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

The actual and acknowledged exist
enee OF war between the United State.
and Spain, brings into operation all o
the laws regarding the rights and obi
cations Of belligerents, and also tht
rights and obligations of neutra
states
The relation Of Hawaii 10 either o
the belligerent parties is precisely tbs
same as that OF any other neutra
state, unless II is modified by the ees
sion Of Pearl harbor TO the United
States. or by the pending treaty Of an
nexation-
If 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
belligerent is open 10 seizure by the
other. But as Pearl harbor has at pres
ent no well defined value, it may be
left out of the pending questions,
As q matter OF fact. the probabilities
e extremely remote of any approach
by the Spaniaris 10 these Islands. il
the war is q short one II it is pro-
traeted, they will send cruisers of some
kind into the Pacific, and if they can
secure coal supplies, will destroy Am
erican 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 a member OF the
family Of nations, we must declare our
position, because we are maritime
State. II may not be necessary TO make
this declaration at once. For the OBJ
Jet OF making it. is not so much TO
establish neutrality, as it is TO pro-
claim 10 the maritime world what rules
and regulations We have chosen 10
adopt governing commerce or the
visits OF belligerents- A nation is pre-
sumed TO be neutral, until she declares
otherwise. But nations differ some
what regarding rules and regulations.
Therefore procIamations of neutrality
are usually made in order TO define
rights and obligations
1t will probably not be seriously dis
puted that Hawaii is still an independ-
ent, sovereign State. II the United
States claim any rights OF sovereignty
here, We fail to see what they are
They have neither civil or criminal
Jurisdiction. Their representatives
have no authority whatsoever within
the limits of the Republic. The rati-
fcation of the treaty of annexation by
the Hawaiian Senate is merely a part
of an unexecuted agreement, which
has no force and effect until executed
by the American Senate. 1t is the case
of a deed OF land, signed, sealed. but
not delivered, and therefore OF no
value whatever as a transfer of title.
Probably the Hawaiian Senate could
now reverse its act of ratification, and
It would be recognized as legal.
The existence of an American
sphere Of influence" over the Islands
is, so far as beIIigerent rights are con-
eerned an indefinite condition; it
vests no title in the American States
The American Congress can, if it
chooses, make these Islands American
territory in a hours time. Until it
does so, Hawaii is, so far as law goes,
independent and neutral
As neutral state she should fol-
low. in due time, the example of other
neutral states, and proclaim her neu-
traIity. Such a proclamation would
require the Bennington to leave this
port within "a hours, just as the Por-
tuguese required the Spanish feet to
leave St Vincent at once. Should the
Bennington refuse to go, we could not
help ourselves. but would show an
honest neutrality.
4 strict regard for the laws which
govern neutrals, undoubtedly demands
that our friends, the Americans, should
in no way whatever, make this port a
basis Of naval supplies or operations.
II they choose to put their own inter
probation On these laws. or disregard
them. We cannot help ourselves.
INDUSTRIES IN THE SCHOOLS.