The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-10-09
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A6bertiser.
OCTOBER 9.

Wyllie, when he said, addressing a Hawai-
ian Legislature "Let us seek first
the honor and safety Of the Hawaiian
Sovereign" In another place, he re-
marks -" My view has been steadily
directed to the Kings Crown, and all the
great principles which its support involves.
/ nave never taken the narrow view Of con-
sulting only dollars and cents, as if the in
terests ofthe pocket were superior to nation
al Sovereignty" And we ask in this con-
n~ection, has any n regarded the pocket
only, or the demands of business, and con-
suited only the requirements of property
to the exclusion of considerations of Sow
ereign and national honor, in any recent
adjustment of public questions
We do not pretend to know the recent
diplomatic action of the present Ministry.
We merely base our present discussion up
on assertions in the press and on the street
that we had been saved from complica-
tiOns endangering the safety of the country
by timely concessions or apologies. I
The complications were, as we under
stand, the exercise of the Sovereign's pre-
rogative to ask for the recall of certain for
eign representatives. We deplore any Oc-
casion to discuss such a matter, as it Is in
relation to gentlemen whom we so highly
esteem but our duty is to our Sovereign,
and to sustain the proper exercise Of his
~prerogative. And what does international
law, as expressed by Sir William Scott, say
of sovereign right ? One of the funda-
mental principles of public law generally
recognized, is the perfect equality and indie
p%endence of all distinct states. Relative
magnitude creates no distinction Of right /;
relative imbecility or weakness, whether
permanent or casual, gives no additional
right to the more powerful neighbor, and
any advantage seized on that ground is
mere usurpation." Therefore, the Sover-
eign right of the Hawaiian King in his
own territory, is as unquestionable as that
of the Empress of India or the Autocrat of
all the Russias within theirs, in relation to
exercise of p~rerogative in their intercourse
with foreign representatives. The presence
of any particular persons, as representatives
at a seat of Government, is not an absolute
necessity in which the chief of that Gov
m must acquiesce they remain
whilst acceptable, and their recall may be
requested when obnoxious without giving
offence. This is clearly set forth in inter-
national law, De Martens Guide Diploma
tique and others as quoted by Halleck:-
"The Government asking such recall, may
or may not, at its own option, state the
reasons for the request; they cannot be re-
quired. 1t is sufficient that he is no longer
acceptable" : . . "The dismissal of
a public Minister for personal or official
misconduct, as not an act Of d~isrespect, or
hostility to the Government which sent
him, and cannot be made q cause of war"
And then in considering the grounds which
may be an occasion for asking for the re-
call of a foreign representative, the same
authority says All Ministers and dip
Iomatic agents Of whatever description are
bound to respect the Government and au-
thorities of the country where they reside.
Any disrespect, (such as refusing to recog-
nize an Officially on the part of such officers
or agents are good and sufficient causes for
asking their recall."' -- -N
We have a notable instance within our
memory Of the exercise of this Sovereign
right by the President Of the United States,
Franklin Pierce, when he requested the re-
call of Sir John f. B. Champion, British
Minister at Washington for countenancing
some Infringement of American law in res
pect to foreign enlistments. The British
Government recalled their obnoxious Min
lister |; and sent another gentleman &C.
ceptable to the American Government.
And we have in mind an instance in Haw-
allan history, when the exercise of this
Sovereign right was avowed and about to
be exercised in the dismissal Of certain OBJ
noxious Consuls, as shown in the following
document
The PALACE, May IL, 1910.
My respects to the Minister Of Foreign
Relations -
I am about to be absent from this island
Oahu for a few weeks. I leave with anx-
iety lest difficulties should arise in my
absence. I have recently seen the course
pursued by Foreign Consuls, and that its
tendency is to produce disorder, and to set
aside the rights of my Government.
1t is only on account of my strong deter
mination to seek peace that I have not al
ready annulled their ~exequaturs. But
should any one of them repeat such a con-
duct hereafter, and you perceive the peril
to be imminent, you will then assemble
those members of the Privy Council who
remain here, and if you are a llagreed in the
case, you will then, in my name, revoke
his ~exequatur.
(Signed) KAMEHAMEHA.
(Signed) Ohm YOUNG.
To His Excellency r. G. WYLLIE,
Minister of Foreign Relations.
So in view Of our abundant authorities
on international law, and the precedents In
history, we shall be anxious to learn If the
honor of the Sovereign has been maintained
in the recent question with foreign repre-
sentatives. 1t is easy to assert, that owing
to bad'advice a wrong step has been taken;
but until we have all the evidence before
us of the steps that ave been taken by the
party in power to correct q predecessors
action, we ann determine which was
the worse or better advice, the one that adj
vised to act or the one to withdraw, or ex-
euse, or apologize. But we feel assured that
statesmen Of great Powers, not regarding
solely the dollar and cent relations Of our
position, viii have respect for the honor of
the Hawaiian Sovereign, and the perfect
autonomy of the Hawaiian Government,
and may have other standpoints for review
ing our public questions than those created