The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-11-18
Pearl Harbor Cession.

EDITOR Bulletin
The question of the cession of a
naval station to the United States
is at present occupying prominent
position in public attention. There
are one or two points, however,
which seem to have hitherto escaped
the notice of our correspondents. In
the first place, why do the United
States desire coaling station here?
The policy of the American Repub-
lie has always been, and still is, to
refrain from interference in all ques-
tions not affecting the American
continent. If the United States had
possessions, settlements or COLONIES
on the other side of the Pacific one
could easily understand why Homo
lulu should be most desirable coal
ing station, and one which should
naturally belong to America. But
'6ne United States have no such
| trans-oceanic interests. On the con-
trary such things are repugnant to
the traditional policy of the coun-
try. | fail, therefore, to see what
object would be secured by owning
a naval station two thousand miles
away from the American coast. 1t
is necessary to coal, it is not neces-
sary to have an exclusive right to a
navy yard. A restaurant on the line
of railway is good, we need our din
ners to be sure, but it does not fol-
low that we should deem it indis-
pensable to own a hotel for our ex-
elusive use.
We hear a good deal concerning
the advantage that would accrue tc
this country from annexation to its
powerful neighbor. On the other
hand the disadvantages likely tc
arise have been brought before us il
startling relief. And it is a question
in my mind whether the Unitet
States entertains any feeling of dis
Interested attachment to these
islands. On November %, lS43
Great Britain and France entered
into solemn treaty that neithe
would, under any circumstances
take possession of the Hawaiian
Islands. 1t is significant that al
though repeatedly invited to ente
upon similar engagement thu
United States have persistently re
fused to do so. America declines t,
say that she will not annex thi
kingdom. Why? Is it because sh,
holds this people SO dear, that sh'
cannot bear the thought that sh'
must never clasp us to her breast
Nothing of the kind. If America en-
tertains an idea of some day subvert
ing the independence of thes
islands it is simply that her citizens
and not we, may be benefited. l re
member hearing an American Office
remark, while discussing the McKin
ley Bill, "The United States max
laws for the benefit of American
and not for other people"
The ignorance concerning Hawai-
ian affairs displayed in American
journals proves one of two things o
both. Either that the correspon
dents are mischievously inaccurate
or that the vast body of American
care positively nothing about us on
way or the other. The last mai
brought down clipping religiousl
reproduced in the Advertiser, whicl
said that Wilcox the revolutions
was practically in control of tn
political situation. We read a
nauseam of impending revolution
and disturbances, while we all kno,
that the political sky, at least as ia
as violence goes, is as clear in Hawai-
as it is in Washington. 1t is alway
a marvel to me to know that at an
time the American Government
should have thought it necessary t.
maintain two formidable ships il
the little bay Of Honolulu. By al
means, the officers are charming
men-they cause the dollars to cir
culate, but he must be strangel
ignorant of Hawaiian affairs VIII
should say that their presence wa
necessary as preventive measure O
security.
Let us keep the goods the god
have sent us. If we renounce thes
we may never know prosperity again
HAWAIIAN,