The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-18


they Of particular nation by BIRTH but
had they BEEN that fact would give nation right TO
degrade the Hawaiian kingderi from its rank in
dependent nation guaranteed IN its nationality by France
England and the United States. Thirdly, the French
demand that all correspondence between them and the
Hawaiian government be csTrs on In french instead OF
English present. These demands being resously
resisted by the government and persisted in by the
French. affairs become very threatening at Homo
lulu The French had sent ia their ultimatuni. and
given until the twentieth ~ March for the government
to sccede refuse Much excitement, In Consequence
prevailed at the latest dates The kings palace
closely guarded governmental papers and funds
This is unfortunate condition Of things and II pushed
further, or longer sisted in must prove detrimental
but especially to our commerce. We therefore. once
more call upon government interfere Let it
redeem its pledge for the independence Kamehameh
We object in TOTO to another enactment of the Tahiti
subversion and the present attitude Of very
like such disposition. II the Hawaiian government il
to be left free other than the nation
It, Our government should have had feet there
long ago.
Correspondence Of the Alta California
HoSoLULu, March IL 1851.
II ever there storm In puddle, il Is now to be
in this kingdom Of Lput The palace is garrisoned
with SNOWY body OF kanaka troops lest his majesty
King Kamehameha Ill Angce. the lonely one should
be kidnapped by night and loaded with chains board
the French corvette The troops being reviewed and
every possible of vigorous defence is
being made The books carried away from the GO
vernment Offices the other day, and the public moneys
20 be deposited in place of safety and the natives say
IA =
be cleared Of every easbe during the forenoon of each
day. lest the French sailors and marines should be
tempted TO lunch upon the caabashes of poi Bad policy
that to my mind for should the invaders be guilty of
such piece of rashness every of them would be-
come inefficient for eight and forty hours at least or at
all events in state which int heartedness said some
times to produce But stone is left unturned in the
endeavor to create excitement and to foster the
pectation Of an immediate attack And all this be IL OBJ
in the face of the French ultmaum expiring
until the Goth instant until which time his majesty and
what Is OF still greater importance the ministers are as
safe in sanctuary.
The dispute arose Originally in this way-A treaty tri
partate negotiated between France, England aud
the Hawaiian kingdom guaranteeing the independence
Of the latter, and, among minor provisions spulatng
that the duties levied upon goods imported in French
and British vessels should not be subject to duty OF
than Eve per cent ad valorem but excepting wines
and other spiruous liquors the duty upon which to
be optional with the Hawaiian provided that
it should not amount to absolute prohibition. The
government in consequence, levied duty of s. gal
lon and included British aes and elders in the category
The British Consul demonstrated urging that beer and
cider and could be classed with spirit
liquors, seeing that the former were brewed and
the latter distilled The Minister for Foreign Affairs
Piled with article from encyclopedia, giving the
comparative strength of every liquor that had pass
ed down the throat Of from lemonade to alcohol
The Consul declined entering into scientific discussion
but sent the correspondence Lord Palmerson, who
Immediately decided that heas not obsters that
there doubt but that beer and cider neither
wines sprituous liquors. that the excessive duties
must be refunded and more than what was contem-
plated by the treaty exscted in future. The Hawaiian
government complied without demur Then step in the
French, who argue thus:-Wines and brandies the
natural produce Of the French soil beer and cider
OF the British have right be treated the foot
ing OF the most favored nation; ergo our wines and
brandies overtaxed. Moreover the duty. IS gal
Ion amounts 70 prohibition, which plain nfraeon
Of the treaty.
Iu my humble opinion the French have the worst of
il the argument. IL mistake their part to
allow the word wines to stand in the treaty, without
the addition of beer and cider the produce of British
soil but, having ennmitted the oversight they are
words make it, Neither be said that duty
Of IS amountsto an absolute prohibition The proofto
the contrary Is the quantity that is consumed Moreover
there precedent for such amount being not cons
dered prohibition, for when England levied Us gal
Ion upon French brandy she did under the idea
haps mistaken that IL would inc the
derived from that article Of import, which expectation
with drohibitory duty, would be absurd = This may
ne an very nne, says Crspeau In answer, put Jonn
Bull sends his produce, and We will send ours-coaie qui
cctifco
Another demand Of the French Is that the French and
American missionaries should be placed upon par with
regard the moneys DEVOTED by the sup
port OF the respective crceds have not been able TO
learn the details Of this question with sufficient accuracy
10 warrant Offering private opinion but IL certainly
looks hard upon the face Of IT, that independent
ton should not be allowed the distribution Of Its own tax
gathering
But the main demand Of the French this that they
should be represented in the cabinet The Americans
are say they the British are represented
senistion that these difficulties have sccrucd they have
already endured too long and we tired of them"
nd n, his must confess think they perfectly
right Pair play II wei and II certainly has not been
allowed them yet They demanu " be placed on foot
ing Of perfect equality with other nations; they as. no
more. and viii accept not jo or one little less
White rule the country-for the king Is puppet,
who literally daros not say his soul u his own feeling
to the fun the rksomeness u yoke yet daring to
shake II on white rule each favoring the cause OF
his own particular nation and We must have our own
hare a power.
believe, than the rcstthst all correspondence between
the French md Hawaiian governments should be carried
the Hawaiian and the British or American governments"
say they carried not In the native language, but
in the English, which l. compliment 70 them at our
expense Now the fact Is that English strictly speak
ing much the language Of the country lIawaiau
having been declared by Law the official language In
sequence Of the incapacity Of the Hawaiian 10 express
ocis idea. II H. indeed the only language guosi nor
No one can tel yet how this viii end; but my own
strong impression + that the French viii not proceed
rVss d. tat, to actual aggression They have done
already and 20 try II 'econd time In the same
quarrel with puny State like this would be ridiculous;
and Frenchmsn Is contitutionay too sensitive TO RI
icuc TO risk It. Possibly the port might be block
AIDED In 81 the Hawaiian government not giving
way but even that do not think likely. But the cabl
net making the most Of H. trying hard to sccumu-
late appearance Of injury and oppref SION counting the
reputation Of maryrdo by every device they can ina
CINE I may be unjust TO them. II Is only private
opinion after all but cannot help thinking that they
trying 10 exasperate the French into landing At all
events their management Of the affair usnes our be-
evipg that they consider open and papabe grievance
the best thing that could happen 70 them Either this
il their game which II has been clevcry managed
enough else they lie open 10 the charge Of the great
diplomatic incapaciiy They have necessarily pro-
vrked ultimatum, prccluding all chance from that
moment o. an amicabe arrangement cutting themelves
Of from every chance n being allowed 70 march out
with flying coors land win have to submit after all or 70
adopt that viii lrally involve them In greater
difficulties than ever.
Ps-since writing the above, I hare heard many
serti0ns that the French will blockade this port and
have far changed my opinion in consequence 70 be-
eve 1t quite likely they viii do 50.
DESCRIPTION or THE ISLANDS
Our readers becoming interested by these advices,
in Hawaii will be curious To read some account Of
the islands. We annex a short description
sananlnh Linn An lrtnr.atirr rrnrr ~ i.nnAa In