Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-08-01
From the Providence journal, July 30th
HAWAII-DESIGNS OF THE FRENCH


HAWAII-DESIGNS OF THE FRENCH
The following letter is from a source of the
best information, and is worthy of serious con-
slderatlon. Some years ago, some of our read
ers may remember we gave the first infOrma-
ton that was received in this country of i'm
portant events in that part of the world and
although the facts stated by our correspondent
were stoutly denied, their accuracy was after
wards fully vindicated. We are indebted to
the same correspondent for the followingl -
a new attempt against the independence of
the Hawaiian archipelago appears about to be
made by the French, with the view to over.
throw the throne of Kamehameha w, and an
mex that very little, but very interesting king
dom to the great empire, in continuance of
the scheme projected by Monsieur Dillon, and
attempted to be executed by Admiral De
Tromlin, with frigate and steam corvette, in
1919, on which occasion this gallant comman-
der landed three hundred men in Honolulu,
where not soldier existed, took possession of
little saluting battery, spiked and threw into
the sea all OF the guns, placed sentinels over
the custom house and the government offices,
impeding the entrance of the employees, and
finally embarked, carrying Oft the Kings
yacht which has not been returned up to the
present day.
Monsieur Perrin, commissioner of France
for Hawaii, has for the last two years been dis
cussing with the plenipotentiaries of the King
the articles OF new treaty, under assurances
that it should be more liberal than that of
1916, which prohibited the government of Ha-
wall from levying a higher import duty than
five per cent. on foreign goods and to assimi-
late more to the treaties lately made with
Great Britain and the United States The re-
strictlon upon import duties was indeed with
drawn, but i'll its place right was assumed by
Mr.. Perrin to govern by treaty stipulation the
school fund set apart for the education of the
Hawaiian youth, and to establish also, by
treaty, that documents in the French language
should be received at the custom house and
other public offices, wherever they might be
received in the English language
These demands of the French Commissioner
show plainly the object he has in view, which
is to bully the Hawaiian government Into obi
cations impossible to be fulfilled, laying before
the world proofs of the noncompliance of Ha-
wall with treaty stlpulations, thus neutrazing
the generous protection, by Great Britain and
the United States, of the independence of that
rising nation.
Every one knows that Hawaii was discover
ed by the English, its native inhabitants con.
verted to Christianity and educated by Amer
can missionaries, and that very large portion
of its foreign inhabitants are Americans
Thus the English has become the common
language of the country; commercial transac-
tions, trials in the courts of justice and bust
ness at the custom house and at the govern
ment offices, are conducted in English, and at
most of the schools the youth are educated in
this language. This being the case, it is next
to impossible to admit the French to a perfect
equality with the English language, and this
being attempted to be established by treaty,
the first failure of compliance, which would
be the first case that was presented, would be
blazoned to the world as insulting to his Impe-
rial Majesty, and punishable only by the sub
Jugation of the offender.
When the new treaty containing these very
Objectionable features was presented to His
MaJesty's privy council for its constitutional
appreciation, this respectable body refused to
assent to its ratification An additional article
dd referendum was then proposed and accept
ed, which in a great measure removed the OBJ
jections.
In this form the French Commissioner for
warded the treaty to his government, but
without awaiting reply, and after having
given officially reassurances that his Imperial
Majesty did not pretend to exercise any ex-
elusive influence over Hawaii, and that the
French government did not approve of the
conduct Of Admiral de Tromlin, he presented
in January last an offensive note to the Minis
ter OF Foreign Relations, asserting that the
Imperial government had approved of all the
acts OF its consuls and naval commanders of
1887, 1889 and 1849, that France has peculiar
interests in Hawaii different from those of
Great Britain and the United States, requiring
special treaty stipulations to protect those al
legged peculiar interests, and in virtue of
this claimed the right to interfere in the re-
ligion, language, legislation and revenue of
that Kingdom. In previous communication,
Mons. Perrin had claimed the right virtually
to set aside a decision of the Supreme Court
OF Hawaii in last recourse, Notwithstanding he
had previously made himself voluntary par
ty to the suit. He furthermore asserts that
the new treaty, with all its oyerbearing stipu-
lations, is the work of the French government
after having previously declared officially that
1t was his own production.
Not wishing, or having any good reason, to
deny the magnanimity of the French govern
ment, this strengthens the belief that causes
are sought for to preclude the possibility of
Great Britain and the United States stepping
forward to protect the independence of Hawii
There is no doubt that in 1649, the Ameri-
can press opened the eyes of Louis Philippe
to the danger Of attempting to seize upon
Hawaii, and it is now to be hoped that a pub
he demonstration Of the United States and
Great Britain, and if necessary the naval forces
OF these powerful nations, will prevent the
Emperor from attempting what the King de-
clned.
The facility with which France assumed
sovereignty over the society and Marquesas
Islands, without remonstrance from any
other power, no doubt has led to the belief
that similar course may be pursued with
Hawaii. A strong presumption is however
entertained that England and the United
States will not permit such an act of open usur-
patton, particularly after both have by treaty
guaranteed the independence of that little
kingdom.