75 NOTHING TO BE DONE? 371 



I do not think I exaggerate when I say that the future of 

 Polynesia is a British responsibility. Our sons and daughters 

 have made Australia a great dominion, and their children will 

 assuredly fulfil the destiny of the Anglo-Saxon race in ulti- 

 mately ruling most of the islands between the City of the 

 Golden Gate and New Zealand. 



With the exception of the Archipelago of Fiji, which we 

 reluctantly annexed (and of which even now the great ma- 

 jority of our people know little or nothing), we are as ignorant 

 of the fund of wealth that lies before us in the Pacific Ocean 

 as we are of the moral duty that is bound up with its utili- 

 zation. On the basis of high-minded commerce we can all 

 unite in shaping the future of the islands which inevitably will 

 fall into the custody of our race. 



Throughout the whole length and breadth of the Great 

 South Sea the ordinary Englishman or American is regarded 

 by the natives with goodwill. The Spaniard or Spanish 

 American is, I am sorry to say, hated with an intensity which 

 it is impossible to describe in words ; while, as regards Germans, 

 the success of Messrs. Godeffroy's Line Island labour-ships, in 

 the year 1879, is a sufficient commentary. Taking the whole 

 world into consideration, we alone seem able to deal success- 

 fully with the great native question. It is true that at times 

 individuals may be cruelly overbearing in maintaining that 

 superiority of race to which we have a very ample title, but 

 with all our shortcomings and I am the very last Englishman 

 to believe in British infallibility I know that under the flag 

 of England the native races confided to our care are honestly 

 and fairly dealt by. 



If I did not think so I would not advocate British protec- 

 tion for, and more extended British commercial relations with, 

 Polynesia. 



24 2 



