The Hawaiian gazette., 1874-12-09
.HAWAIIANGAZETTE
The Ce.sion Of Fiji.
- n. nsran,r NerulnE Henld.n


that the annexation OF FIJI TO any foreign Power
would have been disadvantage to Australia.
The cession has IN fact taken place more prompt
w. and with less difficulty, than we had anticiPa-
ted The unconditional terms instituted by
the Home Government could not but have been
unwelcome TO those whose views we're expressed
in the document that was found so unacceptable
in England But at the same time it is obvious
that however unwelcome in any respect, the ees-
sion had become sooner or later unavoidable. II
on one side Thakombau was little unwilling to
admit an unconditional surrender, and il on the
other side the British Government was little
unwilling to accept the new responsibility Of gov
erning a fresh batch OF dark-skinned subjects,
both parties found themselves under compulsion
which was partly Of their own creating.
The British Government could not possibly
shut its eyes to the fact that il its refusal to &c
cept the sovereignty we're to result in condition
Of anarchy it would be very largely responsible
for that result No candid man looking at the
history Of il for the last ten years could fail TO
see how large part has been played by the Brit
ish Government BY its interference, by the
perpetual presence and menace Of its naval OH
GERS, by its demand Tor certain legislation with
respect 10 the labor trade, by its Commissions
Of Inquiry, and by other means it has sapped the
moral, political. aud fiscal power Of the principal
Chief. The case would have been still more
serious il by its refusal to accept the sovereignty
the British Government had allowed to supervene
state not merely Of anarchy bat Of civil war, and
il is admitted that Of this there some not incon
siderable risk. It appears that the Chief Maafu
has lately broken the entente cordidle which at one
time subssted between him and Thakombau. and
has again INDUCED aspirations for separate inde'
pendence, if not for sovereignty. He had bis
separate following, and be was not to be despised
as an active warrior belonging TO race celeora
ted for its iutrigues and resiessness. 1t would
have been an impossibility for the naval officers
on the station TO have looked on, were the forces
of Maafu and Thakombau ouce more engaged 10
deadly conflict Itwould have been absolutely
necessary to interfere, if only to separate the
combatauts. 10 this view of the case, to have
abstained from accepting the sovereignty this
year, would only have been 10 have been forced
to have accepted it next and to have allowed an
intervening period Of riot and blOodshed.
On the other hand, Thakombau himself must
evidently have seen that he was under similar
compulslon Of events. He TOO, if he did not
accept the scheme Of annexation had to ask him
self, what next 7 and to consider whether he was
prepared to face the inevitable consequences.
Was he prepared for native war with so vigo-
rous an opponent as Maafu? His treasury was
empty. his credit was gone, his government was
disliked by the European settlers; he himself
having passed the time Of life when a man rejoi-
ces 10 fiery contests, was manly DESTROYS OF dig
ni6ed repose. OF the two alternatives, that of a
transfer of all his responsibility to the British
! Crown, with confidence 10 its beralty and mag
nanimity, was obviously the wiser course to take.
The cession was no doubt voluntary act, but 1t
was voluntary under the compulson of circum-
stances which he could not control-whch he
could not force back. To maintain the assertion
Of his Independent sovereignty, was, to say the
least, to run very great risk 1t was less risk to
put his trust 10 the British Grown.
From the account of our correspondent the
whole bearings Of the act of cession appear to
have been very fully and thoroughly considered
As is already known the arrival Of Sir Hercules
Robinson took no one by surprise. Full inior-
nation had preceded him as to the facts of his
coming, as TO the reasons for which he was sent
and as to the alternative which he had to put
No one, therefore, was taken aback, and the
King, his ministerial advisers and the chiefs had
time to think and talk what was coming.
The course of the negotiation appears 10 b we
been that. in the first instance, Sir Hercules
Robinson had an interview with the King after
that the King met his own chiefs, and rediscus
sed the matter with them in the light Of his Ex
cellency's communication after that the King
and chiefs met in eoncave with his European
advisers, and the whole subject was once more
talked over the articles OF cession which repre-
scented his ExceIlehcy's views being then and
there available for discussion. Under these cir
cumstances, there ought not to be any mistake
about what was meant or what was understood
on either side. 1t must also be pretty clear that
there can be nothing very complicated 10 The ma
ture of the cession, it, as our correspondent says
SIR Hercules Robinson dictated the articles oil
cession and if the document to be signed is very
short, there can be no room for much mysti6ca.
ton. These facts seem to point to the conclu-
sion that the surrender of the territory has been
as unconditional as we have been led to under.
stand that her Majesty's Government wish it to
be- From what was said in the House Of Lords
and from what has been said to be the character
of Sir Hercules Robinson's Instructions there
was indeed little room for chaffering or bargaining
An unconditional surrender or none, that was the
alternative as 10 which Thakombau and bis chiefs
bad TO make up their minds they appeared to
have decided 10 favor Of the former. As to all
details, however, we are still in the dark, and We
must await the return of the Pearl before all the
facts will be fully disclosed. 1t is safe, however
to congratulate the colonies of Australia on the
fact that this important group of Islands of our
coast has become part Of the same Empire as
ourselves. Their condition has for some time
past become q matter Of great anxiety and the
danger of the sovereignty being hawked about
among European Powers was By no means trifing
Not the less may we congratulate the FInn;