The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-04-26
lFrsn ne Nss z.alaaa HsraA. Fsaraarys -
The Fiis.

In another column We publish correspondence
from Fji. which throws some additional light on
the /" labor traffic 81 the Islands, and OF which
traffic the Fijian group would appear 10 be the cen
ire. We have omitted from our correspondents
letter anything which appeared TO be biased
against the present Government OF tul, because We
hold the opinion that however imperfect the WORK
nav have been done. the men who framed the ton-
stitutiou Of Fiji. and reduced the barbarous society
there into something approaching order, deserve
we'll Of mankind. The Fiji Government may not
be strong enough 10 repress &" che peculiar insutu-
ton = there may be even a lenient treatment of
man-stealers: but with all that. civilization has
made wonderful strides in FIJI within the last two
years. The country Is steadilN increasing in wealth:
and in . short tim. We have no doubt that. for
persons who can pat mp with Its trying climate
mosquitoes, and sandfieS. &c Will be a tolerable
enough place 70 live in Unfortunately the hings
Government and tue BRITISH Consul do not pun
tremendously together. This Is a pity for both
But il j. 10 the nature Of things that a deposed po-
tentate like the British Consul. backed by British
guns. should not De tolerant of the shortcomings
Of the u~surping Power; and it is just Is natural
that the new redged Constitutional Ministers Of his
Fijian Majesty. CAkobau tire First, should resent
any slight. real OF imagined. by the British Consul.
Their task Is. however. difficult one. They are
on their trial before the civilized world. They are
regarded with jealousy in many quarters. and with
distayor in many Others and they should be all
the more clrcumSpect IN their conduct. Let an lul-
preston once get abroad that the FiJian Govern
ment is tolerant OF the labor traffic and an eN-
cuse will not be wanting fer putting an end to It's
executive career. we make tDcSs itiuaIhs II u
friendly spirit. because We feel that the men who
have undertaken the task Of turning the crude ma
teriaiS OF Fiji into a second Hawai-. need all the
moral support they can get and also because we
believe that in their dealings with the British Con-
sulate they have been wanting IN prudence. Ii Is
impossible TO ignore the British Consulate at Le-
vuka. The action taken by Mr.. March in the mat
ter OF the Carl murdeTers, which led TO the horrible
disclosures in Sydney, should show that be has the
ultimate power at command to regulate the labor
traffic aud were that case not sufficient the
report of the preliminary inquiry on board IL. Ms.
Ethel. and the committal of four Of the crew of the
Kate Grant for trial in sydney, should go a long
way towards convincing King Cakobou that the
real authority rests with those who can command
the most guns.
The complaint that the visits by British ships of
war to Fiji have not been sufficiently frequent,
which Is made by our correspondent. may be we'll
founded. We do not pretend to know the facts. 1t
is quite plain. however, that he wishes q blockade
To be established; aud no doubt a small gunbOat,
OF the Ethel class. should be kept constantly cruis-
ing off Levuka and other points on the tDian coast,
where POlynesian laborers are usually landed. By
so doing. the men who now engage in II would be
deferred fromspursuing their lawless calling, and
by imposing the duty on the Fijian authorities Of
vigorously enforcing the local laws, the atrocities
aud abuses complained of would soon be at an end.
The Dido is, however, about to proceed to Fiji, and
no doubt Captain Chapman will make minute in
quiry into the abuse of the labor traffic. and take
further measures for Its suppression. England is
committed to the task and the more thoroughly
and speedily it is accomplished, the better will it
be for Fiji and the islands of Polynesia. The dis
closures regarding the late cruise of the Kate Grant,
which came out in evidence, are sufficient to excite
the utmost herror. Man-stealing, murder, lust
these are " according to the usual custom of labor
breach than in the observance - aud We sincerely
trust, that if the prisoners awaiting trial in Sydney
are convicted, they will be sentenced to the heaviest
penalty the law assigns for such crimes.