The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-05-01
OVATION TO SENATOR SARGENT.

The Hon. a. a. Sargent, United States Senator
from California, returned to San Francisco, April
18th, and was received by the citizens in an enthu-
siastic manner that evinced their appreciation of
his course in Congress. Three regiments of in
fantry and one of cavalry were drawn up in line
and presented arms as the Senator moved past,
accompanied by the Committee of reception.
The procession marched through several streets to
the Cosmopolitan Hotel, Mr.. Sargent being en-
Enthusiastically cheered by the dense masses that
filed the streets. From the balcony of the Hotel.
Mayor Otis welcomed home the honored Senator,
who replied in a speech which was frequently in
terrupted by the applause of the immense crowd.
We copy that portion of Mr.. Sargent's speech
which relates to the Hawaiian treaty, in the de-
bate on which in the Senate, it will be remem-
bered, he was able and influential on our behalf:
At the recent session there was a measure enacted
which 1 trust will rebound to the wealth and pros
perity peculiarly of this city.
England and Germany and France have made a
mere mill-pond, an European mill-pond Of the At
lantic, and they we're gathering about the Pacific, had
taken the FIJI Islands, had the possession north Of us,
had New South Wales, everywhere were increasing
their interest, their strength and their power. The
Sandwich Islands had become a feeble power, scarcely
1000 of them left, diminishing rapidly, year by
year, with hardly numbers enough to retain a form
of government, ready to fall into the hands of the
first strong power which might take them. For the
third time in their and our history they have ap-
pealed to tie American people to receive them under
their protection, to grant them reciprocity and to
take from them in exchange therefor, what amounts
to o reVersion of their possessions and of their re-
sources.
Such statesmen as Marcy and Seward ecommende
years ago, that this course be adopted by the United
States. But We were not yet strong in the Pacific
We had no great San Francisco, the New York Of the
Pacific, s~pringing here into power and rivalry with
the ancient cities of the world. We were not reach
ing out in those days for the commerce of the Pacific.
We were not yet receiving the vast trade of China
and Japan in the proportion to which it has since de-
veloped. Now for the third time and the last time in
the history Of this people as a nation, they came to US
and asked that we might receive them and they re-
ceive US. 1t was q question whether there should be
q British fortress at the mouth Of the Golden Gate
whether her commerce crossing the ocean to China
and returning thence laden, should be assailed by the
enemies cruisers, or whether they should have a safe
harbor at the Sandwich Islands. 1t was a question
whether we should retain this commerce. 1t is a
neutral port of the Pacific and furthermore there were
vast commercial considerations affecting the direct
interest of this State. as. for instance. wherever else
We buy the products, such as these Islands afford, we
pay in gold-as, for example, Manila-but the Sand
wich Islands We pay in goods. the product of our
farms and workshops, thereby b~enefting the artisan
and the farmer; and for these reasons 1 desired that
the Treaty might be received; that we might have
that security which would be the result of having
this outpost of the Pacific in American hands, or at
least in the interest Of America, and not in the hands
Of q power which might use it against San Francisco
and against this State in the event Of war. 1 am
happy to inform you, which you have known long
since, that the treaty was ratified, and there is no
doubt it will be followed by appropriate legislation,
and that its benefit will be marked upon the future of
this city in the return Of benefits in every direction.
lCries Of " Good !" and applsuse.I