The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-01-28

THE craftsmanship of the United States
cannot reasonably consent to the abrogation
of the treaty of Reciprocity with the
Hawaiian Kingdom, Notwithstanding much
hostile newspaper discussion, and adverse
congressional action. The higher aims Of
national policy, and not any claims of Sec
tional interest were consulted in granting
the treaty and the clamOr of sectional, or
private interest at this time will not set it
aside. The little Kingdom has kept faith
with its great cO-signatory, and il stands
before the world for honorable treatment,
and the maintenance unto full maturity at
least, of q carefully considered treaty. Can a
few partisan congressman affected by an
interested hostile discussion, or yielding TO
other influences, compromise the dignity
and high honor of the Great Republic in its
attitude towards thisl little state? We will
not believe this. 1t will not be so.
Hawaii made every concession 10 her
mighty %neighbor agreeing that, " so long
a. this treaty shall remain in force she
Will not grant any special privileges, or
rights of use therein, to any other power,
state or government, nor make any treaty
by which any other nation shall obtain the
same privileges, relative to the admission
of any articles free of duty, hereby secured
to the United States"
Hawaii yielded more than should have
been asked at her hands. And that now this
! great continental power will haggle with
her little insular neighbor, on account of
some alleged pecunIary advantage in the
bargain, we will not believe-we will not
accept i'll our thoughts. High honor, and
m"agnanimous purpose now prompt the
action of great states; as we have seen
illustrated in an Alabama arbitration, and
still more recently in the recognition by a
mighty Empire of the justice of the armed
protest of a petty Transvaal.
Let little Hawaii continue true to herself
and to her obligations, and the great powers
will be true to her. Hawaii has not failed
in her obligations in any particular, and has
afforded America all the advantage and
opportunity, contemplated by the latter in
the treaty.
1t is commonly said by many, who do not
understand the Hawaiian situation, that
the American reciprocity treaty is a vital
national necessity of this Kingdom, and
that its abrogatiOn must lead to u surrender
of Hawaiian autonomy. This is not so.
There is no condition of things in the
Archipelago TO warrant such Il conclusion.
There is a strong national sentiment among
the Hawaiian People. They alone of all Poly
nesians, or even of all Asiatics manifest Il
marked political capacity, and aptitude for
self government; and however disastrous
might be any diplomatic changes, or COM
mercIal issues, they would with the ballot
stand by their native government, even if
they had to return to the grass hut, and the
simple poi fare. Flourishing plantations
might through adverse foreign action be-
come Improbable, and foreign commercial
enterprise here become bankrupt, the public
revenues be reduced, and the whole govern
mental state of the Kingdom be diminish
ed; yet the Kingdom would live on-so
long as justice and right prevails among
the nations, treaty or no treaty.
Let not those who urge on abrogation,
imagine that surrender of autonomy will
be the issue. Not so. The ballot, the pal
ladium of every representative and consti-
t~utional state, will be forever deposited by
| every Hawaiian for the maintenance of
| rational Hawaiian Independence.