The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-07-26
Written for the p. Q. Adyertiser..

Mr.. EDITOR Il note the remarks of Mr.. Rhodes
in your last paper. He is an old resident, whom L
have personally respected for many years, though in
some things 1 knew that he widely differed from me.
I have often, too been pleased to find myself in accord
with him on various questions, but from the general
sentiments of his speech at the public meeting at
Kaumakapili,-I entirely dissent. Speaking per-
sonally, 1 did think the resolution respecting myself
was in harmony with the recommendation Of the
speaker, that petitions should be sent to His Majesty,
for the dismissal from his counsels of every man,
high or low, who proposed cession of territory upon
any pretext whatever. l did not think Mr.. Rhodes
wrote the resolution, but being in harmony with the
spirit of his address, I thought something of the kind
entered into the programme of which as a principal
actor he was cognizant.
[ intended to say that 1 did not think the Hon.
speaker wrote the resolution, even if he approved its
spirit, for 1 should not expect him TO ~misquote me as
the preamble does. The offerer of the resolution
probably quoted from the Hawaiian, rendering it
into English himself but if so, and the native con
veys the idea to the Hawaiian mind that his English
translation does to the English mind, it is a serious
Misrepresentation of what l did say-making it much
more offensive and Objectionable. l much prefer
this theory, to considering it an intentional misrep-
resentaLon upon the part II anyone.
Mr.. Rhodes says q" when they heard that you were
planning the transfer of themselves and their coun-
try to a foreign power l regret that he has used
this language, for in this relation it can only mean
devising a scheme for the subyersion Of their indie
pendence, and by whatever means are found neces-
sary to make it effective. Were 1 doing so, l should
hardly give so wide publicity to my plan amongst
those who would be ipjuriously affected by it.
Had l been planning for the purpose, l should
have looked for success in secrecy till my plans were
matured. The free expression Of an opinion involves
no planning, for good or evil. The opinion may be
right, or wrong. Its publication may be wise, or
unwise. Reciprocity with the United States at the
price Of the cession of a naval station, Ibelieve would
be a wise measure. 1t would be paying q low price
for something of far greater Understanding that
would bless, not fifty, or a hundred, with the United
States alone, but the whole nation, every inhabitant
Of the land, if they themselves will let it do so, and
the whole land far, far more than the United States.
Should the L. S. consent TO such a treaty, for such a
price, it will be generous, for they will give far more
than they will receive, and as they have always dealt
with this government, and I believe as they always
mean to do.
As well might it be said, that the policy which
gives life and prosperity to the cotton and wooden and
iron manufactures Of Manchester, and Leeds, and
Sheffield, and Birmingham, and Glasgow, benefits
only the few hundreds of owners amongst the mill
ions Of Britain, as that a similar policy here will
only benefit the few who are engaged directly as
planters and land-holders. The prosperity Of the
sugar interest here is propOrtionaily Of greater i'm
portance to this Kingdom than are those industries
to Great Britain, because the range of industry in
which the Briton may engage is wider than any
opening industry to this country. Prosperity to these
great interests in Great Britain, is prosperity, not
alone to the few hundreds Of proprietQrs but TO the