The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-01-16

L
There is no denying that it was q
tempting plum that il was proposed
to drop into Columbia's ample lap.
Hawaii would be an acquisition OF
which any country might be proud.
It is the gem of the Pacific. 1t may
even be taken as q fact that of the
x36, 100000 at which the valuation
Of the Hawaiian kingdom 10 put,
merchants of the United States own
s2S, 10000, and that this sum would
rapidly increase il American domi-
nance in the island were assured.
But these circumstances can have
no weight in the disposition OF the
question by an enlightened and
Christian community. The matter
had to be determined on principles |
Of absolute right and wrong. And
every honest citizen Of the republic |
may rejoice that the Representatives
at Washington had the honor and
nerve to throw profit aud popularity
to the winds, aud TO settle this affair
with single eye to justice and
equity.
In view OF the cry of "un. Amer
lean" that is the keynote Of the parti-
san protests against the Presidents
policy, it is interesting to recall that
he is really but following in tho
footsteps OF Americas greatest
statesmen in this matter.
Webster, Clayton, Marcy, Blaine,
and lesser lights were all in their
time confronted with almost the
identical problem thrust upon Cleve-
land by the previous administration,
and curiously enough their policy,
in all its essential details, was iden-
teal with that laid down by him.
In the archives of the nation there
is to be found the original OF the
letter written by Daniel Webster
during his term as Secretary OF
State, in 1912, to Messrs. Haalilio
and Richards. 1.-THE United States,
therefore" says the great common
or, care more Interested in the fate
OF tho island (Hawaii) and OF their
government than any other nation
can be, and this consideration in
duces the President to be quite will
ing to declare as the sense OF the
Government of the United States
that the Government Of the Sand
wich Islands ought to be respected;
that no ra-:s ought either to take
possession OF The. Island as q conquest
or for the purpose ~ colonization,
and that no power ought to seek for
any exclusive rights or preferences
with II in matters OF commerce.
Shortly after this President Tyler,
in . message to Congress, enunciated
similar sentiments in even moro do.
cisive terms. considering, there
fore, that the United States possesses
so very large . share in the inter.
course OF those islands, II Is deemed
Q not unfit to make the declaration
/ that this Government, the United
States, seeks, nevertheless, no pecu.
liar advantages, no exclusive control
over the Hawaiian Government, but
. is content with its independent OK.
istence and anxiously wishes Tor it,
security and prosperity"
Surely there is no ambiguity In
that trenchant utterance Of Amer
ica's sentiments toward the haplesi
realm to our west.
Whom Mr.. Clayton was Secretary
Of State he sent to Mr.. Rives, then
Minister TO France, a protest against
that country's threatened encroach
ment upon the island that a handful
! Of malefactors, sdvanturers, and
small-fry politicians undertook u
plumber under the pretense OF per
, forming an act OF patriotism anC
national aggrandizement.
But, perhaps, the most convincing
n and conclusive utterance ON the sub
\ ject is to DO found in an Official com
muuication frora The great Mr.. Web
ster. Tho Government OF tn,
United States" he pointed out, IVA
the first to acknowledge the nationa
existence OF the Hawaiian Govern
n msnt and to treat il as an independ
o ent state. The United States, tru'
to its obligation, has in no case in
terfered with the Hawaiian Govern
ment for the purpose OF opposing
the course of its own indspenden
: conduct or debating to il any part
q cular party line OF policy. Thi
. Government still desires to SEQ tn
nationality Of the Hawaiian Govern
ment maintained, its Independent
$, administration Of public affairs re
spected, and its prosperity and re
putation increased"
Marcy, a statesman, second nc
: even to Webster, wrote in his cap,
- city as Secretary OF State: "Whil
we do not intend to attempt the o.
ercise OF any exclusive control owe
them We are resolved that no othe
power or state shall exact any pol
" tical or commercial privilege frol
them which we are not permitted I
enjoy, far less to establish any prt
tectorate over them"
II President Cleveland's condut
N in this affair has been "un-Amer
y. can" he may take comfort from th
fact that his course has been exact
- that which would have been pursue
in the same circumstances, by I'll
NJ late James G. Blaine, the idol Of NJ
n Cleveland's political opponents, IL
j very type OF "Americanism" in a
that that term implies TO the pop,
lar mind, Just about two years az
Mr.. Blaine wrote in his capacity I
] Secretary Of State: "The Unite
States Government has decline
even at the request OF the Hawaiia
people to assume over their affairs
protectorate which would only be
thinly disguised domination, an