The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-06-01
British Columbia Considered
gndcr E'Ho Aspects.


- ,r2c~I 1IIq we should not ie NJ all Surprised,
that is influence extended u and ultimately dc
tcrmiuci the future destiny ~ TINS cotohL- W
nation i more disposed than EnGand 10 iooh 70
the main chance, and though willing NometlhlcH
To- make sacrifices 10 her national pride, she seems
determined T. spend 10 more money on her e'.'-
nieS. from the simple pounds shilInG> ana pence
calculation that sic would get an adequate return
from the OUTLAY. We believe. however, IEat let
any of her colonies hc ever 20 unITuductNe II
rscuniarv advantage T. the Imperial Government.
ar productive OF any amount OF trouble u Il. she
would never Permit II 10 tear itself from t1c pa
rent stem. and that Sic would experience an Al
most mvinciblc reluctance 70 submit I" what >Ic
would undoubtedly consider an humiliation, that
i - slv. parting with il for = valuable consider
alton. Yet why should she experience Such re-
luctance 70 PERFORM an act. winch might not only
benefit herself IN i variety 81 ways, but all those
concerned besides Now let Us look calmly anu
di-raSSiouatelv at the relative positions OF the
Imrcrial Government and this colony. and en-
deiyor u discover what advantages are derived
from either by the connection. 1t II were necc>-
sarv. for the sake of argument. We would admit
the truth of the glowing account OF the vast
tracts OF fine land on the continental part OF brit
ISL Columbia. the ineNhausuhle ana prOuiStouS
richness Of her mines, while We cOncede that the
beauty and s~alubrity OF Vancouver Island are
hardly 10 be surpassed. But what do all these
amount 10 without population? and the question
i. where is il 70 come from? Certainly not from
England. Tor those WHO u4Q Cbu4t Lbl.lii NN ENN
sage - long ON the one hand ana expensive on
the other. and their disappointment - great on
their arrival. that they have for the most part It
turned in disgust. and made their complaints
heard from oEr end 10 the other Of the old coun-
Try. 50 ~ 10 CHate an inycterate prejudice against
the colony. Thus then although the colony might
afford happy homes for thousands OF poor lami-
lies. it i very clear II viii not be awaited OF Tor
that purpose. and consequently IN that point ot
view i utterly valueleSs 10 the Imperial Govern
ment. Its commerce with the mother country
instead of increasing has fallen of 50 a. to become
little more than nominal, and even the fine sTars,
with which it was 10 supply the world. have been
mostly got from the neighboring American terri
tory: therefore the colony i of no great import
ance in that respect As a naval station, the
harbor of Esquimalt Is unque>tiOnably unezcep-
tiomhle. but what is the use of Il naval station
without a dock or the other appliances necessary
for repairing and reftting vessels? And in case
Of war with the United States-thc only power
from which ANYTHING might be apprehended-the
class of our meT-of-war in these waters, manned
as thew are by officers and seamen whose UNI
daunted courage Is proverbiIl, would be unable
TO resist the superior forces that could and would
be dispatched from the efficient navy yard of
California. and before any adequate force could
arrive from England the colony would be IRE
trievably lost TO Great Britain and her heirs for
ever. To put this island and the mainland OF
British Columbia in an efficient state oil defence.
would require such a large expenditure and an
nual expense for troops and establishments. as we
do not believe England has any intention 10 incur
and vet without such an outlay 1t were ridiculous
TO think of holding the colony, or even attempt
ING TO defend il, in the event of war with the
United States. Under the circumstances set forth
we will ask tine most loyal of her MajeSty's sub
iects. of what use is this colony 10 England. or
what benefit does the colony derive from its con-
nection with England? We ask these questions
more in sorrow rian in anger. because we came
T., tho p.,I,pv m live nplp~ the ItrI-ISb flo and
but dire necessity would make Us aban-
don 1.-THE sad alternative 70 which many in our
midst are lookin" as their only salvation from
utter ruin. Is il not enough to shake the loyalty
of the most loyal when We see voted bv the last
Congress between two and three millions Of dol
lars for the requirements OF the Pacific coast. while
do not receive a single shilling from the I'm
Terial Government, nor are We likely u do -,
yet are deprived of our liberal institutions
and literally com PEELED 10 support Il deSpotic gov
eminent at an expense on no account necessary,
greatly exceeding in amount our means to
pay. even if we had the Will. There i no deny
Ing the fact that the telegram announcing tie
proposition of the United States 70 purchase this
colony. whether true or 4 clnard, created Il great
sensation here. and filed many 4 one with hope
had given himself up 10 despair. II there is
any truth in the proposition, it Is Il sure sign that
the American Government desires To make the
acquisition. and sooner OF later IL bound 10 have
il. 1t becomes. therefore reduced down 10 the
up VI " ~ - sA@N tNH - III l
i really inevitable. the sooner ii takes place. and
the least eclat. the better. IIcnmed in Is
British Columbia now is by American possessions.
and forming as it does an enyiablc hiatus. an
between them, it were perhaps wise for
the British Government 10 listen on this occasion
To the ring of the almighty dollar and yet hand
>omely rid Of an elephant that must sooner or
escape from her, no matter how much she
may spend To keep it. No one seems to doubt,
however much he might regret the necessity for
lAn-. e ,,r,.,,l,r- IL. ,v,-,l,-, l.-,g-
that the colony would derive from it. 1t is zen
orally believed that Victoria would then be the
headquarters of the American possessions from
Francisco To the Aleutian Islands that there
would be a powerful Eavy-yard nj E-guimalt with
fleet constantly there, and a railroad from that
point t. Victoria. People feel confident. also.
Victoria would be the great distributing
numerical emporium Of these regions. and prob
the winter quarters of n fleet of fishermen.
hat shiphuilling would become a great branch
IF industry. and that the coal would he made
IvaIlable for extensive manufactures, and tie re-
Oures of the colony generally deyclopcd. We
hOuld most assuredlv have cheap and popular
with our full share of The advantages
# postal subsidies. and no longer see our letters
lie rOtting in San Francisco for want of convey
nee. Much as we would like u see these
and our empty houses filled with a thirty
NJ population, we would prefer that, by a rcyul-
ion Of feeling. Il ~pateTnal consideration for us Lv
he Imperial Government. they took place under
ur own flag. Tor we love II dearly. But whilst
re have an affection for and duty u our Sovereign
nd our country, we have also an innate scuti-
Of >clfpreservation and Il duty towards our
elves and our families which are paramount 10
Il other considerations. The question Is no
niger one of loyalty but of existence. We zee
.nominious ruin staring us in the face. and can
iscover nothing 10 avert il under the actual
Therefore it is perfectly legitimate 10
ray and hope for any change which we believe
-oGld improve our deplorable condition.
Mad CATs.-For the PAST week the city and
1unty has been rabid with rumOrs Of mad dogs.
vdrOphObia, occasional deaths and -mOthcrin-s.