The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-10
Ihe Sandwich Islands.

eminent OF certain hostile designs against the Hawaiian
Kingdom has awakened unusual degree OF interest IN
respect to the Sandwich islands The dispute which II
seems is about to their Maesties Kamehameha III and
Napoleon Ill by the ears is ancient quarrel OF very
complicated character.
The story OF the di scoyery of the Hawaiian group OF
islands by the famous navigator Captain Cook on the
nineteenth day OF January, ITS, and OF his melancholy
end is familiar to the intelligent reader The advantages
of the group rendezvous for vessels cruising IN the
Pacific ocean brought its heather Inhabitants into ire
quen contact with the merchants OF civilized nations
OF an exceedingly tractable and doce nature, the island
ers readily yielded the influences of Christian civil
za,ionnsomuch that the first corps OF American mission
aries found them in 1920 equally eager 10 reject their old
system Of idolaous superstition and to escape from the
blackness Of barbarism The traffic OF the merchant
prepared the way for the Gospel OF the missionary and
less than fifteen years the faith OF the Protestant Christian
became the established religion of the people and the
government Meanwhile, the whole group Of islands
had been reduced to one dominion by The great chief
Kamehameha |, the Napoleon of the Pacific, who
so much loved and rcyerenced by his subjects that the
pous proposition Of an enthusiastic mourner o eat HIM
raw" would have been undoubtedly carried into effect
but for the nerposiion OF the missionaries, who procured
burial.
About the year 1899 a company OF French Catholics
arrived in the islands, and began teach with that
cess which has attended their missionary abos in all
quarters of the globe The government took offence at
their nroads on the established religion of the kingdom,
baaisbed the Catholics, and prosecuted their converts
Subsequently the system Of persecution Abandoned
and the Catholic missionaries allowed to return TO
the islands, but under certain disabilities. Just about
this time Captain Laplace Of the French Frgae LArte
mise arrived at Honolulu, and under threats Of immed-
ate hostiles. exorted for the Catholics The prvi-
leges enjoyed by Professionals, and also bued the gov
eminent into treaty for the admission OF French wines
and brandies at very low duty. For the faithful per-
Torrance of these slpuations he extorted security of
twenty thousand dollars OF course the British author
tiles would not be outdone by the French so, in
ls43 Lord George Pauet, OF her Majesiys ship Cays
fort, went bowshot beyond the insolence of Captain
Laplace and made such demands upon the King that in
utter despair he abdcaied his authority and surrendered
his dominons TO Queen Victoria The cesson was &C.
cepted by Lord George Pauet, and the government, Of
the islands put into commission The supremacy OF the
English was OF brief duration for the 3lst Of July
ls4a, Rear Admiral Thomas cancelled the acts of Sir
to their legitimate sovereign. The government, of Ka-
mehameha I'll has since been formally acknowledged by
the United States, England, France Russia and possibly
by other powers
The concessions 10 the French commander especially in
regard the admission OF wines and brandies the Hs
waian Kingdom they made under the pressure OF
canpulsion have been very reluctantly and impefecty
carried out if not formally revoked. In consequence,
the French government has repeatedly manifested
friendly disposition towards the Hawaiian kingdom and
not all improbable that the report OF hostile
petition agains, the islands has foundation in fact.
The manner which the French government seized upon
the Society islands tends not at all to the sus.
picion of their designs against the Hawaiian group.
II is nantes, tha, the native government, of the Sand
witch islands exists only by suderenee, II is equally
manifest that it is rapidly sinking from inherent decay
which nothing arrest In 179s the aboriginal popu-
aton Of The Hawaiian islands but little less than
100000 In 1880 i, but $50, 600 and by the
OF 1850 it computed at scarcely $4,000 souls In the
preceding year the OF deaths births SOS
AT this rate OF decrease the native population OF the
islands will become extinct by the end Of The century
As the native population disappears, the vacuum is filled
up by immigration chiefly from the United States. The
educa,on the religion, the trade, and the govern
nen OF the islands, already under American control
The relations between this country and the Hawaiian
kingdom are analogous 10 those which existed between
the United States and the republic Of Texas. The Ha
waian government, has more than once proposed some
sort OF political connexion with the United States
whether the surrender Of it's dominons and formal an.
nexsiiop, cannot be determined until the publication OF
the official correspondence the subject IL is under
stood ha, the proer, whatever its nature was rejected
by the late administration The Senate sought ialorma
ton the OF the nsgotaions bu, Presiden, Fill
more declined TO publish the correspondence between the
two governments.
Whatever differences OF opinion may exist as to the
proper Interpretation Of the Monroe doctrine all are agreed
that under circumstances this government suffer
the dominion of the Sandwich islands 10 be transferred TO
any other power Such transfer could never be made
but by violence, and in disregard Of the wishes of the
people well as OF the government OF the islands The
present King has announced his intention in any diff
Guilty with foreign power, TO throw himself upon The
protection Of the American government In such an
emergency, the duty of this government would be su T.
hceny obvious The possession OF the Sandwich islands
essential TO the protection Of our rapidly increasing
commerce IN the Pacific. Lying midway between Cali.
'o'"'s ana china, IN the path of American and Asiaiie
'eee-oonsu'u'ins convenient rallying point for
our whaling vessels and necessary .,.,;on TO- -.
anu s"ppy u ne steamships which. a, no distant dav
viii run from San Francisco to Shanghai and Jeddo-,hs
oo"o no pass unoet he dominion Of any one Of the chief