Ahailono o ka Lahui, Volume I, Number 19, 31 January 1890 — THE DAY. [ARTICLE]
THE DAY.
Thd itatement mado by us the other day that our sel!*disgraced ministry. were £oolistt without palliation and rogaish without ability was verified personally by L. A. Thurston last night before a small audience of office holders and members of the familyi compact who gathered in the old arm-1 ory. We have asserted that L. A. Thurston, among others, was roguish without ability. We are now iorced to add to this cbarge that L. A. Thui*ston iu his speech last night proved himself to be an unscrupulous political demagogue, who has pur • posely and knowingly garbled and misstated Hawaiian history for politieal purposes. He has done this de« signedly at a late day in the campaign, doubtless under the assumption that others are as truly ignorant of Hawaiian history as he purposely makes himself appear to be. L. A. Thurston has done this pieee of political dirty work iike the ungentlemanly political reprobate he is!
We will ppove wbat we state. L. A. Tkurston affirmod he would state ' 1 briefly'' tbe bistory of Hawaii with France. In doing tbis be parpoßely suppressed facts, whieh cbronological' ly preceded tliose he did state and again purposely suppressed otber facts intervening betwcen tbose stated and the resolution passed at tbe dictation of tbe dominant missionary faction by a subservient legislature, to cover the open disgrace brought upon the American missionary faction by their own actions iu tbe year 1839. It is, perhaps, needless to state that these same missionaries caused a proclamation to be issued on Marcb 10, 1851, by Kamehameha. similar to the legislative resolution condemning the French Government, passed on June 10th of the same year, Be it remem bered that tbis action was taken twelve years after the disgraceful acts eoinmitted bv the established congregational mission!
The facts M briefly ! '' and truely stated are substantiallv as !ollows: A treaty of friendsliip and peaee was entered between France and Hawaii 011 July 24, 1837, Tbis treaty was signed by Kamehameha 111, A. Petit Thouars. lt pro\\at:d, that French citizens whileinHav ii should be treated as were those ui' the most favored nations, and that Ilawaiian subjects wliile in France should be treated as were those~ of the most favored nations, This treaty was violated by the theu existing government, whieh was controil. d by the American mission. It was deliberately violated for t' expresj-' purposo of establishing ve]ierioiis persecution against the Catiiolic rc ligion whieh was, at that time, repre sented iu Hawaii by subjects of France. We will not be charged with writing from a sectarian standpoint; our views on religious questions are well known to many. We simply state facts of history, whieh even the missionary historians have not denied, aīthough thev are open to the charge of partial suppression and a persistent attempt to smooth over the history of that par« ticular period.
It is unfortanate !or Ij. A. Thurs« ton's reputafcion and elaim of bonora* ble manhood tbat he snppressBd ihe facts iismediately following ihe arrival of the French mafc*of-war in 1839. It is doubly unfortunate, we say, that he suppressed this prominent fact: viz., That all hona jide American citizens and those of other foreign eounI tries domiciled here at that time were almost a unit in favor of the action taken by the French man»of-war, as they were a unit against the perfidious course carried out by the Hawaiian government under the dictation and control of the Ameiiewi mission of that dayl The actions of those in control, who violated the treaty of 1837 with the French government, were so (lespicable thAt thev called out the following document, signed by such men as Hon. j._ G;--Jpn'e8 v 'then Amerv iean Consul, Mr. C. Brewer and other well'known citizens of that day. The document speaks for itself, is a genuine copy of the original and will stand as undeniable testimony of L. A. Thurston's open dishonesty in suppressing it last night. The fact of its existence and its publication immediately after his speech will not only kill the political capital he attempts to make in favor of his own party, but will justly cloud his reputation as a poliii' eian and an honest man, as long as he remains in the kingdom of Hawaii. The document is as follows :
To Post Captain C. Laplaee Commandinij Ihe Kiny of the French } s Frigate 'A rtemise, Honolulu Roacln, Oahu.SiR: —We tlie uudersigned in hehalf of our»elves aud fellow citizens, take the earliest opportunity after the termination of the unpleasant differenees, between the government of Franee and this oountry, to couvey to you our deep feelings of gratitude and esteem, for the considerate and generous oflfer of an Asylum for our persons and property, in the event of your findmg it necessiiry to eommenee actual hostilities against this country, although by yonr firmness and energy, aflairs have been brought to a satisfaotorj' settlement without an aetual appeal to arms, aud we had therefore uo occasion to avail ourselves of your friendly offer. We beg to assure you that we equally appreciate and honor the nobleness whieh in the midst of the many complicated consKlerations and engagements, as must necessitrily occupy your attention on the eve of eommencing hostilities, that you did not for a momeut loose sight of the meaus of safety for our dL*feuceless families and oursel ves, but offered u secure refuge on board your gallant Frigate the 'Artemise, to all who feared for their persons or property and were not identified with the enemies of France. We have great pleasure m hearing . tu;u' uil differences- are sadst;iotorily arranged, betwetn tlie goveYumeiif of Fi.tnce and this countr3 r , as tirm friends t<> indept-11-enoe and liberty of conscience, and lmters of i)ersecution, we hail your arrival at the«e islauds, as the most glorious epoeh in their history siuce thcir discovery. We are willing to hope, that the lionifying realities of persecution and torture for eouscience sake, will by youi* firmn6ss aiul justice have been forever*crushed, never agaiu to show ■ itw'Mydra head, and that the simple and contidiug childi*eu of nature in these islands (so long deluded by desiguing and interested counselk rs) will see the necessity, of iwuieadetely retrac:ug their 9tetr<, nn«l tuk!ng thc iimiily and nohle dis- : - :t- r >'• exjtnjile, you liave set them fsr their guide that the blessings of fr€«dom, peaea and prosj>erity nv«y be henee forward the increasing portion of these hitherto deluded people. We feel mueh gratitication in bearing our humble testimony to the high discipline aud urbanity eshibited by all your gallcnt officers and men, wheu visiting our shores throughout the whole of this trying crisis. We mueh that your lidDited stay at this plaee obhges us f o make this eairly farewell, we again tender you our wishes, for your safe arrival at your native conntry, after so long an absence, in good healih, w« l»eg to assure you that your beautiful Frigate thie 'Arteniise t lier gallent oaptaiu, officers and crew, will alway& be remembered here with feelings of no eommou admiration and iuterest.
Be aaeured, sir, ol the high oousldemtk>a &atA resp©ct with whioh we sabsoibe oQfflehrM« yos? ob!iged and greatfnl Bervaßto J. G. Jokss, Wm Fkkkch, J.Meee, • Gn>. Fblly, S. Betnouw, C. Brewer, Honolnin, Oahu, 17th July 1539.
Let us remember that Mr. La Plaee offered protection to the general publie, exclosive of the American mission and the Hawaiian Government controlled by themt Let us also remember that L. A. Thurston's an* cestors were implicated in the dastard* ly policy attempted to be carried out by the congregatidnal mission of that time and is consequently interested in perverting the historical facts to-day. But likethe blunderer he is,presuming other people to be as ignorant as he is knavish, he has sprung this perversion of history upon the public to show that the leaders of the National Reform party <4 ignore facts and history and are running a campaign on ignorance and prejudice." To prove his case L. A. Thurston quotes a resolution and proclamation put foi*th twelve yeaiS' * fter the facts by m ission* aries themselves to officially shield, if possible, the disgraceful actions of their militant brethren!
The AdVertiser whieh got out of govemment favor by advocating the Independent ticket on Hawaii will probab!y be taken into probation for its advocacy of a treaty inimieal to the indeptendence of Hawaii. No doubt about tlie organ's sentimerits. It takes the high ground that the United Btates is entitled to demand any advantages in return for its commercial concēssions. Fortunately the country will soon be in the handa of a party whieh ean secure advantageous concessions without uationaJ extinction.
The specfcacle of Mr. Thurston ha. ranguing a political meeting coutrary to his own k>rders and instructions occasions no surprise. That he is Min» ister of the Interior for the whole Kingdom does not deter hiin xrom being a partisan. He asserts himself to be in opposition to a large class of the people.i He does not regard himself as anything more than an ofiicial for the part} r at present in power. He will live to leara that the party for the benefit pf whieh he holds office is in a minority and the opposition whieh he lionors with his sneering contempt will relegate liim together with his pairty to the political insigni ficance they merit !
The Advertiser, whieh is in a state of perplexitv as to its own j)latform and whieh is uncertain what stand to take about ihe-ii'ee trade troaty ,bring.s to the exposition of the Nationai Reform platform that elearness of vision and perspicficity of expression that characterize all ,its articles about things beyond its reads the National Reform endorsement of reciprocity so as to mean that Hawaii docs not desire a closer rela* tionship with the United States ihan with England or Germany. It will ever remain |a raystery tō those familiar with the Adyertiser style of elucidation ihat the family*corapact organ did not find a plot|in the docnment to assas* sinate President Harri^on'