. It is probable that the
present king, who seems to have decided
antpathy to this country, because a waiter on
one of our river steamers called him Q
'nagur," will assist the English in their efforts
in that direction. But we are told that this
can be overcome if the proper efforts be made.
II is claimed that the importance Of these
islands to this country in the event Of war
with any nation from the Pacific side Is
sufficient inducement for our government
to make the effort. We all know what
great advantage. it would have. been to rs
II Bermuda, New Providence, Cuba and ia
msics had been under our control during
our late troubles Blockade running would
have been almost unknown, and the 70
bellion crushed out IN one half the time.
This Is an important consideration, and may
have great bearing upon future events
on the Pacific coast. Although we have
asserted our power and shown that We can
maintain ourselves in spite Of Engiand's sand
banks in the Bahamas and the use OF Cuba and
Other points as . rendezvous for the Coincide
rates, yet there Is no doubt that It would
have been great advantage 10 m il We could
have had these points a. buttresses 10 our re-
public. The trip Of Secretary Seward to St.
Thomas to secure port for the use OF our
navy. there is evidence that our government
realizes the advantage Of friendly port in that
quarter. We have no doubt that the time will
come when this will be felt on the Pacific
side in regard to the Sandwich Islands.
The tendency Of all small bodies Is to crawl
tate towards the larger, and events are fast
fastening the day when the islands Of Cuba,
Jamaica, Porto Rico and Bermuda will be
knocking for admission into the Union.
Such, we presume, viii be the case with the
islands Of the Pacific. We have as yet vast
amount Of unsettled territory where we may
send our politicians, In the capacity Of gov
errors, who can rusticate there for while,
feast on wild game, prepare their spread eagle
speeches and come back to the United States
Senate to deliver them. As soon as our present
territory is all thus appropriated We shall
want the neighboring islands both on the At
lantic and Pacific to use for this purpose. II
will not be many years before we shall be
ready for them. In the meantime the islands
Of Cuba, Jamaica, Bermuda, and all the others
there worth having, ~ well as the Sandwich
Islands, are like the pear upon the tree, grad
ually growing and ripeniag, and, BY the time
that we are ready for them, all that we viii
have TO do will be TO give the tree gentle shake
and they will fall into our lap, ripe and ready
for use. Then Brother Jonathan can spread
himself to his hearts content, and If any Power
attempts 70 modest him, he can point to his
buttresses in the two oceans and defy the
whole world.