The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3322, 13 October 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1873.

It is somewhat amusing to road the severely moral htuikum published in the Melbourne Argus concerning the annexation of Fiji. An article, under date September 9, was penned, we are told, with the design of calling attention at Homo to Fijian affairs; and commences with contrasting the British statesman of these days with ideal Britons during the time that “ the Stately fabric of British Empire was in slow course of erection.” We are told that—

Then there was no uncertain tone about the polky of the Mother Country, no_ “ letting I dare not wait upon I would,” no sitting down every minute to count the cost of discharging duty, or delicate appraisement of the monetary value of fair-fame and national prestige. The Imperial policy in those days was moulded and carried out by men who had blood in their veins and a living faith in their country—men whose cheeks did not blanch either at alien threats or clamors begotten of domestic selfishness, but who defied “ the threatener, and ‘outfaced’ the brow O; bragging horror;” and thought nothing of labor and responsibility if they could increase the power of the realm, or vindicate its good faith and honor. There were giants in the earth in those days,” hut wo look in vain for their successors in these. Tiiis is nil very well, no doubt, and wore it true wc should have reason to be proud of our giant forefathers ; but, unfortunately, it is not true. The “ stately fabric ” was built up through a variety of motives, many of them not very honorable to the “ giants ” of those days ; if fraud did not succeed, force, was often resorted to. The record ot acquisition of territory proves that, in most instances, it was not very honestly come by: the redeeming feature in British history is that the descendants of the “ giants ” have in these degenerate days made British rule another name for advancing civilisation and equity wherever it Ims been established. On this ground it is desirable that Fiji should he placed under British protection : not so much on account of the settlers there, but for the sake of the Natives and the inhabitants of the different groups of islands that stud these Southern Seas. For the non-success of the Native Government in Fiji, we are of opinion most of the planters may blame themselves. Very little really crops up concerning their ideas and doings, hut there is no reason to believe they are one jot more worthy of British protection than were the first rough colonists of New Zealand. They have not been scrupulous as to the means they have taken to secure a supply of labor; they went to Fiji without ascertaining whether the Mother Country would extend protection to them while there ; they have, by their political conduct, set the Government of the country itself at defiance, and having placed themselves in an insecure position, they, through the Aryus, bully Great Britain for not helping them out of their difficulties. Perhaps some of our readers may imagine our remarks too severe on this O # , , , point; hut we think they are justified. Had all or the majority of the white settlers in Fiji supported the Government and done their best to secure order, the state of affairs at this time would have been of a very different character; but, as elsewheie, there is in Fiji a class opposed to the powers that be, without the ability to substitute anything so good in their place. Not long hack, one of these malcontents was in Dunedin. He spoke in praise of the soil, of the country, its products, and of the prospects of the planters; wished for annexation with Great Britain under the idea that British bayonets would secure the planters in their estates, hut said he would “ pay no taxes” ; and when told “ without taxes there could he no government,” his reply was, “ Government ! we want no government: we can do very well without it.” This gentleman is a type of his class : every member of which wants to do what seems right in his own eyes : to punish slaves with the lash, frighten sickness out of them, and force them out of bed by electric shocks, pay them their wages in kind, get as much work out of them as human hones and muscles can do during the term of their servitude, and if they live to get hack to their own land, take care they shall arrive there with no other remembrance of their sojourn in Fiji than a 1 turning thirst for revenge against a race who used superior knowledge to degrade and oppress them. To keep such men as those in check, and to give security to enterprise, it is most desirable the Fiji Islands should he annexed, for we have no desire to sec Fiji, through abuses, grow up a den of oppression like many that were sanctioned by the “giants” of whom the Ary us speaks so much, and apparently knows so little.