Our last topic is to be considered. We do not advocate the establishment
of costly works by Government, or the acquisition of a colony. The laws
of commerce will provide the first, if only a proper protection is given
to enterprise. Let us obtain but a single port under the safeguard of
the American flag, and it will become a depot as flourishing as
Singapore. Private enterprise will speedily establish dockyards and
machine shops; for not only will there be an immense legitimate commerce
with the Malagash, but the port will be the great centre for repairing
and refitting our merchant vessels and whalers. The one thing needful,
we repeat, is prompt action by our Government, with the certainty that
the opportunity now presented will not return.
NOTE.--The latest advices from Madagascar, received _via_
Mauritius, throw a little light upon the revolution which resulted in
the death of Radama II. It seems probable that the late king had lost
the esteem of his people by his partiality toward his favorites, by the
concessions made to foreigners, especially to M. Lambert, and by his
vacillating course in religious matters. His private life was such as to
render it highly improbable that he had become a Christian; yet Mr.
Ellis, the English missionary, exercised a great control over him.
The late queen was buried at Ambohimanga, a little village where there
was a temple devoted to the chief idol.
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