The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-09-05
A Polynekian scheme.

~ u et1cf Ieot1tnW Will REMEMBER a tANpr-
lite idea Of the late Mr. wylie-A seAloas friend Of
this nation, and Minister Of Foreign Relations under
three Kamehamehas-thA the Hawaiian Kingdom,
as it was the fret in Polynesian civilization, should
gradually associate with itself all the island nation
slities Of the Pacific. forming a sort o. PolynesiAn
Empire, or Confederation. with the seat Of general
government at Honolulu. The Government Of New
Zealand appear now 20 be entertaining some such
idea as this. as appears FROM the following . Minis
teriAl Memorandum " which We find Ia the SOufhcra
CroEs Of Auckland. Aug.
rHE roLYNEsIAN ISLANDS.
Referring to a Memorandum (2S. 1879 on the
subjects Of the Navigator Islands, Ministers desire 20
further call his EKcellency's attention to the very
grave considerations connected with the PolynesiAn
Islands. Ii need scarcely be urged a. an excuse for
Ministers touching upon the subject, that New Zea-
land. through its geographical position aud its trade.
Is very much concerned In all that concerns the
islands Of the South Pacific.
Ministers moved his Excellcncy, n Few DAYS sinee,
TO despatch q telegram 70 the Secretary Of State on
the subject Of the Navigator group Of islands. urging
immediate action. Important as IL Is that the case
Of the Navigator group should receive immediate
attention, il no less urgently requires recognition
that more or less Immediate action should be taken
IN respect 10 a very large number. Of the Pacific
Islands. IL is stated, on apparently eomretent
authority, that the Imperial Government at length
entertain the idea OF annexing the Fiji group but
the Fiji group comprises islands similar 60 which
there are numbers yet uncounted in the Pacific, and IL
is desirable, in regard TO them, not to allow the
same delay that has made the treatment OF the Fiji
group 80 difficult. IL is respectfully Submitted that
a policy or line of conduct should be decided ON, not
alone in connection with one or two clusters Of
islands, but applicable 10 all Poly hesia.
In the absence of all machinery for governing or
controlling, or punishing for crime the white race,
lawless communities will grow up in these islands.
Then, whea the necessity for control becomes i'm
peratiye, il will be found. as in the case OF Fiji. that
the delay has made it difficult 10 do that which at an
earlier stage. might with casa haya bQon A1eofai
Again, IL Great Britain means TO extend her dotnin-
ion in Polynesia, il will be better for abundautly
evident reasons for her to do so comprehensively,
than to allow herself 10 be forced into II. the choicest
islands being, in the meanwhile, appropriated by
Foreign Powers. Unless she agree with Foreign
Powers--say, with Germany and the United States,
and perhaps France and Holand-to jointly project
all Polynesia (and in that case il Is TO be presumed
Australasia would have TO be included), she would
find il easier TO deal with the whole Of the unappro-
priated islands herself, rather than 20 submit TO
taking the leavings Of other powers, and to run the
risk Of having to deal with complicated International
questions. 1t is respectfully urged that il the tradi-
tions OF the nation may be employed as an argument,
it could be shown that they point TO the glad prose
cution by Great Britain Of the work Of reducing 20
civilization the fertile islands of the Pacific and.
moreover, it could be shown that, with the moderate
appliances which science has placed al the command
of civilization, and with the enormous wealth and
immense naval power Great Britain is possessed of.
the work Is easy now, which in the past, with like
reasons. would have been heroically carried out,
whatever the sacrifice il entailed.
But II Great Britain decide upon coIonizine or
civilizing Polynesia, there is much 10 be said In favor
OF her leaving to the already established colonies a
considerable amount Of the work and Of the control.
In the House Of Commons Mr.. Gladstone referred 10
the experience OF New Zealand" as somewhat dis
oouraging the annexation Of Fiji. Though this expe-
rience was not spoken Of in disparaging terms, the
surroundings left it opeu 90 such an Interpretation.
Ministers venture to urge that Great Britain, what
ever the pecuuiary cost il has entailed, may with JUS
tice be proud Of having reproduced herself in the
''Great Britain Of the South,'' as New Zealand has
been aptly called. Surely, a pecuniary sacrifice In
not TO be set against the fact that the Islands Of New
Zealand are open TO the enterprise Of all British sub
jects, and that they are already settled and coloBized
by British subjects, who. whilst they preserve the
best characteristics Of their race, are free ns n com
munity from widespread pauperism, aud find i'm tho
home OF their adoption the means Of educating their
children and Of Offering stiIl fariheF relief Ia their
burdened conntrymenin the thickly- Populated United
Kingdom. But there is a lesson which New Zealand
teaches, and that is, that local efforts TO maintain
peaceful relations with an uncivilized race are far
more successful than those directed by a distant
power. 1t may be worth consideration whether. IL
Polynesia is not to be abandoned 70 foreign nations,
it would not be well 10 entrust 70 New Zealand. which
possesses so much experience in dealin g with the row
ernment Of a mixed race. the task Of aiding ia en-
tending the British sway to the islands Of the Pacific.
OF the terms under which this should be done,-
whether by means Of legal machinery applicable only
to the white inhsbitants; by Resident Governors or
Magistrates, who would continue 20 recognize the
right Of the dark race TO self-government; or by
uniting the islands into provinces, controlled under
similar conditions, lit is not now necessary to decide.
Indeed, Ministers could not accept the responsibility
of submitting details, without a reference 10 fhe As
sembly. But when Ministers remember the enter
prise Of the colonists-their desire 10 extend their
commerce to all parts Of the Pacific the maritime
advantages the colony enjoys, not only in isa extern
sive seaboard and hardy popnIAtion, bat IN les faent-
ties for ship-building-they cannot but come 10 the
that the Parliament Of New Zealand would
cordially entertain proposals which had for their OBJ
80 lin a. H. Il. A
Great Britain In the great national work Of Extend
ing the British dominion throughout the unappropri-
ated islands Of the South Pacific.
-4fITsHH& JULIUs VoGEL
Wellington, October II. 1872.