The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-07-05
Mass Meeting at Kaumakapili.

On Monday evening, the Goth ult.. several hun
dred of the Hawaiian citizens Of Honolulu met at
the Kaumakapili Church, for the purpose of listen
ing to IN address by Hon. G.. Rhodes on the subject
of the cession of Pearl Harbor to the United States
for the sake of Reciprocity.
The Rev. Mr.. Piipo was called to the Chair. and
a scribe elected, who also assayed to act the inter
prefer but signally failed. Mr.. Rhodes commenced
by feeling illusions TO the great question of the day.
he then proceeded to institute comparisons between
the great Republic OF America and the little King
dom of Hawaii nei. The territory Of the one is
measured by millions of square miles, the mid-ocean
peaks of the other by a few thousand. And so with
regard to population and wealth and commerce and
power, the same proportion exists. The speaker de-
picted in illustrations from history, the inevitable
consequence of q cession of territory, however small.
to q foreign power. Australia, New Zealand, the
| Continent of America, the Dutch Possessions in Ma
laysia, and the British Empire in India, where the
entering wedge was a permission by some local ruler
to an English company to erect a factory and fort,
were each in turn drawn upon to show the horror
! stricken audience what Hawaii's fate would be If
any portion of her territory should be alenated,
sc for history always repeats itself"
He compared the present condition of Hawaiians
/ Win I0elf CCuulllOu twenty VI bulIhJ yVui5 aSO'
| Asking if they are not better clothed, better housed,
better educated, now than then. If money is not
more plenty and the means of earning it more
numerous. If q treaty of reciprocity was not neces-
sary then, how can it be now? He gave a short re-
sumo of the history of sugar at the islands. The
plantations at present number about twenty-five.
Some of them are extremely profitable. yielding their
owners large incomes, and whose fault is it that this
is not the case with all? New plantations are now
being started on this Island, and on the Island OF
Hawaii. Does not this fact give the lie to the asser-
ton that without reciprocity the sugar plantations
must go under? Sugar plantations are in rs -four
ishing a condition here as in other sugar producing
countries. Reciprocity would benefit three parties,
viz. the owners Of sugar plantations, numbering
from fifty to a hundred individuals ; the proprietorc
of large tracts of land, who would make fabulous
sums from the enhanced value of real estate and
the United States Government, which, if it once got
a footing here. would most assuredly in a short tint
become the sovereign power of the land. however
honest it's present intentions may be. The cession o
Pearl Harbor was openly advocated by the two for
eign papers of this city, one of which was the Gov
eminent paper, and the editor Of which is a membel
of the Kings Privy Council. The speaker CONCLUDED
bv exbortine his hearers to live ~virtuous lives Il
resist with courage and energy the deadly evil which
was threatening the nations life, and TO TRANSMIT
unimpaired to their children the inheritance the
had received from their fathers.
The grafton was listened TO with evident interest
aud was frequently applauded. AT Its termination
Mr.. Kalauli read the following resolutions:
Whereas, The project is under discussion Of offer
ing the cession of Pearl Harbor 20 the United State
as a means of obtaining a Treaty Of Reciprocity
and whereas,
The majority Of the people to whom the island
belong are utterly opposed to the cession OF any poT
ton Of our country in the manner contemplated
therefore, :.
Resolved, That this meeting hereby declares it
entire disapproval Of the project Of q cession of Pear
Harbor in a Treaty of Reciprocity, on IKE following
grounds:
/. That it is the first step towards annexation.
2. The Treaty will operate for the benefit OF onl
8 few persons.
Q. The income of the Government derived fror
imports will be reduced.
4. The taxes on the people viii be increased.
5. The experience of other countries has show
the evil of treaties Of cessOn.
Resolved, That if the Cabinet Council are divide
upon this project of q cession of Pearl Harbor, the
this meeting hereby expresses its disapproval OF thoi
Ministers who may have consented to such cession.
The resolutions were adopted.
A committee of seven was then appointed Of whiC
Mr.. J. o. Carter was the chairman, whose duty
should be to wait on His Majesty and inform him
the sentiment Of the meeting.
Mr.. Malo presented a resolution that whereas NJ
8. n. Castle, a member of the Prfvy Council. hs
letter in the n. Y. Erangelist. advocating rec
procity with p view to annexation TO the Unit
States npon the throne becoming vacant. he BE- ea