The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-10
The Sandwich Islands.

The Polynesian, the official journal Of
the Hawaiian Government, published
weekly at Honolulu, discusses at some
length the propriety of the annexation of
the Sandwich Islands to the United States.
AS matter of right, it thinks that the
Hawaiian people might as well talk Of an
nexing California and Oregon, as the Anne
rican people of annexing the Hawaiian
Islands. The Polynesian thus speculates
and reasons:
''Itis true the native population is decreasing gen.
orally but not in all parts of the islands In some few,
where the natives have become Injured to labor, of
late years the births have been found to exceed the
deaths. II is hoped that with increase Of indus
try depopulation will cease. Besides, the popula-
ton Of foreigners and Of mixed breeds is susceptible
Of an increase quite equal and even far exceeding
the yearly decrease of pure natives, so that even
the latter TO waste away the nationality of the
Hawaiian Islands might still be preserved.
cit is Of importance even to the United States,
that such nationality should be preserved, for
der an independent government, as at present,
they always sure of the rights of the most ia
favored nation, and If an attempt at annexation
should be made, other great mercantile nations
would apprehend that the United States aimed Mt
something paramount in the northern Pacific, their
jealousy would be excited, a claim Of sovereignty
now obsolete might be revived. might en-
sue, and after an expenditure Of fifty or one hum
dred millions of dollars, it might be doubtful in
whose hands the islands would eventually remain.
cat present, under his majesty Kamahameha
ILL.,, all nations have equal rights; il is his policy 10
preserve. things 90, and il would be wiser in all
maritime and commercial nations, 10 assist him in
maintaining that equality, than by countenancing
either annexation or transfer by SALE for them TO
have TO fight for il.
1.-The geographical position OF the islands is too inn.
portant for other nations 10 acquiesce quietly in
their annexation 10, or subjugstion by, any other
foreign State.
"Under King Kamchameha and his dynasty the
islands, be their population native, foreign, or
mixed, never become a source ofdanger or in
jury 10 other powers but the islands annexed
to the United States, colonies Of Great Britain
or France, or ofRussia, the would be very diff
ferent.
GAS for selling the islands, that is thing not 10 be
thought Of. The kingis fully able to govern them,
their lawful sovereign, and he is not going 10
barter away his domain and his subjects, a farmer
would bis farm and the cattle upon il. He has the
solemn guarantee Of England and France that they
will respect his sovereignty long he exercises
IL with due regularity towards foreign nations; and
the United States 10 act otherwise they would
lose more in character than thevslue of the whole
islands.
"Both in Great Britain and the United States,
there is such thing as public conscience, which
resists the voice Of such oharmers. Amidst the
convusions Of Europe, the rights and mmunities
of the small republic Of San Marine have been
respected by all nations, and Il would be strange,
indeed, IL the greatest republic Of the New World
could disregard those Of the small kingdom Of the
Sandwich Islands"