The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-10-04


improvement in all departments Of
business, and corresponding benc-
fl TO the United States by the in
crease in our imports TO meet the
necessary increased consumption by
our people.
We believe that the additional
value which eOoh country would re-
eeiye would many times over CON-
pensate them for the loss of the
duties now levied.
FOURTH: The Hawaiian Islands
are now the only group in the Paci-
fie which is wholly self.governing.
Our situation is peculiar. We have
no military or naval strength of our
own TO maintain our autonomy
against the pettiest naval power
and we have to-day no guarantee of
our continued independence, as
against any foreign nation, other
than the sufferance or the mutual
iealousles of the great powers.
Within the last few years the
policy of annexation has prevailed
among the European nations inter-
ested in Polynesia, which has. re-
suited IN the rapid absorption of
nearly all of Pacific Islands.
Within the year last past We bave
seen Samoa lose her position as a
self-governing state. The acts of
her government are now subject to
the approval of the Governments of
the United States, England and
Germany, and had it not been for
the good offices of the United States
Government the probability is that
she would have ere now been annex
ed by one or more European ma
tons.
Within the past year the question
of the disposition and absorption of
the Hawaiian Islands, as well as of
Samoa, has been the subject of
serious consideration by certain of
the nations interested in the Paci-
! iic.
The Cabinet are of the opinion
| that the interests of this country,
and of every race and industry re-
sident or located therein, will be
best served by the continuance of
its present independent state, free
from any protectorate or control on
the part of any foreign government.
1t is, and ever will be, the endea-
vor of the present Administration
to not only unqualitiedly maintain
this status, but to obtain such as
surances and guarantees thereof as
will remove the question from the
debatable politics Of the world.
1t has long been the custom of
| European nations to form alliances
with neighboring countries, for pur-
poses of defense, safety and COM
mercial exchange. The time has, in
the opinion of the Cabinet, arrived
when we should follow q precedent
so well established and form an
alliance with some great nation. If
an alliance of this character is de-
sirable it should be in the direction
where our greatest interest lies.
The proximity of the United
States, the cordial friendship which
| has been from the commencement Of
our civilization marked character
istic of our relations with the Anne
rican people, and the extensive COM
mercial exchanges which are the
result of such relations, point inevi
tably to that great country rs our
best friend, our most valuable COM
mercial colleague and our natural
political ally.
Animated as we are by the desire
TO strengthen and extend the com
mercial ties which have done so
much for our national prosperity,
and to secure the safety and perpG-
tuation of our institutions by an
alliance whereby we shall have the
positive and etficacious guarantee Of
a strong friend against interference
by itself or others with our perfect
autonomy, independence and sover-
eighty, we have instructed our re-
preventative at Washington to ascer-
tain if the United States would be
willing TO negotiate with as Con-
vention whereby the following OBJ
iects may be secured:
lst. TO continue in force all
Treaties and Conventions now exist
ting between the Two nations, until
they shall find it mutually advanta-
geous tol abrogate or modify such
Treaties or Conventions, or any Of
them.
I'd. That all products of either
country which are by virtue of the
Reciprocity Treaty admitted free of
duty into the other country shall be
treated in respect of hounties paid
exemptions or immunites and in all
| other respects rs if such articles
were OF the growth, produce or ma
nufacture of the country into which
they are so admitted.
3rd. TO provide for the entry into
either of the two countries, without
payment of duty, of all products of
the other, excepting, however, opium,
spirituous liquors of more than lS
per cent. alcoholic strength, and all
articles prohibited by law in either
country.
Ii .,. "A,