The Polynesian., 1840-09-19
THE POLYNESIAN.

to make some remarks and enquire as to its
applicability to the case in question:
1t IS true that reciprocity is not necessary
to render treaty legal. They are many
times formed where there is the most perfect
freedom of action without such conditions
But there arc natural and obvious reasons
. why such contracts are made, and it may be
well to look at them, and see whether they
existed III the present case. Some nations
possess within themselves such variety of
resources that they have internally all the
elements of independence.
All the exchanges necessary to emade IN
such cases can be made between different
parts ofthc same state. and although they NAV
have surplus produce vet whilst they are en-
abled to live independent OF their ncishbors
upon thcir.own resources, they will not ne
gociatc except fer their own advantage.
Other states depend chiefly upon few
articles raised in great abundance, which
form the staples of the country, it not being
adapted to produce sufficient variety to
supply us own wants.
OF course to such states it becomes ne
CcSs0yy to make foreign exchanges, and they
will make for themselves the most favorable
conditions they can. They must make ex-
changes at some rate as Il matter of neceSSttU
for the supply of their own wants but to the
former, possessing all the resources OF intcrnal
Independence it is matter Of comparative IN
difference whether they make exchanges or
not, and ithey do, it cannot be expected that in
such cases the advantages will be equal.
1t IS only where mutual necessity and con-
venicncc are to. be consulted that entirely
reelprocal ADVANTAGES are to be expected
But how was it here, did France need the
productions of the Sandwich Islands? No.
She would not admit them upon any condi-
tons. They consist Of the very articles
which she raises in her own territory, and is
most anxious to protect Did the king of
the Sandwich Islands, then need the BRAN
dy and wine of France, (the only articles of
French produce which were prohibited and
taxed so much as to sign treaty which net
only imposed such unequal conditions upon
him in his commercial relations with France
but the relations which prc-existing treaties
with other nations sustained to it, obliged
him to receive the produce of all other ma
tons on the same terms; in short to destroy
his independence? Was there any such cX-
IRENE necessity existing for these articles as
these great concessions would seem to i'm |
ply bct ldCtS answer, llcV VIII tel us tllat
no such aecessiy existed. So far from it,
these very articles had just been excluded
for the reason that they were not want
ed, and to save the people from their demo-
ralzing influence.
We leave the reader to Judge how far the
remarks quoted from "A Merchant" bear
upon the treaty which he has under consd-
Grafton.
1t would seem from the Consu's eXposi- |
ton of the treaty that the single end aimed
at was the introduction of alcoholic drinks |.
Was it not enough that misery, wrctched-
ness, disease and degradation were the in
mates OF nearly every dwelling, that under
their combined influences the nation was
rapidly wasting away; Must the flood gates
OF mtcmpcrance be raised and its burning
torrent roll over the land, They had thrown
ont their prohibtory laws in their diving
struggle, as it we've, as their last hope, their
sheet anchor, and must they cut their cable,
and passivcly allow their national bark to 60
to pieces upon the destructive shoals ol in |
temperance Must they admit an evil be-
fore which the strongest and most. highly cul-
tIvated intellccts have been unable to stand
Which has eXeIted the principal agency in
filling civilized countries with paupersm and
crime - and swept away thousands Of saw
ages and barbarans'
But so it is, the blighting influence of that |