The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-12-24
ONLY The FACTS
Continued from Page one)

tin called upon several OF the leading bus
mess and professional men of the town |
this morning, May s, to ascertain their |
opinion as to the advisability or necessity |
of President Dole's proclaiming the neu- |
trality of the Islands at the present time. |
Below viii be found statements made |
which go to show the difference of opin-
ion prevailing here just now.
\. S Hartwell: The neutrality of Ha-
wall IS generally assumed or taken for
granted and il would be impossible to
conceive that Hawaii a sovereign pow
CT would do any act hostile TO Spain.
That which is meant can usually be eX-
pressed with perfect safety and think
it would be wise TO avoid any possible in
ference that the negotiation of the treaty
of annexation involves Hawaii in any war
in which the United States is engaged.
There is nothing which can be construed
as hostile to the United states IN the
ordinary official intimation or notice that
Hawaii is strictly neutral. and therefore
it seems TO me 20 be proper 70 give such
Mr. Hartwen further referred the re-
porter 10 Article Is OF the existing treaty
between Hawaii and Spain, which is as
follows:
Article % All vessels bearing the flag
of Spain shall, in time of war, receive
every possible protection, within the ports
and waters of the Hawaiian Islands and
Her Majesty the Queen of Spain engages
to respect, in time of war. the neutrality
of the Hawaiian Islands, and to use her
good offices with all the other powers
having treaties with the same, TO induce
them TO adopt the same policy toward the
same Islands,
| Geo. r. Carter: / think that it would
| have effect politically If notice of
neutrality were given 1T would SIMPLY
| warn Spain TO keep her hands off. Do not
! think it would have any effect on an
! nexation.
| p c. Jones: Think we had better not
| meddle. Let things stand they are.
| Don't hamper or embarrass the United
States Government now that she has her
| hands fun. Stand by her and take
| chances.
| j. C. Spencer: Does not think it ad-
| visable for this Government to take any
| action AT present Wait for news as to
| what the other nations are doing.
| Rep. NcCandless: Says he thinks we
| should stand as are. That there is
| no need of declaring that we VIII be
neutral.
| Cecil Brown: Stand as we are. We
| have no official notification of a state OF
| war and should take no action IN the
premises.
W. w Hall: The President should pro
| claim our neutrality 1t would preclude
| any possibility of trouble. Do not thlnk
| it would have any effect on annexa ton:
Geo. II. Paris: No. Why should the
| President proclaim neutrality when he
has not the power to enforce it? The
| President cannot do it. because ne has
| signed treaty Offering the country TOR
| annexation to the United States.
| Samuel c. Allen: OF course he should
proclaim neutrality. What else can he
do? Put it down as strong as you IKE.
| Some of the people who talk about tax
| ing the chances will change their tune
when they see the Spanish cruisers heav-
ing in sight
B. F. Dillingham;: I think we should
| wait until the necessity for declaring
| neutrality be proved.
| J. s. Martin: With all the power that
President Mckinley has proved he pos
| sesses in this emergency, / believe he
| could have taken the present as an op-
portunity for rushing annexation Since
| he has not done so thus far, L would say
we ought to act as if strictly lndepend
emit We would do better for this country
Il. 1c,
Washington. That cable matter, Tor IN
stance, should be pushed, even if we have
to hold mass meetings.
y. Emmett May: This Government can
| not declare it's neutrality under the eX
listing conditions. 1t would be the deati
| of annexation.
senator Henry Waterhouse: There ha
been no official notice to this Government
of war. Nothing can be done until IN
| notifc a ton is received. Then Will %
| the time for consideration of the matter
| John Ena, Councillor of state: unt
this Government is officially notiheo ina
| When the notification comes 1t is tim
| enough to declare our neutrality
! J. B. Anterior: 1t is my opinion tina
| this Government should declare its neu
! | trality as soon as official notification 9
| | war is received. 1 do not think 1t woui
| | affect annexation.
| | Several gentlemen were out Wheh III
| reporter called at their Offices
/ | The following are extracts from III
| | Bulletin. an annexation journal, and no
! Mr. Sewalrs organ, regarding the prop'
| | sition to offer the Islands to PresideI
4 | Mckinley, made, on May 9th ana lVIl
| | the date of President Dole's abandon
| ment of neutrality.
| ..Viewed from the Hawaiian point
| | view. the proposition contained IN u
| | Hawaiian Legislature looks decidedly p
> | culiar. Unaccompanied by pieaSe
actual protection when the Islands Shou
by the measure be brought into the q
\ tIlal sphere of war, it is asking our q
L fenseless government to assume Xel
grave responsibility. Such a propositl'
should indeed have been brought ne
| nv a strong squadron that would stay
IL Then the Government would ana
supDorters would no more than pro
| their fidelity to the cause of anneNatl'
by casting the country's lot IN the tln
| of trial with the great Republic
1t is reassuring to find that the cover
| rnent is pursuing with the greatest ca
ton the quest of what is its proper cour
z~ in connection with the war between |
- limited States and Spain. The relauo
between the United States and the ii
waiian Islands hitherto have been SD
as to invest the subject with no SIN
dificulty Messrs. Hatch and Thurst
do no credit to their Judgment for IN
- action in promoting a scheme OF mt
tive on the part OF TINS Cover ld!uSl
which is quite liable to procure 1rrelr1e
able mischief, first, for this country
| the present time, and. secorloly, loi
cauSs of annexation after peace has be
restored. Those gentlemen must Ted
| have lost their senses. AS neIlpeI
the Cabinet is elsewhere reporlo aS %
ing, Hawaii has done every t =. $50 -
imately within her powers 70 prom
actual union Our destiny rests in
hands of the United States. HOW q;
this helpless and defenseless little e. CO.. .,
try now try TO force the hands OF
[raa+ ton by throwing the burden
lis protection upon her after her pl;
have been matured and put into ope.
+ior for war with another nation: =
- +ha United States should treat the
pertinence as it deserved. where wo
little Hawaii be under certain not rem
CONTINGENCIES of the CONNECT Our W
men at Washington would seem TO III
| not learned any international law
| their enlightened sphere.
The comments of this journal on
Sewalrs organ and on President DO
conduct regarding the neutrality ques'
appear on the editorial page
IMPORTANT!