The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-02-24
Our Situation at Washington.

~ i"oO hAdl we ReG SuAlCieh1 dS-
surances in respect to our treaty, to
satisfy US that Notwithstanding the
clamor of newspapers and the misinfor-
nation which lead to an adverse dis
cussion in Congress, the Administration,
especially the Secretary of State, and
his colleagues are disposed to sustain
our treaty in its integrity. If weight OF
newspaper cIamor could prevail, our
cause would have been lost long ago.
In view of this matter, we are led to
some reflections on what is so often
boasted of, the power of the press. 1t
is all powerful when it is truly concur
rent with great popular opinion. But
when it..endeavors, as it sometimes does,
to manufacture opinion, and is raising
its cutlery for an interested motive, then
it is :" 6rutxm titlnsen ct pr0eterea mihiL"
The San Francisco Chronicle, with its
large circulation, opens the cry against
our treaty, which is followed by the
great sensational contemporaries, the
HeraLdS of New York and Boston, and a
multitude of minor sheets, yet al
reaching millions of readers. They
have denounced the reciprocity treaty,
reviled us and poured forth a bitter
food of falsehood and invective in every
shape against our labor system, and yet,
what is the result? The Kassen resolu-
ton and the Belmont report in Congress,
which, reflected somewhat the wide
spread, untrustworthy newspaper
olamor of the country, leave practically
the issue of the question in the hands
of the Executive; and the Executive,
calm, digniied and thoroughly well-in-
formed, holds u treaty under friendly
consideration. There are "no unwelcOme
notifications" pressed upon US. An
enlightened Secretary of State clearly
appreciates, that if these Islands are to
be held, as within the scope of the Amer
lean continental policy, that the same
policy should be ready to discriminate
in favor of a country whose situation is
SO appreciated. Here we recall to mind
the views of the Premier, expressed on
that point ten years ago, when he was
editor of the Ma Hou, Gully 10Th, 1879
which are applicable at this day. He
then said, america, by many declara-
tons has recognized the strategetical
Importance of our archipelago to the
continent, and has intimated that she
would regard with an unfriendly eye
any alliance that would tend to endanger
this strategic relation. Then let her,
while respecting our, perhaps, temporary
independence, foster-without any espe-
cial bonus on u part-that state of af-
fairs which will tend to harmonic and
assimilate the relations of the two coun-
tries/ II is to the interest of America
to Anericanize us, and she needs no
bride to induce her to do So If owing
to want of wise craftsmanship she de-
| clines to meet us in our needs, and hopes
to carry her point by mastery in
activity, we may, by a mastery acti-
witty secure the financial and trade
accommodation which we need, and
make America eager to take US. AS we
are American md hail from a nation
that is too great to carry its point by
indirect means or subterfuge, we disdain
to take part in a scheme (the Pearl Har-
Dor c~ession) that processes to work both
ways, and makes us appear to beg for
dear life, when we could win our cause
by measures within the scope of al
intelligent Hawaiian craftsmanship"
The failure of the scheme to cede the
harbor of Pearl river to the Government
of the United States is to be attributed
largely to the publication of such senti-
ments, they being in accord with the
popular feeling on the subject; and we
quote as above to illustrate the point
that the press Is all-powerful when it is
truly concurrent with great popular
opinions.
On the other hand, we need but point
TO the present status of the King and
his Ministry to show that the press here,
as elsewhere, cannot create an opposi-J
ton worthy the name by even the
loudest-mouthed and most reckless enun-
citation of opinions that find no echo in
the popular heart.
If this were not so, we might have
cause to fear that the dissemination
abroad of the utterances of an unscru-
pulous opposition would seriously in
fuence those who nave under considera-
ton the reciprocity treaty at Washington.
Happily, as we have indicated else
where in this article, the Executive and
his Cabinet calmly examine questions
submitted to them in the light of truth.
From the truth, in its relation to the
motives and acts of His Majesty's Coy
eminent, as we'll as in relation to the
operations of the treaty of reciprocity,
we have no occasion to shrink, nor
can it affect orr status at Washington
unfavorably.