New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-30

with this Elglsh company very bitter correspondence
arose, and Mr. Russell ventured TO intimate plainly the
existence of corrupt bargain the part of Mr. Pakes
1t may safely be predicted that, when the CORE
spondeuce reaches the Colonial Parliament, there VIII
be accusations Of corruption not unlike those which nave
excited much attention in Canada. At one time IL
looked very much az II the result OF the con-
troversy must be the fnal abandonment OF
the project the parties had met 10 promote
The Colony OF Queensland retired altogether
from the business. and NewZsaland would have fol
lowed suit but that position she Is too deeply
interested this particular channel OF communication
Mr.. Russell however, stuck firmly to his ground using
~ trump card his belief that the mails could not De
certainly conveyed without the assistance OF the United
States and that this likely TO be given to an
English company seeing that the future commercial
interests OF America were concerned The point In ds-
pute then reached the press. New South Wales was
OF sympathy and aid in that quarter The London
papers several times alluded TO the subject and always
In terms which showed the greatest possible jealousy OF
the United States obtaining commercial standing and
influence IN the South Pacific. Liberal and Conserva-
tive organs Wed with each other In sneerng AT America
and in asserting British excusveness. The flip
pant P0H Mall GGseue opened an article In
this wise: Untaught by the failure OF the
attempt TO make tho Mediterranean a French lake.
the Yankees propose the Pacific shall be Ameri
can ocean" Fancy assertion 30 sweeping, based
upon grounds slightl The Hour, the COnserva-
tive daily organ In the OF two-column leading
article, argued the matter from the British point OF
view with a gravity which oOntrasted strangely with
the ippancy of the PdR Nal Gasche The article Ia too
long TO quote yet every sentence OF IL contains lesson
that may well be taken to heart IN America 1t points
how the vast commercial of the British
Empire held together by means Of subsidized steam
lines sailing under the flag and owned IN England IL
further shows that by the proposed line Australia will
be only days from NewYork while it Will be As days
from London In view Of this advantage IL Is not the
interest Of England to stand quietly by and the
troll Of the line which must largely influence the future
OF the South Pacific, into Otner hands" In very
truth this utterance ought to be lost sight OF in
America
Urged in this manner. Lord Kimberley the English
Minister in charge Of colonial affairs, stepped in
diator ana arbitrator between the eontending parties.
And strange say gordian knot speedily cut
In very summary aud unlocked for fashion. As have
said strong point Of Zealand all along had been
the contention that mails could he transmitted
with certainty unless American interests were con
suited THIS difficulty Lord Kimberley undertook 10
by guaranteeing the transit OF the mails between
san Francisco and London This he claimed he could do
by virtue Of the postal agreement which England has
with the United States Government which provides for
the exchange Of letters between the two countries In
terms OF tha agreement he proposes t. call upon Post
General Creswc 10 convey the American
continent the huge monthly Austraiasian mails. Thus
your highly subsidized Pacific Railroad is to be in
the interests OF British commerce The Washington
Government Is TO minister 10 the building up
OF rival interests, and Uncle Sam is TO become a
mere etter-carrer John Bull. As,uredy this equal
to bending your back allow your enemy thrash you
with a stick of your own making IL the postal agree
ment with England means any thing so absurd the sooner
It amended the better But careful reading OF that
instrument would seem 10 indicate very different con
cuslon that of Lord Kimberley. IL true thatit
provides for free exchange OF correspondence. En-
- Ia a
northern part of Scotland, aud America in like manner
has engaged 20 transmit English letters through to san
Francisco. But the intent and meaning OF this agree
meut are plain enough The letters 10 be so forwarded
are those which originate in each country whatever
the wording the engagement that is clearly its spirit
aud intention. 1t obvious that 1t could never nave
been intended to apply to the tons OF newspapers,
books samples letters. etc. IN tTGasiu between Aus
tralia and Great Britain. II remains 20 be seen how
President Grant and the Postmaster General will read
this instrument
The ground taken by New-Zeaand being thus knocked
away nothing left Mr.. Russell but to yield reluc-
tant assent TO the contract going 70 the English Com
pauy Meanwhile the discussion that had taken place
rather alarmed certain capitalists Interested in the
Company. They began TO that If they met with
American opposition the result might DC ruihous'
Finally au arrangement come TO which Is under
stood to be follows temporary service Is to 90 into
operation by means Of steamers now in China tele-
the first steamer take up her position at the San
Francisco end about the of December next If Con-
gres takes any action session that leads to the es
Enlistment OF line, the English Company Is to exercise
its option OF withdrawing from the services II no such
action is taken by Congress then the Company is TO
continue the line for 10 years. newly built vessels
taking tile place of those with which it is intended to
begin running Thus that the final settlement
of the whole question practically awaits the conclusions
that may be arrived at during the next session OF Con-
gress 1t somewhat singular that the English Com
pauy Is 10 receive $4,000 per annum more subsidy from
The Colonies than that which the very substantial Amer
lean contractors named asked for the service, sydney
agreeing pay the whole OF the difference IN consldea
ton OF getting her own way.
Upon the conclusion of these arrangements becoming
known very important action taken by the other
colonies. Melbourne is the great city OF the South
Pacific and brides herself in being the entrepOt OF the
Australian trade To maintain this supremacy she Is
willing to sacrifice much Learning the mistake sydney
had made the Government OF Melbourne at once tele-
graphed instructions to their AgentGeneral in London
| 70 mt himself In communication with the American
contractors and come arrangement TO make Mel
bourne the Australian terminus of an American hne'
Soon Melbourne induced nearly all the other colonies to
mite with her. South and Western Australia, Queens
land and Tasmania teegraphed their readiness to join
Melbourne and NewZealand is quite ready to follow 80
soon as she safely do so. This would leave
| sydney almost alone. This is combination
| which, If successful, ought TO control TINS
highly important enterprise. and Messrs. BURNSIDE
and Scott would certainly lack the vim they get credit
for and would guilty Of toying with Important ma
tional interests If they to fail to avail themselves
OF it, Such neglect, however, need hardly be feared
Much has been written and said about reyiving Amer
| lean commerce. II beginning Is to be made In
that direction here is the opportunity There is an
| actual pressing want TO be supplied Beaten In the
| Atlantic American steamship interests may well lind
congepal retreat in the mild Pacific and the sheer OF
/ I'LL he IN