The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-04-01
Prom the Alta California, March n
The Hawaiian Treaty.

4 III is singular that Congress shonld nnd II NO
dinicult 10 decide whether our country shall meet
the proposition OF King Kalakaun for HReciprociiy
treaty, with a frank answer and assem- That Island
King came over the ocean 10 see nh, and he was
welcomed and treated kindly and generously. II
was partly because he behaved handsomely, aud
although the head OF only n small nation, no pos.
sessed The feelings and tone OF a gentleman and an
educated intellect. lie sent his Ministers 70 nego-
titate the treaty, bu. went back 10 his little king.
dom, leaving behind him pleasant memories ia the
minds Of all those who met him. His little mon.
archy needs the friendship OF our Republic, bis
subjects need the benefits Of our market, and II
was that they might obtain such market on reoi-
procal terms that the treaty was negotiated. But,
somehow, Its confirmation hangs Ere In congress.
We can scarcely think that the opinion " Mr.. David
Wells, who decided against the treaty upon the
grounds Of revenue, ought 20 weigh with Congress
more than all the other great interests involved In
this treaty, and It's confirmation. Confirming II we
take the little Island Kingdom into our family. n
not as a son or daughter born there, yet somowhai
as a son-in-law or daughter-in.law II accepted M
a new member. We hope and expect 10 be hence
forth on good terms with great Britain-no moro
wars, no more blockade runners, or dinicnltles
which may not be satisfactorily settled by arbitra.
ton, that mode OF adjustment 40 much cheaper and
better and more satisfactory than wars and all their
terrible consequences. But, we are not certain OF
such continued and desirable peace. In case Of
war with Great Britain, we sbonld desire and need
intimate relations with the little Hawaiian Kingdom
because OF It's position out there In the broad
Pacific.
Great Britain. nauticalIy expressing II, IL close
cboard OF us. She Is great, extensive, numerous
in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji; and the Sandwich
Islands wonld complete for her a chain Of posses
sion from the great southern Island continent 20
British Columbia, In possession Of the Sandwich
Islands, with their harbors and bays In their keep
ing she would have us by the hairj holding the
Pacific by a line Of occupation from Victoria 10
Melbourne. II lie not 10 our intrest that the Sandwich
Islands should rest In any uncertainty az 10 ils
future relations. Naturally we have the 1rst claim.
But we do not desire 10 annex tho little Kingdom.
We do desire that II shall not be annexed or con-
a5enoat. SerIysbIe from i can 10 powsr. AZ Al 49,, ,s
confirmation OF the treaty. which gives q portion
Of her people a market, which Is sorely needed
since their former dependence, the whaling busi.
ness, has 30 nearly deserted them.
The opinion Of our naval and military officers
agree on this question, and have given expression
to their views. They look upon the question NJ
military men, not a. merchants or traders Of "A
single city or State. The effects Of the Treaty
might bear disadyantageously upon The business
Of a few Of our people, while Il would be benen-
cial to others, opening mp or enlarQing trade that
cannot flourish under a high tariff. Rnt Ihe great
est benefit would be one OF national character.
The Sandwich Islands are as an OUTLYING redoubt.
the United States being the main fortress. In tho
possession Of an enemy, IL could be made 20 do us
an immense amount Of Injury. Our policy would
seem 10 be not 10 desire annexation, but 10 bind
the Government and people Of Hawaii 10 us by
reciprocal interests and alliances Of trade and
commerce. which would enectually bar out any
and every other nation from dangerous relations
with that kingdom.
The New York Herald gives as one Of its reasons
why the treaty should be approved by congress.
that 1t would prove q popular one with the people
OF this side OF the continent, and 10 would tend
toward strengthening our attachment 10 the Union.
! thinks mat the great barrier OF The Rocky
Mountains wOnld mako II comparatively easy for
MS to assert and maintain our independence With
the assistance OF q foreign power. The view, so
far as the writer and that journal may he consider
ed, is patriotic and correct. But we can assure
the Herald, and the country, that there IL not a
State in the American Union more attached 40 A.
and less inclined TO desire separation from Il. than
California. And We may add, the other Pacific
States and Territories. One Of tho strongest
reasons why we desire the confirmation otSthe
treaty is, that Il would most certainly strengthen
the Union, while comforting a reciprocal benefit
upon Kalakaua's subjects.