The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-11-22
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A6bert1ser
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER %.
THE MINISTERIAL ESCAPADE.

Ii becomes our unpleasant duty to place on
record the fact, that the Constitutional advisers
Of the King have proved recreant to their solemn
promise to the country given in their official dec
~Iaration of July Z, 1873, and have deliberately
trifed and treated with ~indignity q great and pecu-
liarly friendly power, by officially withdrawing the
proposition to negotiate with the United States
for n treaty of reciprocity based on n cession of
Pearl Harbor, without awaiting the receipt of
any communication from that government in
regard to the proposition. Such an astounding
disregard for public faith and international cour-
tesy was not dreamed of by even the worst
enemies of the Ministry, and the announcement
on Wednesday morning fell on the public ear like
n clap of thunder out of n clear sky. AstonIsh-
ment and alarm were the prevailing sentiments
expressed on the street-(except by the few who
have been striving and hoping for the defeat of
the measure, and these were overjoyed)-aston-
ishment at such an unheard-Of ministerial esca-
pade, and well-grounded alarm at the evil effects
which must surely follow. There can be no pos
sible utility in suppressing the plain truth, that
the consequences of this laundering ministerial
action will be disastrous IN the extreme to all
branches of business throughout the country, but
more particularly Of course to the agricultural
interests. The . official declaration - of July
last, of = the Kings decision, made after long
and careful deliberatiOn, - to endeavor to nego-
tiate n treaty of reciprocity with the United
States, with the formally ~profered cession as an
inducement to that power, had the undoubted
effect to stimulate agricultural and other business
enterprises, and to impart confidence in trade, on
the strength Of what was believed to be n we'll
grounded faith in the sincere determination of the
Ministry to make n strong effort for the accom-
plishment of the measure they had thus publicly
announced and pledged themselves TO labor for.
Well calculated TO produce this feeling of conf->
dence and hOpefulness in the public mind were
these emphatic concluding words of the Ministe-
rial declaration
"When such a treaty shall have been negotiated
by the Minister Of Foreign Affairs, and approved by
the King, II viii then be submitted TO the Legislative
Assembly for their approval. We believe that such
q treaty would impart new life to business of all de-
scriptiOns; that lands would be in demand for new
agricultural enterprises, and instead Of worthy and
industrious men leaving the Kingdom, more Of that
class would be attracted here
s'To advance the prosperity Of this Kingdom is
the purpose and policy Of His Majesty's Government,
and this measure, If successful, Will strongly tend
to promote that object; and we confidently believe
that when fairly considered, and well understood, il
will commend itself ~favorably to the public Judgment
The Gazette has been very generally (and is
very properly considered rs the mouth-piece and
semi-oficial organ of the Ministry. We quote Il
few Of It's utterances subsequent 20 the publica-
ton Of the ;. official declaration of July 9TH
Does any cane man dream that His Majesty will
now break OF from his solemn and lOng-cOnsidered
resolve TO effect 4 treaty, If one can be made? \
strange idea OF power and wisdom must be in the
minds of those who are nov seeking TO thwart the
Kings effort, or TO induce him 1; say TO the world,
'I have agreed to make this treaty i the United
States desire it, but nov / desire to say. thst | do
not 'atend to make it.'-[July Both
The Kings Government has come to the firm con-
clusiOn that the highest interests and the prosperity
with the Unitei SS'ates. On the basis Of
Pearl River, if the concession Of that SgOoH prove 4
indncement % aecnre such a ,,ssiy and