The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-12

Ju,ien's letter conveying the articles
OF convention executed at Sydney Feb
ruary 10th, 1855, between 81. Julien
ana John Webster, styled the Soyer-
eign Chief and Proprietor OF the Group
of Islands in the Stewart Islands"
which ceded TO the Hawaiian King all
Webster's rights of sovereignty and
oprietcrship. Wyllia writes that the
consideration of the cession had been
postponed by resolution of the King
and Privy Council, which resolution di-
rected the Foreign Minister to have
communication with the Bible and
Missionary Societies Of the Kingdom
on the subject of making efforts for the
moral and religious Improvement of
the people of the Stewart Islands =
You are to understand" WI
lie writes, that the King, having only
recently escaped the danger of annex
alton for his own Kingdom, has no de-
sire TO apply the principle TO the terri
tory OF others, but His Majesty most
ardently desires to extend education
christianity and civilization among the
barbarous tribes OF Polynesia" On
March 4, 1856, Wyllie notifies St. Ju-
lien that on the 10Th ult., the King
resolved to accept the sovereignty OF
the Stewart Islands, but solely for the
good OF the natives, and without eX-
pecting any revenue from them, or in
curing any pecuniary or political re-
sponSlblllty on their account. All this
Wyllle adds, is to be put into the ar
tlcies clear and explicit and 10 be ex-
planned to the natives" With the
vague ana uncertain terms of this let
| ter 1t is intlmated in letter from
Creighton, Foreign Minister, August 4,
1886, St. Julien was dissatisfied. and it
is not known whether his representa-
tive ever took any action looking to an
| exercise OF his sovereign or propria-
tary rights. As confirming the
strength of the historical parallel to
Bush's mission, it is to be noted that
in This letter, Creighton, while express
ing regret that no definite action was
taken regarding the Stewart Island
ceSGlon, writes "a new departure in the
| policy of the Government has been ia
ken, and the Powers having interests
in Pacific waters have been informed
of this change of policy. OF course it
| follows lines laid down broadly at the
! time st. Julien's commission Issued.
and independence? dependency must
! be had upon moral rather than upon
compare IDlS
letter with the letter of Gibson to Car
| Ter, announcing the commissioning OF
| Bush January 8, 1887. His Majesty
| feels that this course now taken, is on
/ his part a solemn duty, which on ac-
count Of the opportunities he and Ha-
w3ii enjoy, he owes to his brother
/ chiefs of Polynesia, whose islands
! should not remain in the position OF
| being mere waits to be seized upon by
! the first strong hand that is stretched
out to take them"
Situation in Eaw ali.
Before considering the history of
/ the Samoan mission, let us look at the
situation in which Hawaii. by the
| events of this period, was placed in its
| relations to the United States, and 9TH
! er Powers, for these were to give this
mission an Importance its authors new
| er dreamed of. No time more unpropi-
| tious could have been chosen. Recent
events had fixed on Samoa the atten-
| tion of the three treaty Powers, and
| the conference then about to open at
| Washington had been agreed TO on the
basis of the maintenance of the status
quo. Germany ever watchful and ever
suspicious of Americas designs on Sa-
/ moa, and even then contemplating her
coup d'etat there in the event of fail
ing to have her own way at the confer
ence, professed to find in Bushs mis-
sion an attempt by the United States
to gain an advantage in the situation.
American supremacy in Hawaii was of
course acknowledged, and ultimate an
neXation fOreseen. The trend of
events was emphasized by the pending
ROT m of hn n
ing the treaty of 1875 Germany saw
in the cession clause of this treaty and
the Hawaiian mission to Samoa, the
Eagle posing over Hawaii with one
claw in Pearl Harbor and the other
! stretched out to strike into the yitals
of Samoan sovereignty. And to hel
mind the fact that the American repre-
sentative at Apia had been charged
with Hawaiian Consular duties, and
| that the first result of Bush's mission
| had been the appointment by Malietoa
of the Hawaiian Minister at Washing
| ton as his Samoan Majesty's represent
alive there. confirmed this view But
/ Bismarck's application to Bayard OF
/ the standard of his own diplomacy,
was as ludicrous as il was unjust. For,
! judged by that standard, Bayard was
! but babe. A gentleman with fear
and without reproach,, Bayard carried
into official intercourse the high rules
| that governed his intercourse with his
! friends. Deception was an art I'M
/ known to him, and his saddest expert
erces in his diplomatic career resulted
! from his taking his fellow diplomats at
/ their word, when the world knows. and
| it is the wrold's fault that it is so, that
the true diplomat does this only at his
peril.
Carter in Hot Water.
To return to the Samoan mission, the
position of Carter at Washington must
! have been anything, but envIable.
/ Although Gibson protested the utmost
sollcltude lest the United States should
not look with favor on his plans, he
displayed the greatest jealousy at any
attempt to increase Americas infiu-
ence and position in Hawaii. He even
! instructed Carter to ascertain if she
would relinquish her claims to Midway
Is, in Fl. Ms favor. As regards the
Pearl Harbor cessiOn Gibson seems to
have been almost bitter, and instructed
Carter that an arrangement to grant