The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-05-10
Our NEUTRALITY.

[ The actual and acknowledged exist
ence Of war between the United States
and Spain. brings into operation all OF
the laws regarding the rights and obi
cations of belligerents. and also the
rights and obligations of neutral
states.
The relation Of Hawaii TO either Of
the beIligerent parties is precisely the
same as that OF any other neutral
state, unless it is modified by the ees-
sion OF Pearl harbor 10 the United
States. or by the pending treaty of an
nexation-
II the cession of rights in Pearl har-
Dor to the United States has any value,
they are open to capture by Spain Any
right. or property or interest OF one
beIlfgerent is open TO seizure by the
other. But as Pearl harboF has at pres
ent no well defined value. it may be
left out Of the pending questions
As matter of fact. the probabilities
= extremely remote Of any approach
by the Spanisrds 70 these Islands. if
the war is 4 short one If it is pro-
tracted. they viii send cruisers of some
kind into the Pacific. and If they can
secure coal supplies, will destroy Am
eriean shipping They would probably |
call at this port Long before these
cruisers are near Us, the decisive naval
battles will have been fought between
the great fleets. and the main question
OF superiority viii be settled.
Our duties therefore as a neutral
state may never become a practical
question. so far as Spain is concerned.
At the same time as member Of the
,amily Of nations, We must declare our
position, because we are a maritime
State. It may not be necessary to make
his declaration at once. For the OBJ
ect OF making il, is not so much TO ,
establish neutrality, as it is to pro-
lain to the maritime world what rules
md regulations We have chosen 10
dept governing commerce or the
lists Of belligerents- A nation is pre-
umed to be neutral, until she declares
.therEise- But nations differ some
mat regarding rules and regulations.
therefore, pruelamations of neutrality
re usually made in order TO define
lights and obligations.
1t will probably not be seriously dis
uted that Hawaii is still an independ-
ut. sovereign State If the United ?
tates claim any rights of sovereignty
ere, We fail to see what they are. z
hey have neither civil or criminal g
Their representatives 4
ave no authority whatsoever within s
he limits Of the Republic The rati- u
cation OF the treaty Of annexation by q
he Hawaiian Senate is merely a part
( an unexecuted agreement, which y
as no force and effect until executed p
y the American Senate. 1t is the case o
[ deed of land, signed, sealed, but g
OF delivered, and therefore of no b
ziue whatever as q transfer of title. p
the Hawaiian Senate could V
ov reverse its act Of ratification, and e
would be recognized as legal
The existence OF an American
sphere Of influence over the Islands
), so far as beIIigerent rights are con-
erned an indefinite condition; it '
ests no title in the American States. g
The American Congress can, if it Il
hoOses, make these Islands American Ii
arritoFy in a hours time Until it L
oes so. Hawaii is. so far as law goes, :
dependent and neutral. 7,
As q neutral state she should fol- u
". in due time, the example of other Il
eutral states. and proclaim her neu- 7
-ality- Such q proclamation would G
squire the Bennington to leave this v
ort within q hours. just as the Por- u
lguese required the Spanish feet to Il
ave St Vincent at once Should the t
ennington refuse to go, We could not S
clip ourselves. but would show an 81
onest neutrality. II
A strict regard for the laws which d
oEern Reutrals, undoubtedly demands
lat our friends, the Americans, should a
i no way whatever, make this port a D
asis Of naval supplies OF operations. N
they choose to put their own inter al
on these laws, or disregard b,
lem, We cannot help ourselves. o.
INDUSTRIES IN THE SCHOOLS. II