The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-12-27

bears to the friendly acts OF the United States. and
his faith in them ought in justice to have been borne
% his couutrymeu as well, many Of whom have
derived from some source very unjust and ungen-
erOus ideas respecting them. He knows well that Il
these Islands were a state Of the United States, every
mans person and property would be protected-that
the people would choose their own Legislature, Gov
ernor and other officers as they do now; they would
choose whom they pleased. It might be hin or
some one else. They would make and execute their
own laws and choose their own officers, except one
judge and the Custom House officers. They would
manage their own local affairs. 1 think that even
now it was only justice for the Colonel to make to his
c5untrymen the statement which he has made in his
letter, although it may have no significance as far as
treaty or cession % concerned. II viii correct their
erroneous impressions. It is righting a wrong. It
Is a step taken in the interests Of good will.
have said that reciprocity would have brought
the prosperity which would have enabled the Hawai-
ians to support an independent state. An i~ndepend-
ent government, no matter what or where, with its
state, is a costly luxury, TO be enjoyed, an ornament
TO be worn only by the prosperous. Prosperity is the
friend Of stable government. II brings content and
breads change; no matter what its form, if food and
clothing and sheler are enjoyed, it is enough, no
change is desired or wanted, whilst the want of pros
perity tends to discomfort, and discomfort and poverty
are the most dangerous foes to stability. Having lit
tie or nothing to lose by change, and possibly some
thing to gain from it, they are ever ready for revolu-
ton, always hoping to be bettered by it. Abundance
Of employment and fullness Of bread brings with it
content and dislike Of change. Napoleon III. spent
millions in identifying and certifying Paris, in part
at least to give employment and food and content
ment to the unemployed. He was wise, and won the
affection and support of those whom he employed and
fed. The chartist riots of England, with loss of life
and shedding Of blood were more due to the despera-
ton Of hunger and poverty than anything else. So
the vast emigration to the broad fertile fields of the
United States is inspired chiefly by the p~inchings Of
poverty, with the hopes of greater freedom and plenty.
independence in prosperity may be worn with
pride and dignity; bat let poverty and want come, it
will be cast aside as 4 bauble not to be regarded in
comparison. So any measure bringing prosperity
will win the attachment Of the people, add to their
c~ontentment and contribute to the stability and indie
~pendence of the government; and more, it will give
the impetus and motive to industry which with cor
rect habits will promote the best physical condition
Of the HaWaiians for their increase and perpetuation.
To maintain this government, according to the last
report Of the Minister of Finance, costs nearly a half
million of dollars yearly, which is q large sum for a
population of 10000, and cannot be continued with
out prosperity in the island industries and a wise
economy Of all their resources.
Nearly all of the foreign born population of every
nation we're unite3 in the belief that reciprocity
would be cheaply purchased if the cession of Pearl
Harbor would do it; and in the first instance, includ-
ing foreign imports, they contribute quite tWo-thirds
of the money which supports this independent State.
The plantations have paid from 5000, 900 to $780,
900 the past year, to say nothing of the interest
upon the money to sustain the enterprises of the
country. About three-ffths of this has been paid
out upon the plantations to employees, and the rest
for freight, machinery, containers, carriage, labor in
handling, etc. And probably from drought, low
prices and other cause their sugars have not paid
them back what they have paid out. The Hon. D.
Kalakaua invites foreigners to come here and invest
their money, at the same time he says he was opposed
to the only measure which held out any promise of
making it an object for them to do so.
l repeat that reciprocity with the United States
with the cession to them of q good naval station,
would have placed the independence of these islands
upon a irmer basis than it ever has been from the
first day that the great navigator set his feet upon
these shores to the present time. 1t would have
given to the population money for their work, and
they would have got food, clothing, shelter and COM
forts FOR their money. 1t would have given TO them
that plenty which is the mother of c~ontentment and
seeks no change. 1t would have presented the motive
to industry which is the parent of virtue and con-
tributes to the best physical condition for the perpet-
uation of the race. 1t would have placed by their
side a powerful protector (f protection should ever
be needed) which has always manifested its good
will-which would have been still further increased
by the confidence reposed in it by the cession itself
which power was the first to acknowledge their indie
~pendence, and would be the last to encroach upon it.
From what 1 had heard, l had come to think it
probable that the cession might be declined, but the
tone of the press both east and west. and re-
marks made to me personally, led me to hope that re-
ciprocity-the more important part for this nation
might still be granted. But for the opposition to the
cessiOn here with more or less remarks of an unkindly
nature, I should have confidently hoped this. Asst
is, L suppose as you say, the issue is q dead one, or at
least dormant for the present. But the LorerS of
Hawaii who opposed this measure were practically \
its greatest enemies, however good their intentions.
The people usually follow their leaders, whether
they are hereditary lords or have made themselves
leaders by their skill rs demagogues, or by their own
weight of character; and this is well, when the lead
ers are sound in their yieHs-but when they are not
so, it almost necessarily results in evils not easily re-
paired. If the action in the reciprocity case has been
defeated or hindered by such action of parties here,
t will be seen that I consider the mischief done as
very great, both to Hawaiian prosperity and indie
Respectfully yours,
Honolulu, Dec. 10, 1873. s. n. CASTLE.
.Z1EN M ON