Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-05-17

GOD SAVE THE KING
KEONI ANA
REPORT
Of the Minister of Foreign Relations, read
l2h Of May, 1851.
To THE MOBILES AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
HAwAIIAN ISLANDS IN LEGISLATIVE COuN-
GIL ASSEMBLED
In obedience to the command of the King,
proceed TO give you brief account of the For
eign relations of His Majesty's Kingdom.
With Great Britain and all her dependencies,
with which we have commercial intercourse, our
relations continue to be of the most friendly
kind.
So it is with the United States of North Anne
rica The Treaty with that Republic, signed on
the Goth of December, 1S49, was ratified here,
on the Gath of August, 1850, and is now a law of
the land. The privileges secured to American
whale-ships by the 7th Article of that Treaty,
since the sixth of September last, have suppressed
ell all other laws and regulations upon the sub
ecf, and were, at once, extendeu, alike, 10 the
lwhaIe-ships Of all other nations.
On the 18th of August, 1850, an Erequatur
was granted to Charles Bunker ESQ.,, as Consul
of the United States, for the port of Lahana, in
the Island of Maui, and for all other ports in
these Islands nearer thereto than Honolulu.
On the 18th of January last, Luther Severance,
Esquire, presented his credentials as Commits
sioner Of the United States, 10 reside at this
court.
Elisha H. Allen, Esquire, the United States
Consul for Honolulu, departed on the Sd Of
April, and during his temporary absence, TO his
nwn country, appointed Henry A. Patterson Es-
0uire, TO perform the duties Of the American
consulate in Honolulu.
With the Republic of France, the Kings re-
a.iUns ought to he quite friendly as those with
Great Britain or the United States, in as much
as His Maiesty's Government have invariably
treated French citizens and their interests, IN
these islands, with the same favor and Kindness
with which, under like circumstances they have
treated those of Great Britain and of the United
States This has been the case, from the earli-
est visits of rhe French to these Islands. What
| has heen called the "persecuiiOn of Roman
| Catholic Priests forms exception to that rule,
for whatever opposition and other hardShps
they encountered, were not confined to those
tho were Frenchnen, but equally extended to
those who were British, and would have been
equally experienced by Americans, iI amy such,
IN the character Of Roman Catholic Priests, had
come ~ the Islands. Yet France never under
stood this but, identifying herself with The cause
of Catholicism i'm these Islands, considered her.
self alone, nationally insulted, and aggrieved by
measures adopted by the King and chiefs, from
1927 to 1889, to prevent the propagation OF the
Roman Catholic belief among the natives, winch
never had The smallest tinCturc either OF hostility
or Of tisrespect to France. Happily, the King,
bv an edict Of l7lh of June, 1889, lecreed that
| the punishment inflicted in virtue of the law OF
1919, on those natives who had embraced the
Roman Catholic faith should cease, an,i the free
federation Of all christian cree,ls was adopted as
a principle of the Hawaiian constitution on the
| S,h of October, .lS40. Yet, not even this free
federation, in the Hawaiian Islands, has been
understood, or duly appreciated in France and
hence. ish persevered in to this day, to inter
fere in matters relating to the religion and edu-
cation of the Kings subjects. in way which no
other nation has ever claimed-in way which
France herself never allowed in her own case
| in way w hich The laws of nations do not per-
nit and in way which, il is believed, would
neither promote the true interests of catholicism
in this kingdom, nor the internal peace OF The
state.
But il will be for you, the Legislators Of the
1kingdom, to examine this vital question without
prejudice or passion. and If you find that the
equal guarantees and privileges granted to ko-
man Catholics, under the constitution and the
laws are obsrrucied or withheld, in any way
whatever. your collective and deliberate wisdom
will suggest such remedial measures as may ct
1 fectualIy carry out the letter and spirit OF the
constitution, and of the law in that important re-
lspect.
Another main cause Of the existing difficulties
with France has been the high duty imposed
upon wines, brandes, and other sprItuous liq
iuors under the 9th Article Of the treaty OF The
26th Of March, 1876. As simple question o
ltreaty engagement, the Kings Government hays
ever contended, and still contend, that France
has no cause for complaint, under that Article
lI,ecause they have only exercised under II,
right which She, herself, voluntarily conferred
and they have exercised it precisely in the sam.
way, and to the same extent, in regard to Briisl
lani Americans spirits, as they have done la re
gard to French. The Kings Government ais
Iconten.l, and have proved, that, although not IN
tended to be so, the effect Of that high duty ha
ibeen emiuently beneficial TO the consumption o
French spirits. while il has heen very injur'ou
to that Of British and American. This quest'oi
also has been badly understood by the Govern
lment Of France.
), But as question Of abstract political econo
Inv. upou the strong grounds urged by the Cham
her Of Commerce. il is submitted TO the Legisia
, ltufe. whether duty on spiriiuous liquors, no
IexceesIing two dollars and hait per ga''o
would not place the spirits Of all NATIONS upon
more equal footing, and discourage cIandesf'n
linportations, without increasing the great ev
Of Ofintemperance,
: made by M. Dillon and RearAdmiral de Trome
lin, on the 22d Of August, 1849, for the renovu
. Of the exception with which French wnsIer
: are affected which import wines and spirits
. was repeated on the lst Of February, 1921, an
that on the 18th of the same month, u wa
>, grayely stated thai ihe privilege granted 70 OH
er nations is refused to French w1fsersr an
: that taking the example Of a Frenc MAZE sh'
of 400 tons, she has TO pay 20 tonnage ooe'
: from which every Other Whalsr exempt tSe