The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1878-08-14

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to their report; which puts somewhat
different aspect upon the question, or rather,
makes more clear, the correspondence between
the Hawaiian government and Mr.. Allen on
the most favored nation clause of the treaty.
Now why did the writer of the report under
review suppress the concluding portion of the
sentence in Mr. Aliens despatch? We can
conceive no other reason for doirg so than to
strengthen the position assumed by, the author
of the report, in which he labors to place the
Hawaiian government in false light, with
regard to the most favored nation clause of
treaties with foreign governments. Ii we are
right in this supposition as to the motive OF
the author of the report, then he is guilty of |
disingenuousness, which is iaexcusable on the |
partof representative of the Hawaiian govern |
ment. In the extracts quoted from Mr.. Aliens |
dispatches to Mr.. Wyllie, in January, 1887,
wherein the former speaks of the part Mr..
Marcy, the then Secretary of the United States,
claims to have taken in drafting the treaty,
then before Congress, in which lie Mr.. Marcy
SAYS, that he has no fears that any advantage
can ever be taken by other governments, OF
the most favored nation clause, because they
are debarred from claiming any advantage,
except where they are in condition to offer
fair and equitable equivalent for such advan-
tage.
Such has been the uniform position of the
Hawaiian government on this question for the
past twenty odd years, and such is her posi-
ton at this hour, as maintained by our late
Envoy, Mr. Carter, to Great Britain. If such
is the clear understanding, as it surely is, of
this question touching the Reciprocity Treaty,
between the American government and the
government of Hawaii, we can see no good
reason for the position assumed by the author
of the report of the Special Committee on For
eign Affairs, that there are any tenable grounds
upon which the government of Great Britain,
can claim equal privileges under present treaty
stipulaticns, by reason of the insertion in that
treaty of the most favored nation clause, with
the government and people of the United States,
until Great Britain shall put herself in po
sition to offer as an equivalent for such privi-
leges, such reciprocal advantages as would
entitle her to claim under the most favored
nation clause.
We might enlarge upon this line of argu-
ment, if we choose, and quote in support of
our position not only the arguments put forth
by the Hawaiian government, at all times on
this important question; but we could also
quote the concessions made by the British For
eign Office as well, in which the admission is
explicitly made, affirming the propriety of the
doctrine contended for by Hawaii. But to do
30 would occupy more space than we can de-
vote to this discussion. Our object being sim
ply to point out the inconsistency in the report
of the special committee, in admitting that
there is even room for argument on this
question.
Indeed, it seems after all, the author of the
report, either from accident or design, makes
the committee contradict their own argument
| Oil this point, because he concludes the report,
with the declaration that it will be best to re-
fer all Questions in dispute, between the British
merchants on these Islands and the govern
ment of Hawaii, to the Courts for adjudication.
wherever it is claimed that excessive or illegal
duties have been imposed upon British mer-
chandise imported into this Kingdom; and
herein the committee have come to what We
regard as a reasonable conclusion; by which
no ground heretofore assumed by this govern
ment, touching its right to impose whatever
impost duties it pleases upon foreign merchan-
disc, not inconsistent with fair, reasonable
and equitable Interpretation of existing treaty
stipulations, are abandoned.
These are our own views on the questions
involved in the committees report, which W,
have formed after careful examination of tn,
subject, as we'll as an equally careful reading
of the report of the special committee, which
latter production, in our humble opinion, wal
gotten up too hurriedly, and pushed through
the Legislative Assembly without due delib
Grafton, at a late hour in the session, and with
out debate, whereby its arguments and con
illusions could be sifted, analysed and mad
more Ineligible to the comprehension of al
parties concerned. We are sorry to see tina
the report of the committee bears so many ca
marks of precipitation and haste, on subjec
that required the most careful scrutiny i
order to avoid misunderstanding and heart
burnings. We have no fault to find with tn
government of Great Britain striving to gai
all the advantages she can for her citizen
trading with and on these Islands; indee
we honor her for the vigilance of her Ministr
and the perseverance manifested to secure 70
her commerce and people, all proper privilege
from any and all countries This is as
should be, and should form no ground Of com
plant, nor indeed it does not But at the sam
time, it does not follow that the Hawaiia
government should abandon for a moment tn
high ground she occupies on the question {
the Reciprocity Treaty with the governmel
of the United States.
Acts Passed by the late Legislativ
Assembly.
The following comprises the list of Act
passed by the Legislative Assembly at its lai
session, to which the signature of His Majest
| Ill