The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-08-01

they exported to all other countries
in the one year 1874; and but
A, ll6 pounds OF rice in the same seven
years to all other countries against 3O2,-
$40 pounds in the one year OF 1874. The
commerce Of the country is thus, it will
be seen, practically with the United
States only, and, | repeat, it has devel-
oped as the direct result OF the treaty
which it is now sought to abrogate.
To claim that that trade would con.
tinue to flourish under other conditions
is. it seems to me, most chimerical and
most improbable. Trade is the distinct
result of conditions; change your con-
ditions and you change the result. Sup
ply and demand are two great regula-
tors. it is true. but there can be no con-
tinued supply where there is a con.
tinued loss, and demand will soon cease
if there is an utter absence of the COM
pensatory principle. There is nothing
in all this that offers the faintest
violence to the most advanced ideas of
protection. Free trade is one thing and
reciprocity is another. One is an in
dividual contract and the other is gem
eral invitation. They offer the COM
mercial parallel of domestic chastity
and promiscuous compliance.
Another point is involved-the less
elevated one of selfish interest. Apart
from closing up market and giving
the cold shoulder to a good customer,
the abrogation of this treaty will
imperil our own interests and discount
our own investments. There are 40
corporate and 81 unincorporated sugar
plantations and mills on the Islands,
representing an aggregate investment
of 1888, 3l7 $50, and of this amount S24,-
73j, 60, or ALI per cent. of the whole
is owned by Americans. British in
vestments, by the bye, represent 1911
per cent. of the total, and German, 6 %.
Like the unique example offered by
Honolulu OF the supremacy OF our flag
so, believe, this is the only example on
record OF our monetary investments in
one particular exceeding those OF other
nations in a foreign land; with the ex-
ception, perhaps, of our interests in
Mexican railroads. Yet it is this very
supremacy OF interest that the Senator
from South Dakota would seek to i'm
peril, ii not destroy. Again, in our
..,.l, ,.;tl, a.. Igl,rl, NO o,,,,l,,. ,ivt,.
eight steamers and sailing vessels hay
ing $4,000 tons OF registered tonnage and
giving employment direct and indirect
to 1000 people.
The fleet has grown up with the
necessities of this branch of our inter.
national trade, and will lose its liveli-
hood by the diversion of the trade that
will surely result from the change in
our relations. 1t is all very well to say
! that this trade need not be diverted, or
| that if it is the fleet can be employed in
some other trade. The essence of the
treaty was that so long as it remained
in force the Hawaiian Government
would make no similar treaty with any
other nation, and that the privileges and
rights which under the treaty we enjoy
should be ours and ours only. 1t is this
clause of the treaty, and this clause
alone, which has kept the British
merchant from swapping us out there
rs he has swamped us in every Other
foreign port, and the abrogation of the
treaty would as surely mean our loss Of
prestige as punishment follows sin.
Canada and British Columbia stand
ready to day to make a treaty with the
Hawaiian Islands. Their agents and
emissaries have been pleading during
che past year for them to make com
mercial treaty, but they have declined
to do so up TO the present time, because
in this contract with us they declare
| that they would not entertain similar
proposition with any other country.
But the moment it is cancelled they
stand ready to do it.
On the question treated by the SEN
ator from Alabama as to whether the
cession of Pearl Harbor would fall with
the abrogation of the treaty of reci-
procity, do not propose to enter. Like
/ every other question of diplomatic
/ policy there seems to be quite as much
to say on one side as on the other.
What would appear to be indubitable
evidence exists that Secretary Bayard
! held, during President Cleveland's first
| Administration, that the cesson and
treaty were coterminous; and though
the manner of looking at things MAY
have changed, the things themselves
can not have altered.
| We may cOnstrue one way in lSS5-S9
and another way in lS93-94, but it might
| be as well if we remembered, during
this process OF construction, that some
of the very worst OF national regulations
have been gained by the insistence OF
strong powers in exacting from weaker
nations what they have been pleased to
style "vested rights" as the residue OF
cancelled treaties. And closely in con-
nection with this fact lies that other ex-
tremely significant fact, that the present
head Of the Hawaiian Government has
not hesitated to express his opinions
that Pearl HarbOr reverts to the Ha-
waiian Islands on the cessation of treaty
relations. The very dissonance OF opin-
ion upon this section OF the question
lends an additional gravity to the situa-
ton and bids US beware.
The way Of abrogation, indeed, is
beset with danger signals which it
would be criminal to ignore. The loss
OF the friendship OF neighboring
power, small but important; irrepara-
bic injury to a treaty-fostered trade;
the fall OF our flag; the wretched sus-
picion OF a powerful nation STOPPING to