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

W. see that a suggestion Is put forth
I that the Hawaiian Government should
make treaty with China; there is Ger
tainly need to consider such a proposition
most carefully. The making OF treaties
! Is a very grave proceeding for any country.
especially is ii so with small and weak
powers like 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 oHly apparent: for
/ no considerable power grants such treaty
without looking to Interior results: when
Richelieu concluded treaty with Gusta-
vus Adolphus. the advantage from the mere
/ stipulations Of that document seemed all
on the side Of the weaker power, as a fact
! however. in the great struggle with Aus
] tria. the real advantage lay with France
and not with Sweden
/ Hawaii should only seek 10 make treaties
where she viii 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
a treatv than with one The moment
treaty is signed. the Chinaman Will have
right to come here. by treaty stipulation:
at present the Hawaiian Government,
should it deem such a measure advisable,
could prohibit his introduction altogether.
On the ground Of regulating the intro
ducti0n Of Chinese. then. Hawaii has moth
ing 10 gain by making treaty. From
commercial stand point there does not ap
pear to he anything to be gained, and on
political grounds, far from a gain. treaty
would be liable at some time to cause com
pications 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 be hankered after by Hawaii mel; we
have no need 20 increase our expenditures
upon follics China is not q European
power: Eastern diplomatists are Ettle
cattle 10 deal with; the Court of Pekin
might be willing to enforce the non-ful-
tillmeut Of even a slight obligation in
very different manner from the Courts OF
Europe There would be far more Hkeli-
hood Of our finding ourselves anchored
of the Chinese Empire after the conclu-
sion Of 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 opportme moment for Hawaii
10 be trying to get on 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 utten-
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!