Year: 1878

tence omitted by the committee, in appendix
E to their report; which puts somewhat
different aspect upon the question, or rather,
makes more clear, the correspondence between
the Hawaiian government and Mr.. Allen on
the most favored nation clause of the treaty.
Now why did the writer of the report under
review suppress the concluding portion OF the
sentence in Mr. Aliens despatch? We can
conceive no other reason for doing SO than to
strengthen the position assumed by the author
of the report, in which he labors to place the
Hawaiian government in a false light, with
regard to the most favored nation clause of
treaties with foreign governments. If we are
right in this suppostion as to the motive OF
the author of the report, then he is guilty of
disingenuousness, which is iaexcusable on the
partof representative of the Hawaiian govern
ment In the extracts quoted from Mr.. Aliens
dispatches to Mr.. Wyllie, in January, 1857,
wherein the former speaks of the part Mr..
Marcy, the then Secretary of the United States,
claims to have taken in drafting the treaty,
then before Congress, in which he Mr.. Marcy
says that he has no fears that any advantage
can ever be taken by other governments, of
the most favored nation clause, because they
are debarred from claiming any advantage,
except where they are in condition to offer a
fair and equitable equivalent for such advan-
tage.


Such has been the uniform position of the
Hawaiian government on this question for the
past twenty odd years, and such is her posi-
ton at this hour, as maintained by our late
Envoy, Mr.. Carter, to Great Britain. If such
is the clear understanding, as it surely is, Of
this question touching the Reciprocity Treaty,
between the American government and the
government of Hawaii, we can see no good
reason for the position assumed by the author
of the report of the Special Committee on For
eign Affairs, that there are any tenable grounds
upon which the government of Great Britain,
can claim equal privileges under present treaty
stipulations, by reason of the insertion in that
treaty of the most favored nation clause, with
the government and people of the United States,
until Great Britain shall put herself in po-
sition to offer as an equivalent for such privi-
leges, such reciprocal advantages as would
entitle her to claim under the most favored
nation clause.


We might enlarge upon this line of argu-
ment, if we choose, and quote in support OF
our position not only the arguments put forth
by the Hawaiian government, at all times on
this important question; but we could also
quote the concessions made by the British For
eign office as well, in which the admission is
explicitly made, affirming the propriety of the
doctrine contended for by Hawaii. But to dc


SO would occupy more space than we can de-


vote to this discussion. Our object being SIM


ply to point out the inconsistency in the report


of the special committee, in admitting tha


there is even room for argument on thit


question.


Indeed, it seems after all, the author of thu


report, either from accident or design, makes


the committee contradict their own argumen


Oil this point, because he concludes the report


with the declaration that it will be best to re


fer all Questions in dispute, between the British


merchants on these Islands and the govern
ment of Hawaii, to the Courts for adjudication
wherever it is claimed that excessive or illega
duties have been imposed upon British mer


chandse imported into this Kingdom an


herein the committee have come to what W
regard as reasonable conclusion; by whic


no ground heretofore assumed by this govern
' ment, touching its right to impose whateve


impost duties it pleases upon foreign merchan
disc, not inconsistant with fair, reasonabl


and equitable Interpretation of existing treat
4 stipulations, are abandoned.


| These are our own views on the question
involved in the committees report, which W


have formed after a careful examination of th


subject, as well as an equally careful readin
of the report of the special committee, whic


latter production, in our humble opinion, wa
gotten up too hurriedly, and pushed throug


the Legislative Assembly without due DELHI


Grafton, at late hour in the session, and with
= out debate, whereby its arguments and cor


clusions could be sifted, analysed and mad
. more ineligible to the comprehension of a
= parties concerned. We are sorry to see tn;


the report of the committee bears SO many es
=, marks of precipitation and haste, on subje,
B. that required the most careful scrutiny
d order to avoid misunderstanding and hear
3. burnings. We have no fault to find with Il
y government of Great Britain striving to gai
l. all the advantages she can for her citizer
'i trading with and on these Islands; indee
y we honor her for the vigilance of her Ministr
le and the perseverance manifested to secure fl
a. her commerce and people, all proper privilege
OF from any and all countries. This is as
70 should be, and should form no ground Of con
ID plant, nor indeed it does not. But at the san
N time, it does not follow that the Hawaiis
re government should abandon for moment Il
i, high ground she occupies on the question
g the Reciprocity Treaty with the governme
p of the United States.


Acts Passed by the late Legislatiy
NJ Assembly.


m The following comprises the list of Ac
IN passed by the Legislative Assembly at It's la