The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-07

sion, would become the mere object
of everyday undertaking.
To conclude, believe l may not with
propriety enlarge on the many circum-
stances in the present state of politics
in the world, not merely favorable to
the execution OF such measure as this
of which I have thus considered the
advantages, but also incentive to it's
undertaking. 1 may be allowed, how
ever to make the three following re-
marks:
First Spain, uncertain of recovering
her colonies, can now neither feel nor
testify the same jealousy of such a set
tlement as she expressed or occasion
of those at Nootka and the Falkland
Islands. Secondly. The dispersion
and animosity of the French exiles.
render the importation of politics hos
tile to the interests of Great Britain
into New Spain now more than ever
probable, particularly when connected
with their favorable reception in the
United States. And lastly, the chain
is at present broken between New
Spain and the Philippine Islands, while
by our recent treaties, those islands in
the Chinese Seas are restored to our
old and active commercial rivals, the
Dutch, which, from proximity of geo.
graphical position, will more naturally
fill the chasm than our East India pos
sessions, unless supported and assist
ed by some strong measure on the part
of Government. That measure can
only be the interposition of an inter-
mediate settlement.
In the memoir to Government, of
which / have thus detailed the SUBJ
stance, it would not have becorpe me
to propose limits to the scale on which
such a plan should be undertaken; and
l indeed professed my inability to
speak with precision on the point. L
presumed, however, to state, that be-
lieved I could undertake to answer
some of the civil and most of the mill
tary demands, of the peaceful infancy
of such settlement, from the resources
of one of our large troop-ships, aided
either by one or two small men of war,
or furnished with such additional num-
Der of officers and men as might enable
me to equip two or three tenders for
the conveyance of orders and mainte-
nance of authority among the islands.
| begged permission to represent, that
very few of the difficulties would inter-
yene here, which made the infancy of
the settlement at Port Jackson so bur-
densone and expensive. This would
be a commercial. not an agricultural
colony The inhabitants are already
friendly, provisions already abundant,
nor would the increase of the perma-
| nent population be so rapid as to pre-
cIude the necessary preparations. 1
beg leave here to repeat the sanguine
belief which l there state, that from the
| first hour of our settlement we should
depend on the mother country only for
| her manufactures and her protection.
| These opinions and speculations may
be erroneous. and 1 now submit them
with the diffidence of one unaccustomed
| to hazard the communication Of his
| sentiments on public service. l haz-
ard Them however, actuated by most
sincere interest in the greatness and
welfare of my native country; by an
| intimate conviction of the Importance
| of the revolution now under contest
| in New Spain, and by the belief, that
| however that may now terminate,
Spain can only long retain her influ-
| ence in that country, by the improve
ment and encoura cement of its many
natural and commercial advantages,
! not by their oppression. With these
| concurrent motives. l VIII not deny,
| there is also mixed up a very ardent
| desire of recommending my own per-
| sonal services to those who alike dis
pense the tolls and the rewards of in
| dividual ambition; very anxious wish
| to be employed in the execution of this,
| or of any other plan which His Males
| tvs ministers in their wisdom may
adopt. for the maintenance and promo
| fion of British interests in these seas.
ALEX. M'KONOCHIE.