The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-03-14

lead that large class, known as the missionary party,
to sympathize with that love, and to yearn for a
return TO the principles of this Government, before
the revolution. But | feel that this is impossible;
that the time calls for more active working among
those that love this people. Let the dead bury the
dead" Vain regrets are useless, to continually point
to the unredressed wrong is vain. sit is better to
fight for the good, than to rail at the ILL.,"
To labor for The good or the nation is the highest
and modest patriotism, even if you encounter the
sneers Of power, the rerroaches of those vino always
dread change, and even be called anti-Hawaiian.
Let US trust that progress may not always be called
s~nti-Hawaiian.
An editorial in the Hawaiian Gazette lately assert
ell that the present Ministry had urged a measure,
though it might be called in a restricted sense anti
Hawaiian.
What would be said of q German, or a British
Minister, vino should advocate a measure in any
sense anti German or ~anti-British. Should we for
this reason stigmatize the Ministers as traitors, and
propose for them a trial by jury By no means.
We know the Ministers were opposed to the treaty.
The editorial columns of the Gazette opposed it ut
first. and it was so stated by the Ministers themselves
in the Legislative Assembly, They still show their mis-
givings, and style it in some sense, anti-Hawaiian, but
they have wisely yielded. and were obliged to yield,
% IL ueAOrslOIe logic OF events, % q pressure
that was growing irresistible. All the interests of
commerce and agriculture; the prosperity of the King
dom, and of consequence its independence; all the
great interests of progress, commerce and of human
ity which cluster round this ocean centre; in a word
all the material interests which call for annexation
demanded some concession, and all accepted the
treaty as a progressive step to that end. That the
Ministry thus accepted ii, is shown in the same edit
orial alluded to above:
"Nor can we deprecate the consequences of the
treaty, though it should prove vastly more important
to our prosperity in the future than is apparent to-
day, and if the onward march of time, and the con-
tinued expansion of the worlds commerce in this
ocean, should demonstrate that both California and
our Islands are naturally interested in its indefinite
continuance"
Commercial treaties are necessarily for definite pc
RODS. In no other way save by annexation could the
% Indefinite continuance" of the benefits of the treaty
be secured. Thus 1 am glad to see that some at least
of the representatives of the Ministry in the columns
Of their organ have
"Dipt into the future, far as human eye can see,"
and, Intentionally or not, have given honest express
to the idea which all far-sighted men can see ex-
presses the inevitable future of this nation.
But is the treaty, or is annexation, anti-Hawaiian,
in the truest sensc2 1t may be, in some such sense
as the opening of the ports to foreign trade by Japan
was anti-Japanese; in some such sense as the whole
form of this Government might be said to be anti
Hawaiian--since it is borrowed in every way from
abroad. If Hawaiian be used as a synonym for retro
erosion, barbarsm and national %torpidity, then may
these things be called anti-Hawaiian.
The Constitution of 1852 recognized the necessity
of incorporating the principle of progress in the Gov
of this country. 1t was framed in accord
ance with the spirit of the age, and thus secured the
respect of other nations. 1t was admirably adapted
to the necessities both of the people and the age.
The iconoclasts of 1864 thought they saw some in
in its application to the people, and for
getting that the people ought to be, and were fast
adapted to these principles, necessary to
their continued existence as an independent power,
their eyes TO all beyond the petty horizon of
their own ideas, and struck back the hand upon the
dial of Hawaiian progress, weakened the hold of the
Government upon the respect of all outward inf1u-
ences, and now turn TO a short-lived treaty with a
foreign power to sustain the nation, though they per-
,eive Its consequences to be the indefinite dependence
IF the nation upon the United States. Accepting then
The situation, viii it not be wise to l~egislate and gov
srn so as to prepare the people for the future that
awaits then?
The effort made to prejudice the native mind, and
cad them to accept with aversion this destiny, and
he epithets applied to any who hold these views, have
ed me to co what was not usual to me, and place
hese views before the public.