The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-30


as an Independent State, and never TO take
possession neither directly, nor under the
title Of protectorate, nor under any other
form, of any part Of the territory of which
they are composed
A year previous, December 81, 1912, John
Tyler, then President of the United States,
in a message to Congress, gave expression
TO sentiments in regard to Government
of this Kingdom, which were considered as
tantamount to a formal recognition of ma
tionaI independence, and on March Sd fol-
lowing an American Commissioner was
appointed to reside at the Court of Hawaii
To-day then is the forty-second anniyer-
saTy of the recognition of Hawaiian indie
pendence by three of the most powerful
and enlightened nations of the world; the
arbiters of the fates of peoples and thrones
and the foremost in colonization and the
maintenance of political influence. To Us
they guaranteed our autonomy, and in
that fact we not only have cause for graft
tude and pride, but also material for earn
est thought and sober reflection on the
conditions of the past, present and future
OF the nation. Our independence and ma
tional recognition having thus been secured
through the friendly influence of these and
other powerful nations, and the consequent
blessings growing, and to grow out OF
national independence assured, let US en-
quire to what extent we have maintained
our independence, to what uses we have
put it. and what are the advantages grow
ing out of its maintenance.
1t is familiar to the minds of every one
conveTsant with Hawaiian history, and
actually so TO many of those living, and
perchance, even now listening to me, that
formerly foreign Consuls and Captains of
men-of-war came to this port, and forcibly
or with a show of force, dictated the arbi-
tratiOn of affairs to us and 10 our Constitu-
tional rulers II an Englishman, Ameri-
can, Frenchman or other foreigner thought
he felt aggTieved by some one or something,
he Immediately sought his nations repre-
sentative and demanded redress, and that
redress was obtained independently of our
Courts. In those days we had no such
Courts of Justice as are now existing in
our land? But what is the case now? Re
fleet on the change and greet it with glad
ness.
To-day every foreigner, whatever may be
his wealth, whatever may be his nation, its
influence or his influence, be he ten times a
millionaire or the very poorest of laborers,
if he esteems himself aggrieved in this
country he must appeal for redress to her
laws. He must go before her Courts of
Justice, and there he viii find even-handed
justice administered to him equally with
the most powerful and influential or the
poorest and most insignificant of Hawaiian
/ subjects of His Majesty.
Is there not here alone most substantial
evidence and assurance of the fact and the
value of our national independence? Of
the integrity and AGILITY of our Courts /
need not speak; their decisions and dlcta
have been esteemed and complimented in
the highest law Courts of the civilized
world, and in their hands the administra-
ton of justice and the sanctity of the law
have been honored.
But again note anotheE1GtssssF TODAY
when the arIIa PEG Var Var vessels of a foreign
J90wer enter our port, they come not to
dictate to our Sovereign or his responsible
advisers. but pear with them a peaceful
message of greeting of honor to him and
! our cOuntry's flag. With international
courtesy-as greeting an equal power
they fire their salutes of twenty-One guns
! in recognition of our Kingdoms independ-
| ence, and they do no more when they enter
the ports of the most powerful State in
the world. They honor our flag as much
| as the oldest and noblest.
But incidental TO these outward recogni
tons of international equality in rank-Oi
which many instances might be given
| their are many measures and results grow
| ing out of the indendence of our State. In
our early career our sources of revenue and
wealth very largely depended upon the
! sales of sandal wood with China and the
precarious catch of the whales walrus and
| other spoiIs of the ocean and the profits
| connected Herewith, and their continu-
ance. But this source of revenue passed
away, and for time those who took g
gloomy view of our cOuntry's prospects
| looked through a mist of doubt and saw
nothing but impending poverty and pc
| litical ruin. Let us look back a little il
this regard and review our position
J In 1850, twenty-five years ago, oul
imports amounted to 81 ,223, $50; our ex
ports to $SO7 40. The amount of our do
nestle produce exported was $480,526. anC
of foreign produce exported, 1896, 1892. The
Custom House receipts were Sly 1902
There were 10 national vessels, III mer
chant vessels of 1925 tons, anG
325 whalers and IS Hawaiian vessel:
of 6,S35 tons But the next yea,
our imports fell to $76l, 100 and our exports
to $659,77 and the Custom House re
ceipts to 500, rs; our merchant vessels tC
% and whalers to 190 Then was it that
the dark hour seemed imminent, but tw,
years later our imports and exports haC
again each exceeded $,1000,000 Let u.
pass on to 1875 (ten years ago.. Our i'm
| ports were then 81 ,505, $40 and our exports
| 81, OS9, 736. Our domestic produce ex
ported was $1,774 ,O83, and our foreign pro
duce exported $25l, 1853, and our Custom
| House receipts 1913, Az. There were ,.
| national vessels, 100 merchant vessels, witt
an aggregate tonnage of 93,110, and only
| Al whalers and 81 Hawaiian vessels of ,37(
| tons. Now raise your eyes to-day and lool
/ around YOU Is there not cause for hope
! See upon all our islands the fertile land:
| teeming with natures resources, titled anC
| cultivated by man; see the enormous ex
| portation of sugar from these Islands, ant
the large wealth and immense employ