The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-12-07
The IscciprocItX TrcntX.

The last Government Gazette has an unfair
article ON the reciprocity treaty, which is now be-
fore the American Senate for ratification. Though
there is ut present great unaninity among all
parties and classes here in regard to its cxpedi-
ency, Yet it has had bitter opponents. In the
face Of this opposition, the organ makes the fol-
lowing statement
"No opposition anu no uIscourngvrnvnt 10 C,u tlvat,
have been advanced by our foreign residents.
ON all sides il has been favored rs a commercial treaty
desirable in itself, to become, when ratified by the
United States Senate, n beneficial measure to both
parties thereto"
Has the Gazette forgotten that it's first notice
of the treaty was one which sought to make it aP-
pear ~ n very undesirable engngcment,-that it
strOve to throw cold water ON To II and create OPP
position to it? Ii was only when the editor of
the Gazette learned that Government had decided
to favor it, that he changed his tune.
Or has he forgotten the bitter denunciations Of
the treaty published in the native government
paper, which excited the fears of the natives
and chiefs against the treaty 1t is this opposi-
ton of both the government papers, which has
had n greater effect in creating prejudice against
the treaty than anything which any individual
person may have said. To show how the report
was circulated, we quote from one of the New
1OEk IEiIsIS tue OiiO HI lt1c1Edlnn IcCClNCu IOu
San Francisco:
SAN FRASCIsco, Oct. 2-Honolulu dates of Sept.
18th received. Legislature has been convened TO con-
slider the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States.
Cannot ascertain whether action will be taken, print
ell advices being only to August 3lst. Government
National Journal opposes the treaty and warns No
bles and Representatives of the Government against
the malicious designs of traitors, and advises the
Legislature to lay the treaty on the table. The article
could only have been published by the full consent
and knowledge Of the Ministers of the Government,
who are clearly responsible for it. After stating what
foreign papers says, Americans only are waiting she
death of the King To seize by force and appropriate
To themselves the Hawaiian Kingdom, but thOuglN
such a statement false, yet they reveal nevertheless,
the most cOyetOus desire on the part of Americans
themselves, that this little Kingdom be transferred to
them The writer says that the chiefs and represen-
tatiyeS of the people IN the Legislature, may think
that they are called together to consider and pass for
the general benefit. There Is good reason TO look
upon the treaty with distrust, and refuse to pass it
The prevailing sentiment, however, is very strong in
favor Of the treaty.
If it shall result that the treaty has been de-
feated, the public here may attribute it, defeat in
n measure to the unwise but no less injurious at
tacks and opposition which it received from both
the government papers, and which have had their
effect abroad. And it will afford another argu-
ment of the impropricty of Government having
any responsibility in editing or publishing official
organs. Ii may, in this case, become n bitter pill
to our nation, and a drawback to its progress and
advancement.
The official Gazette closes its article with the
following omenous language
1--WE shall soon hear what disposition the Senate
has made Of the treaty, and If it Is thrown out and
lost, ire 10 not eHry the -iasTIcaa, at trhOse door The
future can IA any Lrdy BE- !GId-"
Pray what does this mean? l. il to be under
stood n n threat, that any American who does not
choose to support the treaty is to be ostracised by
the Hawaiian Government? Ii means that or
nothing. But if that Is the intention of the Gov
eminent organ, it should be distinctly understood
that freedom of speech and thought is not to be
tolerated here. IL the government editor supposes
that the public generally will prove as obsequious
n he and his brother of the Au OkOG have been,
he Is very much mistaken. Freedom OF thought
on all political questions, Is the birth-right of
American citizens. and they will never yield it
even on Hawaiian soil, except at the point of the
bayonet.
so much for reciprocity at home. The last mail
brings us adyices of a meeting beld by the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce, To discuss and
take action on the pending reciprocity treaty.
The full reports will be found in the daily papers
of the 22d of November. We hope TO give the
whole next week. but will copy now the remarks
of one or two speakers. as II sample;
Mr.. James c. King wished to add n little to what
Mr.. Brooks had said. He thought the interests of the
Islands on the question Of nationalitics were divided