New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-29
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LIRERdL IINGOINN.

Mr.. Gladstone has been charged with neon
sistency in masGuerading us lingo in North
Borneo while he was persistently reversing
Lord Beaconsfeld's policy in every other
quarter of the globe. The alleged offence WIS
the granting of Royal charter in which the
rights and privileges of China merchant
were formally recognized. The island was
first colonized by the Dutch and Portuguese,
and Spain bases n claim to the northern section
upon treaties with native princes. In 1868 an
American trading company secured a ten years
lease of a large district in that quarter of the
island When the lease expired by limitation,
Alfred Dent, representing great English house
in the China trade, supplanted the American
company, and at the cost of heavy annual
tribute purchased territory embracing about
so, 900 square miles, with a seaboard of 500
miles. The sovereigns with whom he negO-
tiated this purchase appointed him supreme
ruler of the district, with power of life and
death over the inhabitants. These concessions,
and the extraordinary powers conferred upon
Mr.. Dent-apthority moro absolute than was
ever possessed by the East India Company
were sanctioned by the Government in the
charter granted last year to the North British
Borneo Company. By purchasing the tori
tories of the Rajah Of Sarawak, "Maharajah
Dent may become the sovereign of the
northern half of an island much larger
than France. Apparently the Govern
ment by legalizng this land grab COM
mitted itself and the country to an extension of
empire in that quarter of the world. Its action
seemed prccipitate. 1t seemed to have neg
lected taking proper precautions to have ac-
corded to this trading enterprise moral reCOgni-
ton when corporate existence could have been
registered under the Joint Stock Companies
Act, and to have laid itself open to the charge
of incipient Jingosm.
The official explanations concerning this
charter have been awaited with considerable
curiosity They were made fortnight ago in
the House of Lords in response to pointed in
quries and ironical congratulations from Lord
Beaconsfeld's disciples. Lord Granville con-
tended that the charter restricted the unlimited
powers granted to this merchant sovereign, and
gave the Colonial Office some means of con-
trolling the cOmpany's projects. At the same
time he denied that any liability had been i'm
posed on the Government to defend the COM
pany's possessions, or that any foreign COM
plcations were likely to arise from the grant
ing of the charter. Germany had acquiesced
in the Governments action, Hollands resent
ment had been appeased, and Spain was not
unwilling to withdraw any claim which she
had protested to have on North Borneo.
The island was, in fact, most valuable pos
session, which had been practically secured
without the United Kingdom being committed
to any burden either financial or military; and
Mr.. Gladstone's Ministry, while indisposed to
increase without good cause tho great respon-
sibilities that all over the world lay on a small
island, deemed it would be blindness to lose
the opportunity, when it arose, OF acquiring
political and commercial advantages of such
magnitude Lord Kimberley supported this
view by declaring that the course taken by
the Government was perfectly consistent with
the policy which it had followed throughout
the world-namcly, policy or promoting
peace and tranquility, instead of increasing
the dangers and burdens, already so great,
which England had incurred.
These explanations while satisfactory in the
main, are not to be followed too implicitly.
This is a mild tranquil and rational Jingoism
that is very far removed from Lord BeacOns-
fields meddlesome and aggressive policy yet
it is not free from illusions. 1t would be idle to
assume that what is virtually the annexation
of the northern section of so rich and important
an island can be comprised without grave re-
sponsibility being incurred. This merchant
sovereign represents the British nation; If he
be plotted against by native princes or openly
attacked by foreigners, the defence of his
throne and his seaboard will devolve upon tho
Home Government; and the fact that his pos
session is one of permanent value, which will
steadily increase under intelligent supervision,
adds to the responsibility incurred by the Gov
eminent. The island il undoubtedly worth
the risk which has been taken; but the risk is
unmistakable, and is likely to carry financial
and military burdens with it before the end is
reached. Annexation and conquest are seldom
cheap-and never unattended with response
bility.