The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-04-10

! AS - UhuCISNOOu
Washington the effect of the Nc
Creary and Turpie resolutions is tc
declare virtual prOtectorate over
these islands. Special privileges inn
ply special responsibilities, and it is
not to be denied that the United
States is at the present mo-
ment held responsible by the
public opinion of the civilized
world for the fate of these islands.
By warning other powers not to inter
fere, it necessarily assumes a certain
responsibility in the premises, at least
as regards the interests of their sub
jects, even if those of its own citizens
are disregarded. The action of both
houses of Congress shows their unwil-
lingness to renouDce this exclusive
claim with all the responsibilities
which logically result from it. The
fact is that General Sickles' speech ex-
pressed the feeling of the mass Of the
American people: "They will never
consent that these islands shall be-
come an advanced post of Asia and
! Asiatic civilization
/ | have been asked to say a word on
I the prospects of the United States
! tariff. No man living can predict the
outcome of the present contest in Con-
! gress. The character of the bill changes
almost from day to day. The bill as
! first drawn up involved a deficit of
/ sixty or seventy millions. The House
of II representatives. added an income
tax and abolished the bounty on sugar,
I leaving that interest without any pro-
/ lection. That meant absolute ruin to
Louisiana and no benefit to Hawaii.
The Senate subcommittee were still
wrestling with the problem at last
| accounts. Nothing was said about
restoring the bounty, but PROPOSE
ton was being considered to lay
| duty of cent and upwards per
| pound OH sugar. This would do no
good if the reciprocity conventions
with Germany and Spain, under the
Mckinley Act, remained in force. 1t
was, therefore, proposed not only TO
give them notice of the termination
of these conventions, but also to give
similar notice to this country AS
our treaty is of different nature from
the others mentioned. and carries
with it all the special privileges
claimed by the United States in these
islands, it is very unlikely that such
an article can pass the Senate.
While the re-imposition of a duty
on sugar would be a boon to this
country, yet the abolition of the
bounty by this Congress is of more
vital Importance to us in the long
run. As long as that bounty stands,
it is not only unjust to the mass of
the American people, but it IS an
efectual bar to annexation. For no
intelligent man dreams that the
United States ever can or ought to
pay bounty to the sugar-planters of
these islands; at the same time it is
hard to see how any territory of the
United States could be excluded from
the operation of Federal law.
1t is therefore "devoutly to be
wishedn that the Wilson Bill may
pass in some shape, without the de-
tested bounty clause, before the Dem
Ocrats lose control of both houses of
Congress. We can continue to live as
we have done, without the benefit of
d duty on sugar, but the continuance
of the bounty system means that
Uncle SANS door will remain locked
against us for some years longer.
There are many resemblances be-
tween our history and that of Texas,
and | think we shall complete the
parallel. Texas was twice rebuffed,
and had to sail under the Lone Star
flag for nine years, but it was brought
in at last by the irrepressible desire of
the people of the United States, and so
shall we be.
A vote of thanks was passed for
the able speech of Prof Alexander.
Dr.. n. B. Emerson, E. Towse
and J. A. McCandless also made
addresses. President Murray, spy
ing Dan Logan, the Bulletin edi-
tor, IL. he audience, called on him
for speech. Great applause fol-
lowed the request. Mr.. Logan,
who evidently felt that, in politics, |
the hand of every man in the room
was turned against him, found a
very graceful way out of his pre-
dicament, saying:
GENTLEMEN: | am exceedingly |
surprised at the compliment paid me
in asking me for speech, but you
must excuse me. can only say that |
/ have greatly enjoyed the evening. |
You know that there is kind of |
armed neutrality existing between us.
l have always tried to do what 1
thought was best for this, my adopted
country. We may yet come to the
same goal though we are on different
forks of the road at present.
AS close to the evening, w. S.
Howard gave a few remarks on
the general status of the country. I
Another open meeting will be held
next Friday evening, and the
League intends to make special