The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-17
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The American residents are completely in
the ascendant in these islands, aud the policy
of annexation is gaining ground rapidly, both
with the King and People. The Hawaiian
Ministry, headed by DR.. Judd and opposed to
annexation has resigned and the new Minis
try is committed to that measure II is as fol-
lows Jules Young Minister of the Interior
r. c. Wyllie, Minister of Foreign Relations
Elisha H. Allen, Minister of Finance Richard
Armstrong Minister of Public Instruction
Mr.. Allen is at the head Of the Annexation
party, which seem to compose the great ma
jority of the population.
On the lst of September, the British and
French Consuls sent in to the King their Joint
protest against annexation, reminding him
that by treaty he was bound at all times to
extend to French and British subjects the same
advantages and privileges granted to subjects
and citizens of the mot favored Powers in
forming him that, according to Vattel, no mon
arch can ALLEVIATE his kingdom without the
concurrence of bis people, and announcing
that the annexation of the islands to any
Power could not be looked upon with indiffer-
ence by the British and French Governments
a copy of the document was submitted to Mr..
Severance, the American Consul, who answer
ed, with becoming spirit, that the Government
of the United States had made no proposition
in regard to annexation, although the subject
had occupied the attention of the citizens of
both countries:
I" To me it is not surprising, that the mer-
chants and landed proprietors,' whether Ameri-
cans or others, should perceive great CONNER
cial advantages in such a connection consider
ing that the principal part of the commerce of
the islands is with the United States, aud that
the islands must look almost exclusively to the
Pacific coast of the United States for a market
for their products, and the means of paying for |
their heavy imports. perceive, therefore,
nothing very extraordinary in the project re.
monstrated against And if now, or at any
future time, it shall be found to be decidedly |
for the interest of both countries to unite their
sovereignties, am unable to perceive any trea-
ty or moral obligations On the part of either to
forbid the desired union, or any good reason |
for foreign interference to prevent it,
French and English subjects might still be
entitled to the privileges OF the most favored
nation and on the score Of commercial advan-
tages cannot well complain Of being subjected
in these islands to the revenue laws of coun-
try which consumes and pays for French manu-
features and other products TO the amount of
forty millions of dollars annually and of Brit |
ish goods to the amount Of one hundred mil. |
lions annually-the revenue laws of country
rapidly growing, and whose trade is now Of
more value to Great Britain and France than
that of any Of their colonies, if not indeed of
all of them added together, vast AS English
colonies are.
In view Of these great interests which
would be sacrificed by disturbance Of pacific
relations, ITO say nothing of several hundred
millions of American stocks held in Europe,
whose value might for the time be seriously
affected, it is not to be supposed that France
will insist on the little advantage Of importing
into these islands silks, wines, &c, to the
amount Of a few thousands OF dollars, at per
cent duty as she now does by her construction
of the treaty Of the 26th Of March, 1874
treaty which, instead of being valid reason
why the King should not transfer his sover.
eighty, is standing ..su powerful argument
to justify him in doing so, since that treaty de-
MES to him one Of the most important attri-
butes of sovereignty, one in the highest degree
eesenual 10 All independently nations
Still less is it to be supposed that Great
Britain will claim the privileges of the most
favored nation under the French treaty since
she has generously thrown up her own treaty
Of the same date and tenure, and substituted
that of the 10th Of July, 1851, in accordance
with the American treaty Of Washington, Of
Goth December, is4s.
The right to cede or acquire territory, or
TO unite two independent nations by compact
is regarded as inherent in all independent sov.
ereignties IL has certainly been practiced
from time immemorial. The power which can
cede part can cede all the parts Modern
history abounds in examples, and none more
30 than English and French history. Annex
alton is neither a new thing nor rare in our
day, ~ the Turks and Arabs Of Algeria, the
Caffres of South Africa, and more than one
hundred and thirty millions Of people in India,