The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-02-15

klE TN - EN
President SHEATH stated the object Of the inset.
ing. and called for the report. Mr.. Gordon, o
the Committee. presented q report, signed by
four of the Committee, Mr.. King dissenting.
MAJORITY COMMITTEE REPORT.
SAS Francisco. December ., 1867.
To the President Of The CHAMBER gf Commerce o.
San Francisco:
Your committee, TO whom was referred the
duty Of inquiring into the reciprocity treaty with
the Sandwich Islands now before the Senate of the
United States, and the effect IL will have upon
the Commerce OF the Pacific, and of this State
and coast, beg TO submit the following views as
the result Of their inquiries:
The Sandwich Islands lie in the center OF
the commercial part of the North Pacifc Ocean,
and in the direct track Of between Cal
ifornia and China, japan and the East Indian
Archipelago; also, between Panama and China
and command the sea routes between South Amer
len and Australasia, and the northern and north
western Pacific. They command stntegically the
commerce Of the Pacific ocean, and possess, in
themselves, probably. every requisite of n self
contained and selEsustaining marine fortress and
station OF the first class. They are owned and oc-
eupied by about 5000 native Hawaiians and
half castes, and about 3 1000 Europeans and Amer
leans. The native population l. rapidly dccreas-
ing, and in all human probability will, during
the present century, either become extinct or lose
entirely its indigenous character, by admixture
with foreign races. In 1899. when the first Off
cial census was taken, their population numbered
l30, BIB. In subsequent census takings the num-
bers read los .OCO. 81 900, 13 GOO, 60 900.
H-Engiani, France and the United States
coyet the possession OF these Islands, and have
made, in past years, both covert and open at
tempts TO obtain them. They are the object of n
triIartite treaty existing ut present between those
powers. in which erch pledges itself not TO seize
them but almost innumerable have been the Sc
cret negotiations. conspiracies and diplomatic bar
gainings by each power to get their possession
without seizure. One of these attempts would
have long ago been successful. were it not that
each power has yigilantly watched and counter
plotted against the others.
The reasons for this anxiety are obvious So
hong agD as ISL, James jackson Jaryes, OF Bos-
ton. in his work on the Islands, says; SHOULD
any of tie great powers seize upon them, 1T
might he considered - holding the key To the
North Pacific; for no trade could prosper, or even
exist, while n hostile power, possessing an active
and powerful marine, should send forth Its cruis-
ere to prey ON commerce." Speaking of the ISL
ands for defense, he says: "a military colony
once fairly established on them might pat at de-
liance any means Of attack which could be brought
against them"
Since tire time Mr.. Jarvcs wrote. the progress
Of events has, to the United States added tenfold
force to these facts. What was evident in 1871,
II in 1867 Of paramount Importance. Since that
time the whole Pacific coast, from the frigid zone
to the edge Of the tropics-except British Column
bia-has become the scabOard OF the United
States. \ great railroad will shortly connect the
Atlantic with the Pacific, and already American
on this ocean las become n market of
the highest national Importance and pride.
Thesc Islands lie Opposite its gates and in its
very midst. Ii q hostile power possess them and
fortify itself there, were il the smallest of the
marine powers, it would probably Sinihilate this
n power with a fleet consisting OF only
the Florida and tie Alabama would, entrcncbed
in these marine fortrcsSes, harass all profit cut of
it. In the hands Of France or England, the effect
would be to enable either of those powers 10 shut
Us out Of the great highway Of the Pacific, and
lock US up. - far as commerce II concerned, with
IN our own mountain RACES, absolutely ut Its
The United States, by keeping up an
naval armament on this coast, could
carry her iag with her floating batteries in defiance
Of such powers and their mid-Oeean fortress, but
would be suspended.
IIl-The wisc policy of the present age tends
TO territorial comIactness, with broad and mark
I'll divisions. Great Britain Is contracting, 50 is
Germany, Italy and tie United States. They are
Kidding themselves Of initiating points Of contact,
and consolidating into great geographical unities.
The United States look TO the time when Brit
ish Columbia will fall peacefully. and by the
mere force Of circumstances, into the United
States. Already it is clearing away the impede
nent OF private interest by negotiating for tie
Bay COnpany's property and claiEIs.
These acquired, British Columbia will be only
/ wedge Of coast uneOmfOriably inserted in Amer
territory, n cause of irritation by the United
states, without corr, spending benefit 90 Great
Britain-ad distant and isolated appendagc OF that
lower, costly To maintain, entirely unremJnera-
i've, n mere care, barren of honor, and nationally
which, in the progress OF the present
consolidating policy of Great Britain, will be
Yielded 10 the United States for some equivalent
advantageous 10 both nations, and thus become 4
lortIOn of this contracted Republic.
Ii the policy he carried out, and from Alaska
o SOnora there il no foot of coast, no barbor,
IndiDg place or anchorage which - not Ameri-
and that these Islands become, instead of II
hostile stronghold, an outpost of American unity
an American fortress guarding this long line of
eabJard, and watching, in mid Pacific, over our
xtended and extending commercials safety is
assured. Where could n hostile power
Ibtain an inch of terra Grna on which to plant
is foot? Where an anchorage, n landing or n
hclter? Where could he get fuel or water for
IL fleet? Where repair his machinery, refit his
hips or hospital his crews, except IN the tropics
Of us, or in China? And Is il probable
hat any such power will come, all ahoIt, from
he other side Of the world. TO butt his prows
gainst an immense line of coast, If forced TO re-
rOvate bis ships and men amongst the fevers of
he tropics? VIII he come n voyage of ten thou
and miles into n sea where Land no." cannot
C sung from the masthead without 4" Wear or"
cling echoed back?
On the other tand, give these islnnds 10 france
nj she would control our commerce more effect
ally than Britain does that of the Mediterranean
the possession OF Malta and Gibraltar.
Viewed ih this aspect, both the friends and op-
onents of this treaty concur in the conclusion
hat the honor and influence of the United States
: n nation. the safety of its mme generally,
nj the prosperity Of the commerce of this State
nd coast particularly, would be promoted by
strengthening our alliance with the Islands ut
resent, and their ultimate peaceful acquisition
~eTcaiter.
IV-But having thus far agreed, the friends
nj opponents OF this treaty begin to differ. The
after argue that tie treaty will cost the United
tates too much and, that the acquisition Of the
could be accomplished cheaper by n direct