Year: 1874

From The Friend of November "a
naner published in Honolulu in the
Hawaiian Islands. now before rs. We
notice that the 10Th day of November
was the Thanksgiving day in those
Islands, appointed by King Kalakaua
who now is in this country. Il was
also the thirty-eighth birthday OF the
King. His Majesty and suite attend
ed the churches of the three principal
denominations in the city of Honolu-
lu to join in the prayers offered up 'u
his behalf The King made the foi-
lowing remarks to bis people at one OF
the churches:


My People ON this, the first an
niversary of my birth day occurring
after my accession TO the throne, L
have thought it fit and proper that IL
should be made q day OF nationsi
thanksgiving to Almighty God, for
his many mercies and blessings to US
as a people, and as it occurs on the
eve Of my undertaking a long Journ-
ey to far country, that you may al
so on this day impiore the Divine pro-
lection for me in my absence, and a
blessing on nay mission.


In the history of nations we may
learn that it Is no unusual thing for
the head of one government to visit
that of another for the purpose OF
seeking the welfare of the people. 1t
is for this purpose-in the endeavor to
forward the best interests of you, my
people,-that am about to visit the
seat of government of our good
friends, the United States of Ameri-
ca. That government has given an
other instance of Its friendship to US.
by placing one of its own vessels at
my disposal to convey me to Its
shores. To-day our country needs
the aid of treaty of commercial re-
cirrocity with America in order to
insure our national prosperity, and
believe that if such a treaty can be
secured, the beneficial effects will soon
be apparent to all classes, and our na-
ton, under its reviying influences,
will grow again.


He then added that he appointed
his brother (who is the heir apparent
to the throne) as Regent in his alb
sence in conformity with the cOnsti-
tuition.


1t will thus be seen that the mis-
sion of the King and his ambassa-
dors to this country is to procure
treaty of reciprocity between the two
countries. That will be understood
to be a treaty by which each country
will enjoy the equal privileges con-
cerning imports and duties thereon,
or, in effect, that duties on imports
from those Islands should be remov-
ed.


The arguments In favor of the trea-
ty are, the geographical proximity to
our western border; the commercial
and social intercourse past and pres
ent. there being a large number of
American citizens in business upon
the Islands the increased prosperity
of the Islands (now suffering from
great depression of business) and the
benefit such prosperity will contrib
ute to California and the whole cOun-
try the Importance of the commerce
of the North Pacific which will thus
be fostered and the popularity and
patronage which it will give to the
California route from Western Eu-
rope to Eastern Asia. The objections
which have always been urged to
such treaty, are the elimination of
the public revenue, and the precedent
which such action would set for the
future, for it's said if such policy Is
adopted towards the Hawaiian Is
lands how can we repudiate the same
policy when urged by Canada.


The Hawaiian Kingdom is suffer
Ing q severe depression in business,
owing in part to the decline in whal-
ing. The trade between the Islands
and the Pacific coast has cen steadi-
ly diminishing. This trade has been
diverted in a large manner to the
Australian colonies by reduction in
the duty Oh imports in their ports to
about one-third Of the duty which |
our government imposes.


1t is of the utmost Importance to
the United States that neither France |
nor England nor any other European
nation should assume protectorate
over these Islands, and if this could |
be provided against by treaty of re-
ciprocity with them, we should be in
clined to think it good policy that,
upon this ground alone, if no other
argument can be advanced in its fa-
vor, the treaty should be effected.