The times., 1897-06-17

attention or this government to the fact
that these treaty rights do exist. and the
japanese government will expect them TO
be- recognized
He also said this his countryis now en-
gagged n a controversy with Hawaii con-
cerning the japanese treaty rights, and
he desired TO know il this government.
should Hawaii be annexed, will assume
tie responsibility for the violation Of the
treaty with Japan by the Hawaiians.
The protest was more In the nature OF
an inquiry. but beneath it all is an i'm
piled threat that If Japan is not accorded
what she wants. she Will insist by force,
if necessary, to obtain it. 1t is believed
that wnen the treaty is made public Japan
viii file formal protest.
Discussing the political relations OF
Hawaii ia the United States, x-Minister
Thurston says: "a host of American
statesmen have favored the control OF
Hawaii. among them Presidents Fillmore,
Pierce, Buchanan. johnson, Grant, Arthur
and Harrison, and Secretaries of State Web
ster, Legare. Buchanan, Clayton, Marcy,
Seward. Fish, Blaine and Foster, TO say
nothing Of United States ministers and
prominent Army and Naval officers
with Hawaii in the hands Of any hostile
power, the only coaliug station from
Nicaragua to Hong Kong, and from San
Francisco to Samoa, would be closed 20
American cruisers, md made center from
which hostile descents could be made upon
the Pacific coast, and its commerce de-
stroyed. With HI waii in the control OF the
United States the base OF supplies OF
hostile naval force is thrown back to the
entire width OF the Pacific-a practically
pIofibitive distance. as coal enough woulG
have TO he carried TO steam vessels the
Pacific and return, distance OF from
7 900 10 5000 miles. TO sa nothing OF coal
consumption in operating on the Pacific
coast. "a quantity far beyond the capacity
of any waTship in existence. American
control of Hawaii is. therefore. a practical
insurance against naval attack on the
Pacific coast and On shipping IN that
vicinity
One or two of the expressions in Presi
dent Harrison's letter transmitting the
previous treaty are especially applicable
at this time Among other things Mt.
Harrison said;
TIE iBflpeBca and interest OF the
United States in the islands must be
decreased and not diminished Only two
COURSES are DOW open: one the establish
men: OF a protectorate by the United States
and the other annexation. foil and complete.
/ tbink the latter course which has been
ADOPTED in the treaty, viii be highly pro-
motive of the bestinterests of the Hawaiian
people and is the only one that Will ade
qUately secure the interests of the United
states. These interests are not wholly
selfish. IL is essential that none Of the
other great powers shall secure these
islands Such q possession would not
consist with our safety and with the
peace OF the world. This view OF the
situation is SO apparent and conclusive
that no protest has been heard from
any government against proceedings look
ing to annexation"
There is no doubt in my mind said
Senator Perkins OF California, discussing
the Hawaiian question, without regard TO
annexation. that the present treaty with
the Hawaiisns gives all the advantage to
that people IL 1876, when the treaty
went into effect, they imported to this
country $1,000 tons of sugar Under the
influence of that treaty, which naturally
lands all the Hawaiian sugars in this
country, the production had increased last
probability that, by next year, this output
of the Hawaiian Islands win aggregate
300 900 tons NowheYecans suga be raised
so cheaply as in Hawaii, and every pound
of it completes with the beet sugar of
this country and particularly that OF the
West
THE conditions have changed wonder
fully since that treaty was negotiated.
fled, this treaty should be modified to
correspond to it There may have been
some pretext for the treaty in The first
place, but the enormous increase Of the
Hawaiian sugar crop makes it Impossible
for the United States to lenseI donate
this bounty Of between eight and nine
millions of dollars annually. The expenses
of Our Government are steadily increasing,
and, when it is serious question where
the revenue is to come from to meet
them we should not hesitate to curtail
this donation in some degree.
II believe 0ur ira de relations with Hawaii 1
ought to be maintained. but I also believe
that the conditions need modification. The !:
Hawaiians could not object to the imposi- \
tien of a proportional part of the sugar
duties levied on other sugars, assessed
against Them. Under the pending nill the
duty on sugar similar to that which comes
from Hawaii is 1-2 cents pound.
would put duty on Hawaiian sugar Of
lone-half a cent a pound, or $40 a short ton
This wol,ad, on the basis of the last years
inlportatioas, net us a revenue of ST.
22716oe and equalize, to some extent, the
une-sieled character of the present ar
rangement. We need that revenue badly
How do the people of California look
upon the treaty? Are theyin favor or OPP
posed TO it''' Nr. Perkins WAS asked
They are Divided replied MIR. Per-
kins. The agricultural sections believe
that the existence of this treaty is d stand
ing menace tn their sugar-beet business. and
taey want the treaty abrogated and duty
placed upon the Hawaiian product for their
protection. In the commercial centers,
among the manufacturers, and merchants,
aud in the various commercial organiza
tiGns, believe the sentiment is favorable
to it's continuation.
s'What about annexation? Would not
that CAUSE the Hawaiian negroes to still