The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-11-29


w see that a suggestion Is put forth
that the Hawaiian Government should
make a treaty with China; there Is Ger
tainly need to consider such proposition
most carefully. The making Of treaties
is very grave proceeding for any country,
especially is it so with small and weak
powers ike Hawaii. In making a treaty
the weak power Is almost always at a dis
advantage. the apparent exception being
when an inequality prevails on the side of
the more considerable power: but even
here the advantage Is only apparent: for
no considorablepower grants such treaty
without looking to Interior results: when
Richelieu concluded a treaty with Gusta-
vus Adolphus. the advantage from the mere
stipulations Of that document seemed all
on the side OF the weaker power, as fact
however. in the great struggle with Aus
tria. the real advantage lay with France
and not with Sweden
Hawaii should only seek to make treaties
where she Will obtain tangible advantages:
would she be the gamer by negotiating a
treaty at the present time with China
She can regulate the introduction of
Chinese at the present time. better without
q treaty than with one. The moment a
treaty is signed. the Chinaman will have a
right 10 come here, by treaty stipulation:
at present the Hawaiian Government,
should il deem such a measure advisable,
could prohibit his introduction altogether.
On the ground Of regulating the intro
duction Of Chinese. then, Hawaii has moth
ing TO gain by making a treaty From a
commercial stand point there does not ap-
pear to be anything TO be gained. and on
political grounds. far from a gain. treaty
would be liable at some time to cause com
plications. At the present time the only
result Of a treaty would probably be an
exchange of decorations and the sending
of embassies: this Is by no means thing
10 he hankered after by Hawaii mel; we
have no need 10 increase our expenditures
upon follies China Is not a European
power: Eastern diplomatists are httle
cattle to deal with. the Court of Pekin
might be willing TO enforce the non-ful-
hllment Of even a slight obligation in a
very different manner from the Courts OF
Europe. There would be far more likeli-
hood Of our finding ourselves anchored
of the Chinese Empire" after the conclu-
sion Of q treaty than before it.
Another. and very important point. Is
how treaty concluded with China would
affect our relations with the United States
the relations Of the Great Republic with
China are peculiar, and this is by no
means an opportune moment for Hawaii
10 be trying to get on a very intimate foot
ing with the Celestial Empire. No step
should be taken in this direction without
first carefully ascertaining in what light
the government at Washington may look
at the subject
At the present time we should be giving
our strength TO securing one point, that IS
securing the greatest advantages for our
sugar interests. The whole Of our atten-
ton. the whole Of our brain strength and
our diplomatic skill should be devoted to
that great object Other mere side issues
may be left for more convenient day.
As things stand now, we have one grand
objective point TO aim at, and that is the
continuance Of the Reciprocity Treaty!