The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-01-26
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
JANUARY %
Reciprocity

ter chances ofsucccss than before. Gen. McCook.
the American Minister Resident at these Islands,
il now on a visit to Washington. and IL IS under
stood that he goes fully prepared with detail, Of
facts and figures that ought to enlighten the
American Congress ON all points respecting the
importance to both countries of such a treat
To the Pacific States and Territories. of course, a
system Of free Interchange Of commodities with
these islands will be particularly beneficial.
while, however, the immediate effect of increased
prosperity will AZ once become apparent here.
It IS therefore the duty of this government to
make every effort To secure such a treaty as soon
as possible. American influence has always
been, and must ever continue to he, the para
mount influence here, by the simple force of cir
cumstances and natural causes. No other gov
eminent has more reason to desire the perIet-
ual independence Of Hawaii nei than that Of
the United States; and while its traditional
policy prevents its interfering in our internal
affairs of Government, the American people
must ever take a deep interest i'll our prosperity.
This is every year becoming more the case with
the people of California and Oregon, as they are
brought to recognize the fact of their dependence
on these islands for some of the most important
articles of domestic consumption.
In a late number of the san Francisco Times
we find the following well-written remarks on
the subject of a Reciprocity Treaty
Seven OF eight years ago, while Lewis Cass was
Secretary of state and Howell Cobb was Secretary
of the Treasury, the draft of a Reciprocity Treaty
with the Sandwich Islands was prepared and pre-
scented TO the two Executive Departments named,
and the proposition Ia enter into negotiation with
the Hawaiian authorities upon the matter was seTi-
Ously entertained. At that time Judah l.. Benja-
min. Of Louisiana. was Chairman of the Senate
Committed of Commerce. and organized a very bit
ter and determined opposition 10 the proposed
treaty, and, with the assistance of Cobb, who was
also in the interest Of the Southern sugar pTodu-
GERS. be was able to defeat the measure. which was
never permitted to assume any definite shape be-
fore The authorities of the National Government,
most Of whom were too busy with the furtherance
of their reasonable schemes to pay any attention
10 national material interests, further than To ward
off any Indirect blow at the iew productive features
Of Southern growth.
From this time to 1861 the question slumbcred !;
but i'll the year named. Hon. }. Il. Mcbride. then a
representative in Congress from Oregon. being
moved thereto by his father, then United States
Minister To the Hawaiian Government. presented
a rough draft of a Reciprocity Treaty with the
Sandwich Islands. similar in its main features to
til, Canadian Reciprocity Treaty. The Oregon
Congressman was seconded in his cndeavors to OBJ
tain a favorable consideration for the proposed
treaty by an American resident of the Sandwich
Islands. then connected with the Hawaiian Govern
ment. But the Secretary OF State did not receive
the proposition with any favor. chiefly on account
Of the acerbIty with which he viewed The proceed
ings in Congress upon the repeal of the Canadian
Reciprocity Treaty. The bill To provide Tor giving
the requisite notice To Great Britain for the termi-
nation of the Canadian treaty. originated in the
House. where the 1orid popular orators of the day
aired "a great deal of sUpeT1uOus patriotism during
the debate. their motive in repeating the treaty
being apparently more of a political and personal
nature than otherwise. IT Is true that public atten-
ton was directed to the defects of tine Canadian
treaty, by the unlrieHdly conduct of the Canadian
authorities during the rebellion. but it is not true
/ that Congress was actuatcI. to any degree, 10y any
such considerations in lis vote 70 give notice to
Great Britain Of the termination OF the compact
Ali Of the New England Senators, except John Z.
Hale. and Dixon. of Connecticut. voted III favor of
the repeal. and men like Sherman. of Ohio, eXplic-
lily stated that they were opposed To the treaty on
account of its being "unilatcral = as Sumner learn
eddy expressed it. and not on account of any feel
ing of hostility toward the Canadians.
/ We have been thus full in q statement of these
facts. a. the action Of the Executi e Department.
ana Of the Senate. whose confirmation is vital TO the
cOnsumudtipn OF any treaty. affords some indication
as to what might be expected OF them when any
similar treaties may come before them. Whatever
may have been the opinion of Secretary Seward as
10 the Canadian treaty. financially considered, he
was very sharp in his criticisms upon the conduct
Of Congress, or of the House especially. and be
somewhat taTtly complained that demagUgues in
the House were making fools of Congress i'll their
passionate speeches. At this juncturc the Sandwich
Island proposition came in. and was very cavalierly
treated by the iTritated Secretary. who was just
then hostile to all propositions whatever, which in
volved the necessity Of obtaining the consent of
Congress thereto.
Seward is sin. in name at least. Secretary of
State. and though the acTid irritations of that time
have passed away. Il il not certain that he would
favor a reciprocity treaty with the Hawaiian Gov
ernHient. such a treaty would be manifcstly a
bond Of union aud friendship between our island
friends or relatives and the United States Govern
ment. and it would be likely to facilitate hereafter
the possible ETavitatiOu Of the Sandwich Islands
toward the Government that control the United
States, should the reigning dynasty of the Hawaiian
Kingdom become extinct.
The Sandwich Island newspapers urge. with some
force. that the present tariffs of the two Govern
ments and the relative values OF interchangcd com
modites. operate 10 the prejudice Ct the trade OF
the Hawalians, who, with i low tariff. derive a pub
lie revenue from American goods imported equal
To only One-fOuTth Of the amount which our high
tariff eXacts from an amount Of Hawaiian products
Of equal value. They also argue that IA reciprocity
treaty would have the effect TO stimulate the pro-
duction of sugar aud other staples of the islands to
that degree, that their increasing prosperity would
not tail to rebound TO our interests. by doubling
the demand for American products now exported
in comparatively sparlng quantities.
There should be- an earnest discussion of tBSsr-les
ton Of reciprocity, which has been but lt,Itly
touched upon IN these paragraphs. and II the ner'
chants Of California and Oregon, interested in the
Sandwich Island trade. viii take up and vcntilatt
tie subject in its various bearings. it Is quite likely
that solid advantage may be eventually secured
to our State and coast.
Last week the Ministry, apparently arousIng
to the Importance of TIE subject, intimated to tn,
members of the Honolulu Chamber Of Commerce
that an expression of their views thereon at thin
moment would be acceptable. Thereupon. q
meeting of the Chamber was convened on Satur
. day, the 10Th instant, at which the following res
o~lutiUns, proposed 10y Mr.. ii. A. p. Carter, wer,
discussed and adopted
Resolrei. That this Chamber respectfully recon
mend TO His Majrsty'= Government TO open negO
tia,ions al Washington a. soon A. practicable. will
tbe United States Government. with the view of St.
curing a treaty Of reciprocity ia trade and com
mcrcc. which shall obtain admission tor our princi