The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-06-11
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
JUNE IL.

here from the elevation which it might maintain
to that of a ministerial mouth-piece which has
disguised a sensible community. To COMO farther
back than the last issue of the government organ,
we have a specimen of it's servility in the leading
article on the mission of Mr.. Allen to the United
States as His Majesty's Envoy and Minister Plen-
'potentiary to the Court of Washington, in which
the results of the 1o,1sion are set forth in highly
glowing cOlors, as though some great advantage
had been gained from it to our rising nation.
But what calls forth this encomium? Has any
good resulted, or is any likely to result from the
mission ? So far as is yet known, the public are en-
tirely Ignorant of any. The objects for which
Mr.. Allen went to the United States with the
above nigh sounding titles were:
LIST. To procure a loan of 800, 900 for carry
ing on public Improvements.
I'd. To secure the passage of a treaty which a
former representative had originated but left I'M
ratified.
Sd. To purchase a steamboat to facilitate our
inter-island navigation.
In regard to a loan, the Envoy returns without
the money. He has really found out what was
known here before, that money in Wall street,
New York, and State street, Boston, commands
from eight to ten per cent. for use in the street,
anu JIltG Gle lllauCIdl Incl tilSrc COIlSlU0I d Oiru
in the hand worth two in the bush" He
found, further, what was also known here before,
that money could be obtained in England at
cheaper rates than in the United States. In the
matter of a loan, then, we stand just where we
did before the Envoy left us. The money is to
be had. out we havn't got it. On this subject of
a loan we shall have something to say again.
The second object was to procure the passage of
the Reciprocity Treaty. And towards this, pray, |
what has been done except to press the measure
to the very verge of defeat. It was unfortunate
for our interests that the Envoy was in Washing
ton to urge our claim at the very moment when
those interested in defending the sugar interest
felt chafed and sore from the heated discussion on
the new tariff, which against their strenuous fight
ing cut down the duty six per cent. 1t was this,
more than the fear of any damage to the sugar
interests of the States from the admission Of Ha-
waiian sugars into California and Oregon, THAI
caused the threatened defeat of the treaty. And
it would have been better if our Minister had
not pushed the matter with such haste. At all
events, it does not appear that any good has been
secured us from his mission in respect to the
treaty.
The third object to be attained by the Enjoys
mission was the purchase of a steamer, which
has now become a want severely felt in our inter-
island travel and That we have not
got one yet is too evident, though we hear that
one NAV be expected soon over the isthnus.''
1t is true that the Minister received proposals and
learned the cost of a good vessel; but could not
that have been done here by letter? In this mat
ver, too, the mission has been only a failure, and
perhaps worse than a failure, for had the proposal
been left open to capitalists in Boston or Bremen,
(in both which cities there were parties then, and
.perhaps now, ready for the undertaking. there
can be little doubt that before this we should
have had a good steamer running among the
islands.
Besides these prime objects of the mission, the
POlynesian hints at a correspondence between the
Envoy and the American government in regard to
s the right of its citizens to claim diplomatic in
reference in the matter of claims and alleged
grievances This is supposed to be another
phase of the discussion ON the g consular jury"
privilege in connection with the dance-house ques-
ton, though probably broad enough to embrace
all disputes. But we doubt whether the United
States government have or will commit themselves
TO deny to their citizens abroad any rights con-
ceded to subjects of other nations. And so long
as the old French treaty lasts-whichi is supposed
10 De unGll The Il II GLo Observation-Disclosures IL
not much chance of a change. However, as the
publication of the correspondence has been Off.
cially announced, it is but proper to await its de-
velopments.
There may have been other minor orders fol-
procuring ten-penny whistles for the different de-
partments, which have all doubtless been pro
cured.
, So far then as any practical good results of tn
mission of Mr.. Allen to the United States arr
|, known, it must be conceded that it has been
< failure. We do not affirm that the Envoy die
not do all that could be done on that point Their
b can be but one opinion. But it should show t.
our government and people the futility of its for
: eign missions, connected with which there mus
be an expenditure of several thousands. This i
not its first foreign mission. There have bee
several before it till now it seems to be considers
a rule that each minister in turn can take hi
play-spell, which, if it is at the expense of tn
people, is a serious affair. Were there any goo
derived from them they might be tolerated.
has been suggested, if these embassies are to b
continued, that it would be a good plan to send
81 minister abroad to raise a fund to support then
A fund of $50, 900, to be placed at interest, woul
: probably answer for present purposes, or viii
. economy is ~practiced in our foreign missions.