Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-12-24
A CONTEMPLATED CRIME.

official organ of the Republic of
Hawaii, on May 9, 1898, publish
ed this editorial relative to Hawaii's
position in Spanish American
war:
Gas a member Of the family Of nations
we must declare our position, because we
are maritime State. As a neutral state
she (Hawai) should follow, in due time
the example Of other neutral states, and
proclaim her neutrality. Such a proclaim
alton would require the Bennington to
leave this port within % hours, just as the
Portuguese required the Spanish fleet TO
leave st. Vincent at once. Should the
Bennington refuse to go, we could not help
ourselves, but would show an honest neu-
tralitv.
On May 6 Gen. A. s. Hartwell
prominent in the counsels Of the
Hawaiian government authorized
this statements:
The neutrality Of Hawaii is generally
assumed or taken for granted, and II would
be impossible to conceive that Hawaii as a
sovereign power would do any act hostile
TO Spain. That which is meant can usu-
ally be expressed with perfect safety and
think II would be wise to avoid any
possible inference that the negotiation Of
the treaty of annexation involves Hawaii
in any way in which the United States is
engaged. There is nothing which can be
construed as hostile to the United States
i, ha ,rlipar,s official inf nfiIn M
tice that Hawaii is strictly neutral, and
therefore il seems to me to be proper to
glue such notice.
Now on the Oath of December
1898, over four months after the
annexation Of these islands, the
Advertiser publishes Il long state
ment in defense of the attitude OF
the Hawaiian Government on the
question Of neutrality. The Adj
yertlser gives an official statement
thereby proving its position as the
official mouthpiece of the govern
mept, which position 1t has held
from the inception of the Dole
government, and which it held
during the crisis in the United
States war with Spain.
We do not question the accura-
cy If Mr.. Dole's letters given
publicity after these months of 81
lence. The BULLETIN has not had
access to the documents and since
annexation has not had the official
organ advantages Of our contem
porary. In detailing the attitude
of the BULLETIN, however, the Ad-
vertiser has been sharp and auda-
cious in its Misrepresentation,
both by statement and inference.
The inherent, self evident weak
ness of the governments peutrali-
ty action is brought out with
damaging distinctness, by the
very fact that the members of the
government, who control the ut
tersnces Of the Advertiser, now
feel called upon to attempt
an explanation, to publish a
defense Of an action il
a notable crisis in which the
honest American loyalty of the
higher members of the govern
ment was put to the test.
With what additional feeling Of
shame for the men who have beer
official leaders in Hawaii, do thu
Americans of this territory ant
the Americans of che UniteC
States, who have been taught Il
idealIze the governments OF Hawaii
look upon this last political NOV
made through the official organ.
The people of this communit.
know that the government wh'cY
publishes an official defense in tn
Advertiser of Dec. "a, was in
position to control the treasona
BILE utterances made by that orga
10 April and May, the object c
those utterances being to inhuenc
the people to support the Dol
government in a declaration of tn
neutrality of Hawaii.