The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-02-13
The South Sea Island Scheme.

Several months since, we published a " Ministerial
Memorandum - from Mr.. Vogel, the Prime Minister
of New Zealand, in which it was urged that the
policy or line Of conduct which has induced the
Imperial Government to annex FIJI, should, for rea-
sons which were therein given at length. be extended
not alone to one or two clusters of islands, but to all
Polynesia. And it was intimated that the Parlia-
ment of New Zealand would cordially entertain pro-
posals which had for their object to give to that
Colony the opportunity of assisting Great Britain in
8 the great national work of extending the British
dominion throughout the unapprOpriated islands of
the South Pacific" The London Spectator thus
satirically comments on this grand Polynesian scheme
1t makes chilly blood grow warm merely to read of
such a proposal, merely to know that there is q man
on the other side of the world ready, if only he is let
loose, to the career of British conquest,
"a man who dare think, and think coolly, of assum-
ing for Queen Victoria dominion over the remainder
of the unappropriated and fertile islands Of the world
and the thrill does not diminish as we read what
manner of estates these islands are; but involuntary
admiration is not consent. The project cannot be
entertained. Great Britain, if she is to undertake a
new and enormous task, must undertake it in the
Valley of the Nile, and leave Polynesia to the Ger
mans, when they have recovered from their war
fever. Mr.. vogel's political reasons are not sound.
W. uO nOl nuuN hNS SuLluCA iSiduh "
ton; for as the Blue-book admits, white men cannot
plough upon their plains, and we do not want more
dark races to civilize in that direction. Papua. we
must, we believe, take, to protect the Southern Con-
tinent, but Feejeea is all we need in the Polynesian
Archipelago. Mr.. VOgel gasps at the thought that
Germany might station a squadron at te Navigator
Islands, but forgets that his argument cuts both
ways-that though q squadron may threaten US. we
thraat an n rouadroR . that uheravpr n German
or a French, or an American ship floats, there is a
point at which the grip of Great Britain can be felt.
If Germany had all Polynesia but New Zealand and
FIJI, Great Britain would be safer than before. Mr..
Vogel, however, we admit, though he dreams, and
dreams with enjoyment, is a statesman still. He
knows that the British Parliament will hear of no
such plan, that the British Colonial Secretary will
submit no such budget, and turns resignedly to his
own dominions. Suppose New Zealand forms a new
East India Company, and does for all Polynesia what
Godeffroy & Co. are doing for the Navigator Islands,
mot, one perceives from the kilograms, without the
help of remarks from the guns of a German war
ship-surely if a company were founded, with a
capital. say, of Gl ,00O, 900, with five per cent. inter-
est, guaranteed by New Zealand, it might trade,
plant, establish banks, found insurance Offices, run
steamers, monopoise produce, and even govern
throughout the unappropriated Islands of Polynesia.
There must be profit in all that, commerce for Auck-
land, influence for Britain, civilization for natives
repression of slavery for philanthropists, moderate
subsidies for missionaries, and-though this is NOT
specifically Observation-Disclosures credit and work
and glory for Mr.. Julius Vogel, whose project. The
Governor calmly remarks, would probably find favor
with the New Zealand Parliament. We dare say it
would. Endless work, adventure, chances, careers,
suit colonists exactly, and suit them best of all when
backed by a Government guarantee. But a company
of this kind, which in its inception requires sanction
for a loan forbidden by every tradition of the British
Government-which never guaranteed even the East
India Company, though it guaranteed compensation
for the loss Of its trade monopoly-and will at every
step involve new and immense responsibilities in the
way of protection; which, if successful, would have
the power Of a State and none of the obligation of a
State; and which, if successful, might be strong
enough to obtain new loans from New Zealand. will
never find official favor here. Let the company start,
if it likes Let Mr.. Vogel send out q dozen Rajah
Brookes or MIR. Webers-the Godeffroys' Viceking-
if he can, and let them civilize as many islands as
they can induce to accept their rule, but let all con-
cerned carry out the enterprise at their proper risk
and charges. The days for delegating sovereignty to
companies are over, and so are the days for guaran-
commercial safety to private trade A high
whether in Ireland or India, may be a matter of
Imperial concern; but dealing in "kobra dried
pulp, the staple of the South Sea Islands
5 not the business of o~ver-wearied States. The Duke
IF Westminster might as well set up q green-grocery
10 give himself more income and occupation.