Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-07-22
Ex. Secretary Blaine's Letter.

very important letter, addressed by Secretary
Blaine TO General Comfy has been published in the
Chicago Times We regret that we have not space
enough TO give the letter in full this week, but
give few important points. The letter il calm
and friendly in tone, and we'll repays careful study,
IL Us of the most important state documents
that has been published with reference 10 our Isl
ands.
material connection between the Hawaiian
Islands and the Pacific coast of the United States
natural and inevitable. But lately admitted
10 the family of separate States Hawaii was nee
cssarily drawn into closer kinshp with California,
then just entering upon path of prosperity and
greatness, whose rapidity Of development had ney
or been equallcd Hence the movements towards
intimate commercial relations between the two
Countries which after the progressive negotiations
Of 1856 1857 and 1858, eliminated III the existing
reciprocity treaty of January 10 1910, which gave
to the United States in Hawaii, and to Hawaii in
the United States, trading rights and privileges on
terms denied to other countries.
The reciprocity Treaty of 1873 has made Hawai-
the sugar-raising field of the Pacific Slope, and
gives to the manufacturers therein the same free
dom NJ IN California and Oregon. That treaty
gave Hawaii its first great impetus III trade and de
veloped that activity of production which has at
trdCted the eager attention of the European pow
anxious to share III prosperity aud advantages
which the United States have created III InidOcean
In word, Hawaii Is, by the wise and benihcent
provisions of the treaty brought within the circle
of the domestic trade tie United States, and our
interest III it's friendly neutrality Is the same that
Isthnus of Panama. On the other hand, the
interests of Hawaii must inevitably turn toward
the United States iii tho future as III the present
as the natural and sole ally i'll conserving the do
minion of both in the Pacific trade This Govern
mont has on previous occasions been brought face
to face with the question of a protectorate over
tho Hawaiian group. II has, as often az il arose,
been SGT aside i'll the interest of such commercial
union and such reciprocity benefits as would give
Hawaii the highest advantages, and ut the same
time strengthen its independent existence as SOW
State I'm nm uhfle
disposition OF the United States toward Hawaii in
its proper condition.
Hawaii, although much farther from the Cali
fornia coast than js Cuba from the Florida peun
sula holds, i'll the western sea- much the same po
sition Cuba in the Atlantic 1t il the key to the
maritime dominion of the Pacific States, az Cuba
is the key to the Gulf trade. The material posses
sion of Hawaii IL not desired by the United States
| any more than was that Of Cuba, but under no
| circumstances can the United States permit any
change III the territorial control OF either which
would cut them adrift from the American system
| whcreto they both indispensibly belong. In this
aspect of the question it is readily seen with what
| concern the Government must view any tendency
toward introducing into Hawaii foreign elements
destructive of its necessarily American character
| istics. The steady diminution of the native pop
ulation of the Islands, amounting to some ten per
cont between 1872 and 1878, and still continuing.
| is doubtless the cause of great harm to the Gov
ornment of the Kingdom, and II Is no wonder that
a solution should be sought with eagerpess IN any
| seemingly practicable quarter. The problem, how
ever, is not to be met by substitution of Mongo-
loan supremacy for native control, as seems at
first sight possible through the rapid increase Of
Chinese emigration to the islands, Neither il the
Wholesale introduction of the cooie element, pro
fesscdy Anglo Indian. likely TO afford any salts
factory outcome to the difficulty. The Hawaiian
Islands cannot DO joined to the Asiasic system. II
they drift from their independent station It must bs
towards assimilation and identification with the
American system, to which they belong by the op-
Grafton of political necessity. The United States
was of the first among the great nations Of tbs
world to take active interest IN upbuilding Hawai-
ian Independence and the creation of political life
for its people II has consistently endeavorcd and
with success, TO enlarge the material prosperity Of
Hawaii On such independent basis it pro
poses TO be equally unremtting in its efforts here
after to maintain aud develop the advantages
which accrued 10 Hawaii and draw closer the tie,
which imporativcly unite her to the great body ol
the American commonwealth. In this line of nc
ton the United States does its simple duty both Il
Hawaii and itself, and II cannot permit such oh
vious neglect Of national interest a. would he In
yolvcd by silent acquiescence In any movemen
looking To a caseniiig VI those amenities, AID thu
substitution OF alien and hostile interests