The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-04-25

the New York Hotel, was seen by |
a reporter of the Herald and inter-
viewed in regard to the treaty with
Japan, referred to by the Herald
correspondent in Toxic in recent
letter.
Governor Hubbard seconded the
nomination of General Hancock for
President at the Cincinnati Con-
ventlon of 1880. He was tempo
rary president of the Democratic
National Convention of 1884 at
Chicago and earnestly advocated
the nomination of Grover Cleve.
land and Thomas A. Hendricks for
President and Vice-President.
OPPOSED BY THE TREATY POWERS.
In response to the reporters
question the ex-Ministcr said:-'I
had from the beginning the opposi-
ton of all the European Powers,
and especially England, to any re-
vision of the existing treaties be-
tween the United States of Amer
lea land the other treaty Powers)
and Japan-Japan, you know, is
extra territorial, and as to the
tariff and law tribunals and juris-
diction, under the quasi vassalage,
so to speak, of the Western ma
tions.
"For instance, and to illustrate,
under the old and existing treaties
Japan could only charge an impost
duty of five per cent, maximum, it
mattered not whether the imports
were manufactured goods of cotton
or wool, or iron or wines and
liquors! Our own American tariff
imposed ten times higher rates and
duties on Japanese exports to
America (save raw silk and teas),
while boosted free trade England
charged an excise duty of eighty
seven per cent on Japanese liquors!
"This is a case in point, showing
injustice and gross inequitable
treatment by the Western Powers.
| Also it was provided by the treaties
that no foreigner could be tried or
punished by the Japanese courts in
criminal or civil cases, but must be
tried only by a United States con-
sui or consul of the treaty Power
whose subject or citizen had Of
Tended.
MEASURES OF THE TREATY.
"Acting in entire harmony and
under express authority of the
President and State Department, ]
advocated independence for Japan
in the matter Of her Custom House
dues. and within 6 limited period to
confer on the courts of the. empire
original jurisdiction over all for.
eigners, as is done to-day by all
Western nations over foreign sub
jects or citizens. The United States
of America through her Ministers
stood alone in this contention
When the conference dissolved
suggested, separate and distinct
from all other Powers, a treaty with
Japan, recognizing her autonomy
commercial and political, which
opens the whole empire [now closed
SO far as residence or business is
concerned to all foreigners except
in the treaty ports to American
citizens, as our country is open to
Japanese and others.
"The result Of this negotiation
was to cement the bonds of friend
ship between the two nations-the
one leading in progress and civiliz.
alton of all the Orient, and the
other always the first to recognize
the independence of States who ex.
hibit capacity for self-govern.
ment.
"In this we have simply followed
the illustrious traditions of oul
country, and whether or not the
treaty is ratified by the high con.
tending parties in the end it will
prove a harbinger and an earnest
of their coming independence"
Reading this and connecting il
with the liberal policy of the
United States in the settlement Of
the Samoan difficulties. I wonder
whether IT'S perusal could impress
those who profess to believe that
every friendly advance on the part
of America is a menace to our in.
dependence? Whether the com.
munity could be induced to believe
that the United States is indeed
g" the first nation to recognise the
independence of states which ex.
hibit a capacity for self-govern-
ment," and that in her attitude and
policy toward us as toward Japan,
she is only following out her inten-
ton to breathe life into friendly
states, not to draw life out of them.
would also call the attention oil
your readers to the opposition and
it's sources which Governor Hub.
bard says he met with in japan,
SIMPLY because IT'S analogous to
what seems to be the source of the
opposition here to the proposed
treaty between ourselves and the
United States, may point a conclu-
sion to be avoided in our case and
may tend to show that 1t may not
be pure interest in Hawaiian auton-
| nmv that iS ,,rnmntinor from oorfo IN