The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-05-06
Our Treaty Prospects.
warm one

By the arrivals this week of the d. G. Murray
and steamer City of Nelc York from San Francisco
we are in receipt of advices to April 26th.
The news of the action of Congress in regard to
our Treaty, which, on the night of the 10th ult
was passed over for an adjournment threw our lit.
tie community into a state of disquietude that can
better be imagined than described. That our rea-
ders may thoroughly understand it's position we
make free extracts relating thereto.
April I0.-Mr. Garfield in advocating the rati6-
cation of the treaty before the House Committee
OF the Whole, took care to state that he favored
the measure upon other grounds than those which
contemplated securing the possession OF the islands
in the sense of annexing them. His language was
I disclaim any purpose or suggestion OF annexa-
ton of those islands as any part OF my reason for
supporting the treaty. On the contrary, one. of
the reasons why l favor the treaty is that it will be
a satisfactory substitute for all probable schemes
of annexation that may come if this fails. 1t is
the best solution of the question.
Mr.. Banks addressed the House at length in sup
port of the measure. He characterized the Treaty
as an era in diplomacy, the Importance of which
would in the next twenty-five years be Of vast i'm
portance. The ratification of this treaty would
put ii beyond the power of any European nation
to acquire title to the Islands by either Treaty or
conquest. Nothing could be gained by its rejec-
ton but if it was ratified. the trade between the
two countries would increase and be a benefit to
our commerce. 1t would outweigh any revenue
consideration. He denied that the duty on sugar
was a bounty to the sugar planters of the Islands.
The increased cost was paid by consumers on the
Pacific Cost. The benefit would accrue to the
people of the Pacific States, and he thought
something was due to them for the fidelity with
which they adhered to the Union at times when 1t
was thought they might leave US. Since the day
of Washington, there have been over SIX hundred
Treaties with foreign countries, and not one Of
them had been negatiYed by the House. The
Treaty bad been proclaimed, but under Its terms 1t
was not to go into effect until action had been
.,l-,p - ,An - l- h N1nrroEZ n tho I inIfRd afp
He maintained that the treaty was law, and 1t was
the duty OF the Government to carry 1t out. At the
conclusion of Banks speech, the Committee rose.
On motion OF Randall, an order for a night ses-
sion tonight was adopted.
The opponents of the Hawaiian Treaty, taking
advantage of the WEAKNESS Of the House after
more than FIVE hours session, and in the absence
of some of its friends, Who had gone to dinner,
carried an adjournment in the face OF a general
understanding that a vote should be taken last
evening. There is a special order Tor to-day, and
this bill having gone over wlthour setting any
time for further consideration, it will require a
two-thirdS vote or unanimous consent. 10 call 1t up
out of the regular order. Unless some such ar
rangement be made, it cannot be reached again for
some time.
The Alta writing on the state of affairs has the
following pertinent remarks.
At the present time there is a reason with the
people of California1why they should desire the
confirmation of the Hawaiian Treaty by Congress.
It has for a long time been hanging SIRE. The
eastern sugar men oppose II. and their Repre-
sentatives in Congress, acting as agents OF lndI-
viduals rather than as representatives of the whole
people. oppose it because the introduction of
sugar from the andwicb Islands. tree of duty,
might possibly interfere a little with their market.
r BY a trick the Hawaiian Treaty was put
back on the docket, so that it can only be reached
bv Il two-thirds vote. Whether that be possible is
uncertain. Somebody blundered.' or that trick
could not have been played. 1t seems a small
business. such opposition to the treaty. Unless the
capacity of the Islands has been very much
understated. the production of cane juice there
could not very peFceptibly interfere with the sugav
business Of the United States. We could and
should use it all in California and the other States
and Territories on this side OF the continent.