The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1892-11-11


Hartwell contend. that the e~tablI-h-
ment of United States naval station
at Pearl Harbor, would greatIy,pro-
mote Hawaiian prosperity. This Is
question of practical politics, and
whether the naval station be under
the United States or any other for
eign flag, would, in my opinion, make
no difference in this respect. Ihe
ADJ Gates IF foreign naval station at
Pearl Harbor are never very explicit,
and il is difficult to leurn whether
they would place that territory under
the United States or under the ia
waiian flag; that is, whether or not
they contemplate the annexation OF
Pearl Harbor. On either hypothesis
there appear to be difficulties which
| can hardly think have been fully
realized. If Pearl Harbor be placed
under the United States flag it would
become, in the event of war, the
most vulnerable portion Of United
States territory; and we should have
within q lew miles of Honolulu the
scene of active naval warfare, with
the certainty that the dangers of
bombardment would not be confined
to the ceded territory, but would, IN
all probability, be severely felt IN
Honolulu itself. Moreover. Hawaiian
territory would never be allowed to
stand in the way Of their attack by
any belligerent power if Hawaii had
herself introduced within her geo
graphical boundaries so dangerous
an element The possibility that the
attacking force might capture Pearl
Harbor must also be taken into &C
count, and with that the probability
that the independence of Hawaii
would be at an end.
But even If there be no war, who
can contemplate without dismay the
condition which must result from
| the establishment of foreign terri
tory at our very door? The Queens
writ would not run ten miles from
her palace gates; no arrests could be
made of either plotters or defaulters
and no Hawaiian official would have
the right to enter the ceded territory
| in pursuit of criminals or convicts
1t does not require very active i'm
agination to portray the condition
which would arise as regards opium
smuggling, burglary and crime gen
orally, or the heavy cost which we
should have to incur in guarding the
line which, in defiance of all prece
dent and all prudence, We should
have established at our very thres
hold.
Some, however. contend that nc
alienation of territory Is contem
plated, and that the United States
naval station is to remain under the
Hawaiian flag. This is an out
standing idea, for it appears to me tt
involve the result that in the event
of a war between the United State:
and any other power the Hawaiian
Government would be bound to no
tify the United States ships to vacate
the naval station within twenty foul
hours, and to content themselves
with the rights of neutrals. II the
United States refused to comply
and they certainly would refuse
either the United States would bt
compelled, in self defence, to tak'
possession of the Hawaiian Islands
or the other belligerent power wonlt
do 80 in punishment of the breach o
international law of neutrality. II
either case, Hawaiian independence
would be gone for ever, and neithe,
sovereign nor people would have
any voice in the matter.
I greatly admire the earnestnes
with which Mr.. Hartwell denounce
the allegation that he, after th
trusted place he has had in th
councils of Hawaiian sovereign
could consent to be an instigator o
annexation; but in view of the inevi
table dangers of the establishment
of naval station under the appal
ent conditions involved, [ humbl.
submit that Hawaiian prosperit.
would be rather retarded than pre-
noted by such step.
My interests. and perhaps %
honor, are as deeply interested i
Hawaiian prosperity as are those c
Mr.. Hartwell; and if once we coul
get rid of such reports and accuse
! tions as those which Mr.. Hartwell S
strenuously rebukes, | am convince
that we could pursue policy of con
, mercial progress which would secur
for the Hawaiian kingdom the II
{ spect of the world, and the especi;
, favor of the United States.
+ / am, Sir, your obedient servan
THEo. FL. DAVIES.
u,lo Ho.yoii Nov = 1900