t
seemed to be without hope. President Arthur's conciliatory policy did
much to restore harmony of all the elements except the wing represented
by Mr. Conkling.

It is probable, however, that a better result might have been secured by
the early removal of Robertson. That course of action would have been
satisfactory to Conkling, and given strength to the party in New York,
where strength was most needed. With Mr. Conkling's aid in 1884, Mr.
Arthur might have been nominated, and if nominated it is probable that
he might have been elected with Mr. Conkling's aid. Arthur's error was
that he offended two important factions of the party. By retaining
Robertson he alienated Conkling, and by the removal of Blaine he
alienated him and his friends. Hence in 1884 two elements of the party
that were bitterly opposed to each other harmonized in their opposition
to Arthur.

XLI
FROM 1875 TO 1895

THE HAWAIIAN TREATY AND RECIPROCITY

In January, 1875, Mr. Fish negotiated a treaty with the representatives
of the Hawaiian Islands by which there was to be a free exchange of
specified products and manufactures.

By the fourth article the King agreed not to dispose of any port or
harbor in his dominions or create a lien thereon in favor of any other
government. When the treaty came to the Senate it had no original
friends, and it met with determined opposition, especially from Sherman
of Ohio, and Morrill and Edmunds of Vermont. The reciprocity feature
annoyed them, they fearing that it might be used as a precedent for
reciprocity with Canada.

I was early impressed with the importance of securing a foothold in the
islands and I considered the exclusion of other nations as a step in
the right direction. The trustworthy estimates showed that the
reciprocity feature would work a loss to the Treasury of the United
States of more than half a million dollars a year. This the supporters
of the treaty were compelled to admit, but after argument the requisite
majority ratified the treaty and upon the theory that the political,
naval and commercial advantages were an adequate compensation. Upon the
renewal of the treaty the King ceded Pearl River Harbor to the United
States. After the expiration of the fixed period of seven years during
which the two nations were bound mutually, there was a class of men who
were anxious to abrogate the treaty, and at each session of Congress
for several years a proposition was introduced for