New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4221, 30 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1874.

The Molbourno Argus recently directed attention to the fact that it was the published opinion of the eminent French statesman, M. Provost-Paradol, whose melancholy suicide at New York was mourned by men of letters all over the world, that sooner or later either Australia or America, and probably tho former, would govern China and Japan, as Englishmen now govern one-fourth of tho human race in India. It was assumed by him that Polynesia would be governed from Australasia; and ho pointed out in the following vigorous language, what, if his predictions should ever bo fulfilled, would be the future of tho Anglo-Saxon race—" Mistress of Oceania, as well as of America and of all parts of the extreme East that can be ruled, occupied, or influenced, by those who hold the possession of the sea, will it be possible to avoid confessing that from one end of the globe to tho other tho world is Anglo-Saxon 1" Of courso we aro aware that thero aro persons who would look upon the prospect of such a futuro as but an idle daydream ; but if it be such, it was that of one of tho most brilliant and remarkable men of tho ago in which our lot has been cast. It is, as, the Argus remarks, not ono whit a greater improbability than the one must havo been that from a handful of British merchants acquiring tho right to trade to Calcutta, and to put up two or three factories there, should have followed tho acquisition of the magnificent empire formed by tho country and, people of

India. It is unfortunate that the'prospect of so bright a future .should, be shadowed by the ignorance arid shortsightedness of Australian statesmen. If they would do as has been done in New Zealand, the question could not have been raised of the desirability, or the contrary, of Fiji being governed from Australia. For although we hear so much croaking about the rate that the Colony is being ruined at, and so much carping and cavilling at the proceedings and policy of Ministers, it is an unanswerable fact that during the past twelve months wo have imported. 20,000 immigrants into ; the Colony, who aro with very few exceptions quietly earning their daily bread, and paying taxes to the Colony and increasing its prosperity. And it is also as incontrovertible that notwithstanding these large importations the demand for labor is as good as ever, and the rate of wages is higher than in any of the Australian Colonies. Besides this, there is the unanswerable logic of an overflowing Treasury. Also, the railways already completed aro paying in excess of the most sanguine calculations. All these furnish undeniable evidence that the policy pursued in New Zealand has been a sound one, calculated to advance tho prosperity of the Colony ; and it is a misfortune not only for Australia, but for Now Zealand, that the same policy does not obtain in both countries. If the Australian Colonies were importing immigrants and increasing their material prosperity, in proportion to their extent and population, as rapidly as New Zealand, we should soon rule nearly every Island in the Pacific, and thus a great step would be taken towards obtaining the command of the China Seas, and also of supremacy in that vast and populous country. This was a feature connected with that South Sea policy of the Premier, which was with such wretched ignorance, hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness jeered at by persons in the Colony, who, whilst fattening on the fruits of his policy iu the past, lose no opportunity of maligning and slandering him. Every step that is taken towards the acquisition of tho trade of the South Seas, brings us one nearer to China. That great country, teeming with natural riches and resources, has a government that is a reeking mass of rottenness and corruption. The British Ambassador, Sir Rutherford Alcock, recently reported of it:—"From the highest to the lowest, the crimes of venality and bribery, extortion and corruption, prevail, to the ruin of the people and discredit of the Government. Justlco is no longer administered by the tribunals; but in its place injustice is notoriously sold to the highest bidder. Hence universal discontent, tax riots, and more extensive insurrections." There is no question that, at some time or other, unless an internal change should take place, the government of the Brother of the Sun and Moon must fall, and. some European power or other will rule. It will be the interest of humanity that this should be. A Chinese rebellion means a destruction of human life on an almost incredible scale. The Taeping rebellion is said to have cost the lives of fifty millions of human beings. Thero are portions of the Empire that are and have been for many years past in a chronic state of rebellion. It is not to be supposed that the statesmen at St. Petersburg, who have ever displayed such a lust for Asiatic territory, view the state of things in China carelessly. They aro understood to be manceuvering just now to render the long-possessed Russian dream for the dominions of the sick man an accomplished fact, and this with other, European complications, may cause Russian policy in Asia to be less aggressive for many years to como than it has been in the past. These said complications are are also requiring the utmost attention of the Prussian Chancellor ; otherwise there are good reasons for belie ving, the authority of the Navigator and Friendly Islands would be taken over. Indeed, it would have been years ago, in all human probability, but for the French war. That these islands should become possessions of any foreign power, would be a misfortune for both Australia and New Zealand. Any person witli a soul above buttons must.see that it is desirable, in the process of years, there should be one grand Confederation formed here, including New Zealand, Australia, and Polynesia ; and . if the tardy statesmen of Australia would but learn a lesson from tho results of the line.of .pplicy.being.pursu.ed here, the day need not be so very long ere it arrives. To a certain extent the blame is not wholly theirs. The same malicious and scandalous falsehoods'that are circulated hero about the Government of this Colony are occasionally to be found in Australian newspapers, of undoubted respectability, and if Melbourne and other statesmen read them, not being able ,to verify or disprove them, tliey are accepted as facts. This Colony suffers in reputation thereby, and persons who have tho destinies of the Australian Colonies in hand are misled, to the common injury of all. When Mr. O'Rorke resigned, a telegram was forwarded to South Australia, that it was probable <Dr. Pollen and Mr. Reynolds would follow suit. The inference that a South Australian politician would draw from this would naturally be that. Mr. Vogel's colleagues had lost confidence in him and his policy. Even when the report was disproved, it would be supposed that there was some foundation for such a rumour. The policy of tho Government suffers in the estimation of persons who have not an opportunity of judging for themselves, by the circulation of such and even more malevolent calumnies. The future of the Chinese race has formed the subject of the speculation of many profound thinkers since M. PrevostParadol's great book was published. Like an army of ants they have swept over the Western world. Indeed, tho remark is almost justifiable that, wherever money is to be made they are to be found. They are singularly deft,, skilful in tho execution of mechanical arts, industrious, and thrifty. They have been found infinitely more profitable by their employers than the lazy niggers by whom so much American work was done. And, if a Chinaman makes money, he does so with the idea of returning with it to the Flowery Land. It is even against his creed that his remains should be allowed to rest for ever in the land he happens to die in. Numerous British manufacturers and other large employers of labor, havo taken themselves, their capital, and their machinery, to China, on account of the cheapness of the labor, and the excellence of the quality of it, which they can obtain there ad libitum. The country possesses some of the richest coal-bods,-and iron and other | mines, in the world, and consequently offers immense temptations to manufacturers. But what they require, and will at some timo or other either demand or take it upon, themselves to give, is some better form of government. That this should como from ; Australasia is, as our contemporary the Argus puts it, no moro improbablo than it was that a few pilgrim fathers should found the mighty republic

of America. -: In New Zealand as much as it is possible to do is being done to render this possibility a probability ; and it is a subject for regret that tho same cannot be said of the Australian Colonies. The Argus says that they are each engaged "carefully nursing mutual jealousy of each other's progress"; and this is not the policy by which they will ever "merge into a united and powerful people, instinct with the spirit of adventure and enterprise, bent on gaining supremacy in neighboring empires of teeming populousness and dateless antiquity." "Would that another line could be adopted. It is too bad that Australian torpor, inertia, shortsightedness, and internal jealousy should ever prove a restraint upon New Zealand enterprise. These now form a bar to a prosperity that might be common, arid this our wellinformed contemporary is as conscious of as we are.