The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-11
CONSERVATIVES RESOLUTIONS.

The resolutions adopted BY the Seattle
Chamber Of Commerce concerning the
!. Hawaiian question arc wisely conserva-
9es they state the exact needs of the
hation when they pray that
Our governments will adopt such meas
%urss In it, relations to the Hawaiian ISL
ands-noe inconsistent with our long estab.
lfshed policy-as wiz securely guard against all
danger Of foreign domination Of the said islands
and Of European interference with their Affairs:
viii guarantee uninterruptedly and perma.
uently 70 our naval and commercial vessels an
adequate and convenient coalins station
thereon.
What has been "our long established
policy" respecting these islands3 In 1872.
whsn the ENJOYS Of the Hawaiian islands
came 70 Washington City to negotiate
treaty. Daniel Webster, secretary Of state
to President Tyler. said that ''the interests
Of al the commercial nations require that
the existing suthoFitiss In the islands
should not b intsrfsrsd with BY any for
sign powers" In February. 1888. Lord
George Paulst. commanding . British
fhgsts, haulsd down the Hawaiian
has. British protsctora&s was declared
and the islands were - good as annexed
against the protest OF IN American man.
of.war in the harbor. The king Of the
islands sent . special envoy to Great
Britain and 70 this country to protest
against the action Of Capt Paulst. Secre-
tary Of etsts Webster said: 1--WE will
await the result Of your mission to En-
gland. II IT. government does not then
disayow the acts Of Lord George Paulet
wen make fuss" England withdrew
from the islands and our minister at Lon
don. Mr.. Everett, was instructed to in
form the British government that tho
group bore such peculiar relations" to
the United States that I'VE might even
feel justified. consistently With our own
principles, In interfering by force to pre-
vent their falling into the hands Of one of
the great powers of Europe" November
q, lSs3, France and England united in .
mutual engagement ITO consider tho
Hawaiian Islands a. an Independent state.
and never to take possession. neither
directly nor under the title of protecto-
rats, nor under any form, Of any part of
the territory of which they are composed"
Our secretary of state. John c. Calhoun,
July 6, 1874. added the guarantee of the
United States to this agreement as tar as
tho independence Of the islands was con-
cerned. In lsis French admiral and
French commissioner presented demands
In Honolulu tantamount to the subjuga-
ton Of the islands to the dominion OF
France. Secretary of State Calhoun ad.
dressed . protest to the French govern.
msnt ana his successor. Mr.. Webster. re-
peated this protest in 1851, saying that the
United States would "never consent to see
these islands taken possession Of by either
Of tho great commercial powers of
Europe" nor to have enforced against
them demands manifestiy unjust and
inconsistent with . bona fide independ-
encc."
Mr.. Marcy. secretary Of state under
President Pierce. declared that I'VE are re-
soived that no other power or state shalt
establish any protectorate over them"
Secretary Of State Fish. under President
Grant, reiterated the views of Webster
and Marcy.
In 1873 . reciprocity treaty was nego-
Hawaiian sugar was admitted free to tho
United States, and Hawaii agreed never TO
cede any of its territory save with the con-
sen: Of the United States. Hawaii at the
same time denounced In London the arti.
eles in the English commercial treaty
which conaicted with tho instrument rati-
fled 1t Washington City. In 1851. when q
British merchant set out TO abrogaie our
treaty by u resort to the Hawaiian courts,
Mr.. Blaine. in . dispatch TO Minister
Comfy, June so. 1881. entered an ener-
cesic protest Secretary Blaine further de-
clared tina. the United States would not
permit = proposed Immigration scheme
"by which a large mass OF British subjects
should be introduced into Hawaii" to be
carried into effect Mr.. Blaine declared
that the United States government had
already acquired - legitimstely domi-
nant influence in the North Pacific which
{ can never consent TO see decreased" Inc
much a. s.ths situation Of the Hawaiian
uds. giving them The strategic control