The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1868-11-11
Mr.. EDITOR

/
The now famous letter Of the ten years
resident, has been so appropriately dealt with
| in the last two numbers of the GAZETTE,
that further comments may be deemed by
many somewhat superiuous, yet, inasmuch
as it seems to me, that some of its most
startling propositions have not been made
the subject of comment, either editorially
or by your correspondents, ask permission
very humbly TO notice them.
The acquisition of the Islands (by the Uni
ted states) at the earliest possible moment,
being assumed as q stragetic necessity, is
made the text of his discourse, in which he
passes in review the various modes by which
that great desideratum might be supposed to
be attainable. He says,
Z. An unembarrassed and honest expression Of
popular preferences by vote for annexation to any
foreign power is clearly impossible.
That matter being thus conclusively disposed
of, he then refers to acquisition by purchase,
as follows:
S. Annexation by purchase during the lifetime of
the present King is utterly impossible.
Both of these honorable, Straightforward
alternatives being admitted out of the ques-
ton, and the Islands, in commercial point
of view, not being worth stealing, "a mode of
acquisition which this high-souled patriot
seems to look upon as quite justifable if it
would pay the writer by no means abandons
the field in despair, having still another mode
of accomplishing his virtuous purpose, in
which he seems to have adopted to the fullest
extent the jesuitical proverb, that " the end
justifies the means" and which he develops
as follows: .. -.
p My honest conviction is that should the treaty
pass, it will be far difficult and far more costly
to obtain the Islands at the end Of seven years For
the Islands enriched could better afford to remain
independent.
Does not this mean Enthusiastically, that
in despite of the palpable fact that, in his
opinion, the ratification of the Reciprocity
Treaty would unquestionably $50 enrich"
these Islands that the permanent retention of
their status among the family of nations as an
Independent sovereignty would be secured
yet, that a consummation so devoutly to be
wished for by all who have the well-beiDg
and advancement of the countay at heart,
ought TO be frustrated and defeated, fright
or wrong" by fair means or foul, lest its sue
cess should imperil orjeopardize the eventual
attainment of his political panacea, for the
accomplishment of which he does not hest
tate to recommend that the community of
which he was for ten years a member should
be starred, literally and not metaphysically,
at the same time batllied by "yigorous armed
diplomacy looking to the acquisition of the
Islands at the earliest possible moment +" into
reluctant but inevitable acquiescence
Any comment on such cool and heartless
atrocity as this would only weaken its inner
ent enormity, and l venture to assert that
history, both ancient and modern, will be
searched in vain for parallel case of cold
blooded ingratitude towards a community in
which he must have had at least some agree
able and friendly relations, and in which he
held prominent position, "enjoying the con-
fidenee of the American Commissioners and
Minister Resident" and in which exalted po-
sition he may perhaps have been looked up
to as an advocate and expounder, if not an
exampler, of the Christian virtues which he
now manifests such readiness practically to
ignore. Perhaps he may also have been the
pampered recipient of those whose vital in
terests he now SO coolly avows an unblush-
ing readiness 10 sacrifice at the shrine of his |
political idol. ScRUTAToR