The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-01-25
Reciprocity Treaty with the
Hawaiian Islands.

Reciprocity Treaty with the
Hawaiian Islands.
EDITOR Enthusiastically few of your read
ers understand the merits and objects of this
treaty; in fact, until recently il has necessarily
been automatically kept comparatively secret 10y
the strict orders q. the United States Government,
for the obvious reason that while il was in nego-
tiAtion with the Islands, its discussion might
have defeated il in that quarter. Now that the
Islands have ratified the treaty and il merely re-
quircs the assent of the United States To become
law II is 4 proper subject for discussion.
! | have to confess when / first heard of such n
treaty il seemed to me almost an absurdity to
talk OF reciprocity between a population OF % 900
people. but Yesterday uneiyilizcd, and 80 600 GOO
Of people in the United States; but further infor-
nation has developed its political aspect, and full
ly accounts for the desire of the United States
Government to secure its adoption. The object
of the Treaty Is not that of commercial reciproci-
". The Islands, in the duties they remit, can
not offer the United States an equivalent for the
duties we remit. Its object is ultimately to Sc
cure the possession of the Islands for the United
States, for the purpose of protecting American
commerce in the Pacific and of depriving all hos
tile powers of q naval rendezvous ON this side of
the world.
The United States Government is gradually but
surely obtaining the entire control of the Pacific
11AACAs AANAA Nb1 -'OAA III II ON1 ~ A@t Wy " Wv "
les. Alaska Is acquired, and the advantages of
it's acquisition are now acknowledged. Lower
California has fallen into the hands of a private
American Company by grant from Mexico, which
is q stepping-stone TO the establishment OF the
sovereignty of the United States over it. Sonora,
is tire course of events, will doubtless follow.
This done, there only remains British Columbi
and the Sandwich Islands to offer a foothold ON
the Pacific to n hostile power. As to British Col
umbia, after the United States have acquired the
.-.-s- 49,. "a a. a D.
now under negotiation, it will cease to lie of any
use 10 Great Britain; it will he n mere distant in
cumbrancc To that power, of no practical value,
costly to maintain, and will doubtless fall by the
natural tendency of events into the hands of the
United States in some future settlements. or cx-
changes of equivalents, between England and this
republic.
If, then, the United States obtain the Hawaiian
Islands, it will be impossible for any hostile pow
er seriously to menace the United States in the
Pacific, or III time Of war TO interrupt its COM
merce in this ocean, for the simple reason that no
bclligerent will have a harbor, rJadstead, coaling,
victualing or refitting station, except in China or
down in the tropics. Practically, therefore, the
United States coast and its INNER on the Paci-
fc will be unmolested, no matter what wars may
happen, on how much the struggles of warning
nations may harrass commerce in other parts of
the world. Without the possession of the Islands
this would not be the case. Ii would be an over
sight of the grayest character for this country TO
consolidate its seaboard and yet leave open to
hostile possession these Islands, which possess ev-
cry qualification for n ~first-class marine fortress;
ON which n power such as France or England
could render itself impregnable. and from which
IL could not only harriss, but absolutely destroy,
commerce Of the United States on this side of the
cDntinent-could in fact blockade the United
States ON the Pacific and shut her out from the
rest of the world.
The Importance of the Islands as giving the
key of the Pacific to such power has long been ac-
knowiedgcd. France, England and the United
States, have each been striving i'll PAST years for
their possession. 81 jealous have they been of
each other that they made the famous tripartite
Treaty, each pledging itself not t. seize the Is
lands. The few persons who oppose this treaty.
while admitting che importance of its object, sup
pose the Islands could be better acquired by puT-
chase. The fact, however, IL, that II is very doubt
full whether the Island government. which is
strongly influenced by England and France, is
prepared to sell, and If it il, whether it dared sell
without inviting the competition of those powers,
who would probably Outbid Us IN price. This
treaty, however, will answer the same end even
tually.
Daring its seven wears continuance, IL IL con-
coded that it will induce a large influx of Ameri-
can colOnists into the Islands. Gradually the cul-
tivatablc land will pass into their hands by pur-
chase. Stimulated by free trade with the coun-
try, planting and commercial interests viii grow
there of such magnitude. that the Interrupt
ton of free trade would rain the lsland-and the
viii then be presented of abrogation
of the treaty and ruin, or peaceful annexation.
At the expiration of the treaty ii Is not improba-
bic that Americans will Outnnmber the native
population. IL is evident that annexation will be
IN inevitable consequence.
j; is estimated 10y practical men that the even
tual carrying out of Stewards policy of compact
ing the terra frma of the Pacific into American
territory, will relieve the United States Govern
ncnt Of enormous outlay for the defences of this
coast, and will permit its rapidly growing COM
lnerce TO remain perfectly free from molcstation
in the event Of war with other nations. Com
mercially speaking, there is not an item of loss to
be sustained by this coast. Though the National
Government may lose some revenue. we here can
derive nothing but benefit from the treaty.
G. g..