The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-10-24
A KINGDOM WIPED OUT.

BY the steamer OF last Sunday We received the
Important news Of the annexation of the Fiji
Islands to Great Britain. The particulars
which are meagre enough-wil be found on our
outside. Although the event has for some time
past been discussed very freely in the colonial
papers and was earnestly desired throughout
Australia and New Zealand, yet the hesitancy
displayed by the Home Government, and the
opposition with which the measure was met in
some quarters, gave rise for a time to serious
doubts as to its being carried. The Times, in a
very cautiously worded article on the subject,
reproduced the words of Lord Belmore to the
effect that the colonists, who were so anxious ff
the annexation Of FIJI, " had quite enough to do
to develope their own resources, without being
troubled with the government of islands 1000
miles away" Lord Carnarvon said that if Fiji
came in, it must be governed as : a Crown colony
of a rather severe type, - that is to say, as a pure
despotism, directed from Downing street and
administered by a certain number of officials
Lieutenant Governor, Crown Secretary, Attorney
General, and the like-sent out for that purpose.
Said the Times. The colony could not be self
governed until the natives have been reduced to a
comparatively small minority, and as 1t could
not be handed over to the adventurous whites
who are there OF VINO NOuiu 20 buSTG IL u were
annexed, there would be no alternative but to
treat it as a Crown colony and to administer it
severely" This is cool comfort, both TO the
50 white adventurers = and the natives who are to
be 80 reduced to a comparatively small minority
Mr.. Gladstone made a pungent speech IN Parlia-
ment against annexation, rcgretting at the outset
that, If the government contemplated taking in
the recess any step Of a nature to commit the
country. it had not brought the subject earlier in
the session before the House. He wished 20 leave
to it a clear stage, and had no desire to take the
responsibility out Of its hands
s.sir Hercules Robinson may 90 with Instructions
10 this effect You must make the best Of this. Get
sion of the British Empire, so limited in territory and
population. and With the enormous surplus power OF
governing it which we feel ourselves to possess. is Of
such vital importance that you must on no account
miss an opportunity Of making some addition TO the
scanty share Of the surplus Of the world that We pos
sess.' QHear, and laughterl That may possibly
be the substance Of the instructions to Sir Hercules
Robinson, and therefore / do not like TO be committed
with regard 20 Sir Hercules Robinson, and / treat
this, in TOint Of fact, as a motion in favor Of annexa-
ton, and committing IL not at the request Of her
Maiesty's Government; but, without any concurrence
on their part, by q voluntary and gratuitOus act Of
our own, rushing IN 10 assume this responsibility
which they have not sought to impose upon US. OBJ
iect altogether to that Hethod Of proceeding. The
Government have an entire right, if they please, TO
make known their couDsels 10 US, 10 make US parties
to them, or give us an opportunity Of rejecting them;