The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-01-04
EXECUTIVE BUILDING,
HONOLULU, Dec. 23d, 1898.

SIR: Your EXcellency's communi-
cation of December 10Th, announcing
the conclusion which the President of
the United States of America has fin
ally arrived at respecting the applica-
tion of this Government for a treaty
of political union with that country,
and referring also to the domestic
affairs of these islands, has had the
consideration of the Government.
While it is with deep disappoint-
ment that we learn that the important
proposition which we have submitted
to the Government of the United
States, and which was at first favor
ably considered by it, has at length
been rejected, we have experienced a
sense of relief that we are now favored
with the first official information upon
the subject that has been received
through period of over nine months.
While we accept the decision of the
President of the United States declin-
ing further to consider the annexation
proposition as the final conclusion of
the present Administration, we do not
feel inclined to regard it as the last
word of the American Government
upon this subject; for the history of
| the mutual relations of the two cOun-
tries, of American effort and influence
in building up the Christian civiliza-
| ton which has so conspicuously aided
| in giving this country al honorable
place among independent nations, the
! geographical position of these islands
and the important and, to both coun-
| tries, profitable reciprocal commercial
| interests which have long existed, to-
| gether with our weakness as sOver-
| eign nation, all point with convincing
| force to political union between the
| two countries as the necessary logical
result from the circumstance men,
! toned. This conviction is empha-
sized by the favorable expression of
| American statesmen over long peri
| cd in favor of annexation, conspicuous
among whom are the names of w. IL.
Marcy, William HI. Seward, Hamilton
Fish and James G.. Blaine, all former
| secretaries of state, and especially so
| by the action of your last Administra-
| tion in negotiating a treaty of annex
alton with this Government and send
| ing it to the Senate with a view to its
ratification.
We shall therefore continue the pro-
| iect of political union with the United
| States as conspicuous feature of our
| foreign policy, confidently hoping that
sooner or later it will be crowned with
success to the lasting benefit of both
| countries.
The additional portion of your COM
munication referring to our domestic
affairs with a view of interfering
therein, is a new departure in the re-
lations of the two Governments. Your
information that the President Of the
United States expects this Govern
ment ''to promptly relinauish to her
(meaning the ex-queen) her cOnstitu-
tional authority" with the question,
'fare you willing to abide by the deci-
sion of the President?" might well be
dismissed in single word, but for the
circumstance that your cOmmunica-
ton contains, as it appears to me,
misstatements, and erroneous conclu-
sions based thereon that are so preju-
dicial to this Government, that L can
| not permit them to pass unchallenged;
moreover, the Importance and men,
acing character of this proposition
make it appropriate for me to discuss
somewhat fully the questions raised
by it.
We do not recognize the right of the
President of the United States to in
terfere in our domestic affairs. Such
right could be conferred upon him by
the Act of this Government, and by
| that alone; or it could be acquired by
| conquest. This L understand to be
| the American doctrine conspicuously
announced from time to time by the
| authorities of your Government.
| President Jackson said in his mes
sage to Congress, in 1885: "The uni
| form policy and practice of the United
| States is to avoid all interference in
! disputes which merely relate to the
| internal government of other nations,
| apd ayanty1alIv fo recooniZe the au-