The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-06-16
PEARL RIVER HARBOR AGAIN.

Mr. Kaulullou deserves the thanks of
the country for bringing the subject of
Pearl River cessiOn once more before
the Legislature In short, it should be
revived at intervals during the session
Just to show the enemies of Hawaiian
independence that the Legislative As
sembly is not Indifferent to the question.
This is necessary because of the per-
sistence with which a small but active
and influential clique OH these Islands is
putting pressure upon certain Senators
and Congressman to compass their
plans, back of which is a design upon
Uncle Sans purse. If Pearl River were
either coded, leased or annexed by the
United States, there would necessarily
be a large expenditure of money in
deepening the bar, Strengthening the
channel, erecting Navy yard, dock, and
buildings, and establishing stores, I'M
less it should become the counterpart of
the Samoan Treaty, which purported to
convey a coaling station in Page Page
Harbor to the United States Govern
ment. When Admiral Rodgers went
there TO take possession he discovered
the fact that the Samoan Government
had no land to convey at Page Page,
and the coal was landed, by permission
of the owner, upon a plot OF ground be-
longing to a Californian, of English
birth, who had been interested in a
land scheme in Samoa, the promoters
of which paid the expenses of a Samoan
Envoy to Washington and manipulated
affairs there so that the treaty inquestion
was ratified.
We do not think the United States
Government would be willing to become
a plastic tool in the hands of land specu-
Iators a second time; but it is an unde-
niable fact that land speculationis at the
bottom of the movement on these Islands
in favor of Pearl Harbor cession. The
United States Government, however,
has in no shape or way encouraged the
idea that it wants a cOaling station or
territorial control in this Kingdom, at
Pearl Harbor or elsewhere. The Wash
ington Executive has been open and
candid in its relations with this country.
As was stated by His Excellency Mr..
Gibson yesterday in the Assembly, the
only matter of negotiation between the
two Governments was the extension of
the Reciprocity Treaty without modifica-
ton or condition except as to time.
We therefore exOneTate the Washing
ton Cabinet from any ulterior purpose in
its diplomatic intercourse with our Gov
eminent Indeed, this Kingdom is its
debtor for many friendly acts, and relies
implicitly upon its good faith and friend
ship in the future. But the spirit of
speculation is one of the dominant
forces in American politics, and it is
that spirit, originating here and operating
at Washington, that has induced the
Foreign Relations Committee of the
United States Senate to add a new clause
to the convention between the United
States and Hawaii, which had been sent
to it for ratification by President Arthur
That convention was signed by Secretary
Frelinghuysen on the part of the United
States, and by Minister Carter on be-
half OF this Kingdom If it cannot be
ratified as it was originally signed, it
will not be ratified at all The indie
pendence OF this Kingdom will not be
whitfield away by either local resident or
absentee land spectators, and the
United States Senate will not be used
for that purpose without an attempt
upon our part to throw light upon the
scheme