, 1874-09-23

in the preceding paragraph the opportunity
should be taken Of advocating the building OF
railways in Jamaica, but there is no %inconsis-
tency in 80 doing, because these works would
not necessitate the expenditure of one far
thing of the public money. All that is wanted
is the encouragement of the Government, the
expression of some interest in such an under
taking, and possibly a guarantee for the pur-
pose of raising the necessary capital IN TINS
country. It may be said that this course would
increase the liabilities of the colony, but the
guarantee would never be asked for II there
was the smallest chance of its being required
to take effect, Another evidence OF the strong
public feeling on this subject IS to be Iouno
in the further petition to the Legislative Oouh'
ell which was about to be presented OF the ue-
parture Of the last mail. This petition emu
merates the undertakings to which the Govern
ment of Jamaica has given its support during
the last six years, and states that the claims
for railway Improvement and extension are
no less urgent than any Of these. 1t IS quite
clear that the matter cannot remain in its pres
ent position, and that it is the bounden duty
of the Government to state clearly Its lnten-
tions. The petition prays that a railway Shouid
be constructed from Kingston to Saint andre"
through St. Catherine, Clarendon, and Man
chester on to Falmouth and Montego Bay
Mr.. Irving, the new Governor of Trinidad,
is at present staying in London. 1t is under
stood that His Excellency intends to proceed
to the colony by the mid-month October
mail.
It is understood that the Attorney General
shin Of British Guiana, an office worth 1,50Oh.
a wear. will soon be vacant, even if Mr.. Gill
bert's resignation, unfortunately rendered
necessary by i'll health, has not been already
rendered.
The Ganges has been taken up to convey
return coolies from Trinidad to Calcutta at a
very moderate rate of passage money.
The English Government has recognised
the Government of Spain, but 1t does not
appear that any stipulations have been made
for the abolition Of slavery in Cuba. Spain
surely owes this country something, even
without considering the substantial benefit we
confer upon her by joining with other powers
in recognising that she has a Government.
Rrt as usual, it will be found that we have
GIVEN awav everything and asked for nothing
in return. not even so much that Spain should
carry out a few of the solemn promises she
has made during the last thirty years, to get
rid of q system that stamps her as utterly I'M
worthy to enter into the family OF clVllsed
nations. Germany, if common report IS to be
believed, had some practical acquisition IN
view when she took the lead in recognising
Spain. But before Germany could obtain
nossession of Porto Rico, some explanations
would be necessary with America. There is
snoh a thing as the Monroe doctrine, somewhat
wild and illogical, no doubt, but sufficiently
nowerful in its influence to cause America to
take a practical interest in the Spanish posses
sions in the West Indies. If Spain bartered
away Porto Rico, the American President
might put his foot down on the transaction
and although Germany would very, much like
a colonial possession, yet if it involved a con
test with America, the game would not be
worth the candle.
The Peruvian Government is certainly pos
sessed of great powers of persuasion. NO one
would have imagined, after the revelations
which have been made of late years respecting
the Macao coolie traffic, that the Chinese
Government would so soon have acted upon
q policy of forget and forgive as to conclude a
treaty of and navigation with Peru
The world listens with a vague sense OF W
as China comedies to Peru "the privileges
Of the most favoured nations" But the real
object of the treaty and its real Importance are
in the fact that "it permits the free departure
from Chinese ports Of labourers for Peru, under
Guarantee from the. latter Power for humane
and proper treatment of the emigrants." so
% 1..o LC+4 bofovo diSoucGinp the