The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-11-29

EDITOR BULLETrN:-

informed writers who have discussed
the Pearl River question lately in
your columns and those of the Adj
vertiser have conferred a great bene-
fit on the public. We now know
something more definite than ever
before about what is wanted and
what may be proposed to be done
in the matter, although not as much
as is desirable. 1t is unfortunate,
however, and all must regret it, that
the discussion should have been
partially obscured and its effects
marred by questions of nationality
and personal standing arising be-
tween the participants.
The question is, in my humble
opinion, solely Hawaiian one.
will not, however, raise any ad cap
tandum arguments, such as Esau's
selling his birthright for a mess of
pottage, but merely say that we,
here, foreigners by birth or breed
ing, who take an active interest in
the matter, should never lose sight
of the fact, in attempting to deal
with it, even for our own mutual
benefit, that it is not our original
nationality's interests that are at
stake but those of our environment
or acquired nationality. And that,
if we do not entirely possess the in
stinctive and universal natural aver
sion of the Hawaiian to parting,
though but in name only, with
foot of his native soil to foreign
nation, we ought at least to respect
that feeling, and never outrage it by
shamelessly proposing an exchange
of his territory for purely CONNER
cial reasons of dollars and cents,
which we, on our part, would reject
with scorn if they related to our
own native soils.
The matter of dollars and cents,
however, is question which arises
alike to the Hawaiian and the stran-
ger will his gates. And, if his ma
tional honor and patriotism be salts
fed, | feel sure the Hawaiian will
desire to assist the foreigner, and
himself also, to mutually receive all
the advantages possible from closer
commercial or friendly relations with
any other country.
Personally have always held the
opinion and still hold it that such
closer commercial or friendly rela-
tions can be more advantageously
drawn by this country with the
United States although it is neither
the land of my adoption nor that of
my birth) than with any other coun-
try in the world. | believe, any pro-
posal toward bringing about such
relations which will tend to the adj
vantage, even of only portion of
this community, will receive the sup
port of majority of all nationali-
ties now in these Islands, provided
that it is likely to do no injury to
the rights or advantages of any
other portion of the community, and
does not interfere in any way with
the absolute independence and
autonomy of the kingdom.
If the United States desire the
exclusive right to a coaling station,
or stores depot, or naval repair
ing station, at Pearl River, and it is
clearly shown that such can be
granted without loss of sovereignty
or jurisdiction, without impairment
of independence and autonomy, and
without causing international com
plications in time of war, and they
are willing to give substantial ad-
vantages in exchange Though even
less than Mr.. Thurston advises us to
ask for no reasonable person here, OF
any nationality, would ever dream OF
advising the rejection of such friend
ly overtures, unless greater advan-
tages could be obtained by some
other method or from some other
nation; and [ have no doubt that
in the latter case, even those who
now urge Americas claims would
join in accepting the more advan,
tageous proposition. Mr.. Thurston
makes the statement that the United
States wants also to keep other for
eign countries from obtaining con.
troll of the Hawaiian Islands" That
is without doubt true, and everyone
who has Hawaiian interests at heart
sincerely hopes that the United
States will ever be successful in this
desire, and that she will also Ell
deavor to keep them as free and in
dependent as they have always been
and as she herself is.
In conclusion, | would like to ask
those who have already written sc
ably on the subject, now that they
have ostensibly driven away the
"bugaboo of annexation" from the
field, and reduced the question to
one of mere concession" in a com
mercial point of view, to outlin,
more definitely and exactly thei
ideas of what direct proposals should
be made to the States as to the ma
ture of the proposed concession, anC
how, and what we should ask in ex
change, and how much of that, a
the least, we should be satisfied
with.
These are the practical points il
the question, and there can be NJ
cause or excuse for secresy, if it il
now commercial and not diplo
matte or political question. A plain
direct, and complete public state
ment of them will do more to rele
gate the "bugaboo" to eternal obi
Won, or show him to be a real anC
very imminent danger, than all the
personal, national, historical, or lega
disquisitions or attacks that hay,
been or will be made. And |, lik,
many others, will be truly grateful