The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-11-14
Annexation of Fiji.

After much backing and fighting, negotiation
and diplomacy, the Fiji Islands, cannibals, Co
cambaugh and all, have been annexed TO the Brit
ish Empire, and 50 another ring has been added
to the horns Of John Bull. The negotiation has
been quite q study to those having any curiosity
to note the progress Of this affair between the two
high contracting parties. There never could be
any doubt in the minds Of those who were posted
in the policy Of Great Britain, as to the acquisi-
ton Of foreign territory. The annexation, from
the moment the proposition was made until its
completion, was a foregone conclusion. But
Great Britain, like the cat, found pleasure in toy
ing a little before she got ready to swallow this
Fijian mouse. Her appetite having been suff-
GENTLY sharpened, and the proprieties observed
she accepted what had been previously offered us
and rejected or declined.
We find no fault. We are glad the thing has
been done. If our Government declines the gift
Of whole nations, full Of national wealth as well
as peopl but persists in buying desolate regions
like Alaska, because 1t has a surplus population
of seals, and then gives the exclusive privilege of
killing them to some fayorite company, why, it
may be useless 10 regret the choice. 1t may
prove the wiser course in the end not to own any
outlying lands, any islands Of the sea. But if so,
if this is to be our policy, what right have we to
object to other nations accepting what we reject ?
We have talked much about the acquisition of
Cuba, st. Thomas, the Navigator Islands, San
Domingo and the Sandwich Islands; and some of
our people have laid violent hands on Lower Cali
foFnia, and Sonora, and Nicaragua, as well, not
to mention Canada and New Brunswick, which
latter was attempted to be taken by q SQUAD, of
whom none bore a less title than Colonel.
1t is we'll that all this has changed as to the
manner OF acquisition hitherto sometimes at
tempted. 1t is we'll that our people have ceased
attempting to acquire foreign territory by force.
But we cannot indorse the course of our Govern
ment in absolutely refusing or neglecting to ac-
quire Valuable-we might say Northumberland
tory, when offered US without purchase and with
out price. This has been the course of the Gov
ernment. The French have Tahiti and New Cal
edonia the British have New Zealand and the
Continent of Australia, besides small islands in
the South Pacific. Germany is anxious TO obtain
a foothold there, and has once or twice attempted
it. We have not one island, port nor spot, where
on We may honestly raise the Stars and Stripes.
II we need a ship repaired, if she be anywhere in
the Pacific, she must be sent to Australia, or
round Cape Horn, or to San Francisco. however
great the distance, for the purpose.
Away from this port, VIC have no spot through
out this vast Pacific Ocean to which our men-of-
war or merchant-ships may repair for ~refttiDg,
provisioning, or for any other purpose in case of
need. And yet there are the Samoan Group,
consisting of several islands, whose inhabitants,
through some hundreds of their Chiefs and chief
men, have asked the United States Government
to accept them and make the group a part of the
United States territory. This petition we have
seen in its original form. 1t is in Washington,
and has been there for a year or two, in the pos
session of a Senator, and the gift, a gift free and
%costless, has never received the courtesy even Of
refusal. nor of n consideration. We need those
islands for the accommodation Of our increasing
trade and commerce, for our convenience, and
for our future safety. viii not the Gov
eminent awake to the Importance of this question,
and graciously allow those fine ripe pears to drop
the lap of our Union ALA.