New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-23

dispatches show, may involve cohIlcI po-
tween Spain and Great Britain. -,
| The Sultan of Sulu has, it appears, granted
) away his powers twice over-once 10 the 0pah'
isb Government IL settlement OF some disputes
with his neighbors in the Philippine lslandS'
and once to this company; but the latter are III
the better position, as they hold possesSion'
The charter recites that the company mas
" mower of life and death over the inhabitants,
with all the absolute rights of property vested
"in tbe Sultan over the soil of the country,
q" and the right to dispose of the same, as wen
" as rights over the productions OF the coun-
" FRY. whether mineral vegetable or animal,
with the rights of making laws, coming
money, creating an army and navy, leVylnS
" customs rates on home and foreign faue
" and shipping and other dues and taxes on
"the inhabitants" If the company succeed IN
buying out the Rajah of Sarawak, 1t VIII
nossass the whole north of the island, or
q snlce about equal to the State OF Newly DIRK
The hoard of directors contains Mr.. Alfred Dent
and no less n persOnage than Sir Rutherford
Alccck. The natives are said to receive the
British cordially. Possibly the protection al
fordcd AGAINST the visits Of the SultanS OF
Sulu and Brlnai may for the time have IN
duccd the population to accept the more tehl-
perate form of British rule. The foreign
policy of the new dominion is to he dictated
Inv tbe home government. No territories are
tn he assigned TO any other State without per-
mission. and any international dispute is to be
settled by the Colonial Office. The company
are to sail and trade under flag to be ap-
nroyrd by the Lords Of the Admiralty, and the
~, ia, inf cd tlp BOARD.
i IN be approved by the Government,
Although in return for this the crown BINDS
itself in no distinct manner to the company,
vet there can be no doubt that by the granting
of this charter the British Government takes
the newly acquired colony under its protection,
and will support it either by British diplomacy
or British gunboats rs occasion may require.
As in all new undertakings, the prospects OF
the new colony are painted in glowing coIors.
The coast abounds in excellent harborS, suit
able for large mercantile marine or men-0i-
war. The charter provides that these last may
enter all harbors granted to the company.
The climate is represented rs salubrlous and
the soil fertile Opium, tobacco, corn cotton,
tea and every kind of vegetable produce can be
grown in abundance. Among the mineral pro-
ductions are gold, diamonds, iron, tin and excel
lent coal in large quantities. The forests abound
with teak, ironwood, ebony, gutta pcrcha trees
and other valuable woods and gums. One right
cspcclaly granted is that Of an opium monop-
DIV, as also those Of spirits, tobacco and salt
In all these arrangements one class alone has
never been consulted, and that is the people
themselves. \ right they never admitted has
been purchased, and a sovereignty imposed
they have never accepted. That MusSulmans
will accept the rule of the Giauur without re-
sistance is contrary to all experience, and sooner
on later the scaliug-wax OF the Colonial Office
will have to be supplemented by physical
force.
The granting Of this charter is the act of the
Liberal Government yet even some of the
Liberal papers have denounced H. The Spec
ioi0r points ont that England has enough
colonial responsibilities already on her hands
that small wars in distant lands constantly re-
curing are more expensive and exhaustive
than great struggles, even with long intervals
of peace. The Conservative papers, of course,
condemn the aflir. In the meanwhile posses
sion IN, been taken, residents have been ap-
pointed. forts will be erected, and despite the
protest. of Spain and Holland, North Bonco
will eventually become ~ gra a portion
of the British Empire as Malta or Gibraltar.
Perhaps some future Bcacou,lcid will add
Sult1na OF Brunai to the long list of titles of
the British Crown