The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-08-12
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
AUGUST u

ed-literally riddled and sunk, like a worthless
old hulk, by the metal of common sense brought
to bear on it by those who have at heart the vel
fare of the nation-had not the entreaty of ii:
originators still spared its existence. Well has II
been argued that the infusion of new blood into
the WORKOUT system of our paralytic government
was needed to save us from impending ruin
This treaty, as is well known, has been concocted
through the agency of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, who is It's staunch~ champion and advocate.
Although the letter of the treaty has been kept
a secret, enough has transpired TO satisfy every
one that the principles on which it is based are
opposed to our existence as a free and independ-
emit nation. The treaty, as we understand it to
have been approved by the Minister of Foreign
Relations, and sent to France for the approval
and signature of the French Emperor, yields,
among others, the following three points:
1st.-The right of the French government,
through its resident diplomatic :, officers to assume
certain judicial functions properly belonging to
our courts, which are not claimed or exercised by
the agents here of any other foreign power.
2d.-A compulsory reduction in the existing
tariff OF duties on imported spirits.
3d-The use of the French language in al Off
cial intercourse etween>Frenc subjects and gov
eminent officials point neither demanded by
nor conceded to any foreign nation.
The concession, by the Minister of Foreign Re-
~lations, of the first of these points, involves the
issue that our courts ara incompetent TO enter
tain and decide on disputes between French SUBJ
jects or between French and Hawaiian subjects.
The concession of the second yields the prin-
ciple that we are unfit to be trusted with the
fundamental right of free legislation. And the de-
mand and concession Of all Of these points involves
the great principle that we are not capable of
self-government. and can only be treated with as
a fourth rate or half-civilized government, like
that of Siam, or of the cannibal Feiees. At
ter having been allowed by the magnanimity of
European and American Soyereigns TO stand on
an equality with them, can our Sovereign consent
TO sign away his rights, and descend TO the posi-
ton 10 which his Minister OF Foreign Relations
would assign him? Against such an act the voice
of the humblest subject Of KANEH,MEHAIV. will be
raised. To these demands of the treaty the Minis
ter's reply should have been short and unanswera-
BILE: unless he had determined to sacrifice the true
interests of the country 10 the equivocal glory Of
having completed a treaty. Did he possess the
ordinary amount Of individual intelligence sup
Db-E4 ~ ~ LCpJNCG III OiS NJ ~ Il Ablb-
ister's portfolio, he would, at a glance, have
perceived, for reasons which have again and again
been stated, as ue cd nausean, the inconvenience
and annoyance, if not utter imp ~ssibility, of car
rying out with peace and harmony the provisions
to as yielded in the treaty.
The Minister gross Encouragement has placed
US on the horns OF a dilemma-we must either go
on and ratify the treaty and submit to the incori-
veniences or losses which it will entail on us, or
we must reject it altogether. If we reject it,
and rumor says it will be done-we offer a posi-
bic i~ncivility to the French Emperor for sending
him a treaty 10 sign which there was no chance of
This result the Minister of Foreign
Affairs is supposed to have known might take
place. And for the false position in which our
with that power are now placed that
Minister alone must be held responsible. Wemay
bear with the best grace we can the taunt that
will be thrust in our faces that we do not know
what we are about or even our own minds.
But what is to be done with this rejected treaty
with France? Is it 10 be recommitted for alter
alton to the same Minister, who for eight years
has been palavering to worse than no effect in
trying to mend up our difficulties with France?
Must it be returned again to him to rehash
and alter like an ~ill-ftting garment sent TO
a b~ungling tailor, or must it he passed to some
subordinate officer to try his hand on it, while the
retains his post and watches the imbrog-
lilo Il is an important question, and we must
look at it in the face, and view it's worst phases.
Here we have a Minister who for eight years has
been attempting to do what with him is an utter
impOssibility, but what, in the charge of a man Of
ordinary ability but unyielding frmness, might
have been long since, or may still be, easily eff
fected.
Let not our position be mistaken this treaty.
work with France is no triaing affair.
Eight years of b~ungling with it by the present
of Foreign Relations have only involved .
us more inextricably in our relations with a cow
erful nation. The united voice of our people is
for harmony and peace with her, on the footing
that England and America have treated us, but not
ON the basis that cur life blood must be drawn from
us in the settlement. The result of his labors is
alike unsatisfactory to the King, the Council and
the people. To continue to expect more is worse
than idle. His own good sense should show him
that any farther attempts of his are useless. But
me issue remains-fhat the Minister of Foreiqn
resign. and pass his portfolio into the
hands of some one who can better fulfill the
expectations of his King and country. JUS
ice to the King, the Council and the people
this. To return the treaty to him
gain is offering only additional dlscourtesy
o France, which she may with justice resent,
nd send to us as her next plenipotentiary, that
persuasive to which Emperors resort
Hardly less is it a gross insult to our people
or him to continue to demand the charge of a
which he has failed to satisfy. From
he position in which his diplomacy has placed
he nation, nothing but dishonor can await him.
The passage and ratification of the treaty will
ring on him the united curses of the whole Ha-
vaiian people; its rejection is equally insulting
o France and degrading to us as a nation, in that
We confde our diplomacy to one whose views are
o opposed TO the royal and popular will.