The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-05-28
The Fills.

The New Zealand and Colonial papers received
by the City Of MeBorne refer to the proposed an
n~exation of the FIJI group to the United States.
The Southern Cross says that a petition has been
received by the New Zealand Government from
the foreigners and chiefs, desiring annexation to
New Zealand, and discusses the subject in n
rather n~on-committal way.
From u Melbourne paper we clip the following
favoring annexation Of the group to the United
States:
By the outgoing mail the POlynesian Company are
sending dispatches to the American Government, re-
questing it to take that Archipelago under its pro-
lection. The petition has been extensively signed in
FIJI, Sydney and Victoria. Not n few here have ex-
pressed the desire that VictOrians should attach those
islands to this colony, and so secure the prize that is
laid at our feet. Should America accede to the wishes
now formally addressed to the States, the connection
will no doubt prove a great blessing to the FIJI, and
may possibly, by giving America so great an interest
in this region, hasten the colonization of these nu-
merous isles. Britain has already refused the offer
made by King Thakambau, to take>them under her
sway, and thus the way is clear for the United States.
A few months will tell the result of this negotiation {;
and seeing that England is seemingly tired of fulfill
ing her high destiny of planting colonies, it is meet
that the great, free country, which has sprung from
her, should take up the policy which made Greece
and Rome famous, and which has given renown and
wealth to Britain.
This PROJECT, however, VIII never De endorsed
in the United States, as the people and the press
are strongly opposed to annexation in any way or
shape. Witness the following from the New
York Tribune:
Now come the FIJI Islands with prayer for protec-
ton and purpose of annexation. Their envoy has
already addressed the San Francisco Chamber Of
Commerce. and will soon be at the door of the White
House. Before Butler can introduce his joint reso-
luton to annex San Domingo-'j job, or no job -
George Winters will present the claims of Polynesia
to at least as good treatment as the West Indies. He
will urge the value of Islands, once peopled by cam
nibals, then converted by Missionaries and now job
bed by American citizens, to our navy, our commerce,
our whalers. The necessity of outposts to defend
California as we'll rs the Gulf of Mexico, the wisdom
of keeping the balances even between the Atlantic
and Pacific States. and of having Polynesia as a
counterpoise for the West Indies will be dwell upon.
The line of argument will be so similar to that EN-
ployed by the advocates of the San Domingo scheme
rs to suggest itself Mt once. Is it not as cogent in
the one case as in the other? When we enter on
a policy of annexation, where shall we, where can we
stop? With less power to read the future than Sem
ator Archer possessed when he prophesied that the
Texas precedent would yet be followed in the West
Indies, one can see that the San Domingo precedent,
if set-whether in the form of a so-called treaty or
a joint resolution-will be followed, not only in the
sandwich, Society and FIJI Islands, but in Araconia
and Patagonia, whose new king may live to see him.
self enriched as Baez expects to be.