Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-11-20
Annexation of the Sandwich Islands.

hlnguOm IS now IN thlS country WIN iul authority HOHl
the King, Kammahamma, to propose the annexation of
his dOminons, which includes the Sandwich group OF
Islands to the United States. These beautiful gems of
the Pacific are now offered to us without money and
without blood. Shall we accept them7 Our answer is
in the Affirmative. The reasons are al. in favor Of it,
none against it. If any Of our readers doubt, we ask
hem carefully to peruse the following article from the
New York Times.
ANNEXATION IN H PACIFIC.
Manifest destiny and the horizon move together. The
national progress is best described as expansion. 1t
stretches in every direction. There Is no game too re-
mote for its acquisitiveness. The individual who thIrsts
for freedom in the farthest ends OF the earth finds II here
without money or price. In the matter of glorious
hearts and noble natures, the whole World is tributary
TO America. All the roads Of the universe lead hIther-
ward, and the roads are crowded. We are the passive
recipients oil earths better population. A wide-armed
welcome is rendered TO all. Whether they come empty
handed, or bringing their wealth, is a questi'n oil no
moment. The genius oil American institutions is by no
means a surly poi ter; the want of a better country is
the only requisite passport.
AT the present moment there is a whole nation crav-
ing admission into our conf, aternity and II becomes I'M
perative TO apply the principles So thoroughly under
stood with relation TO individual demands for citizenship
To AN extraordinary case. Texas was, by consanguIni-
~ and position, one with ourselves before the formulas
of annexation hal been complied with. The Hawaiian
kingdom presents, therefore, AN anomalous case. Cast
midway IN the Pacific, nearly three thousand miles from
the Californian coast; peopled by a race who have no.
thing OF language. manners, or religion, In common
with the Saxon race; the form OF government monarch
ic: civilization of as delicate growth a. any other I'M
genial exotic-the Sandwich Islands propose an ex-
tremely embarrassing question. when they demand yea
or nay to an application for unity with rs. And yet
Mr.. Jarvis. their agent. is here, pressing the point, and
urging instantaneous decision. How shall he be an
sweredl Is it one Of the matters with which the minis
try at Washington have nothing to do! VIII the Presl-
dent omit all mention Of It in the Message, doubtless al
ready writtenl We shall see presently and, In the
meantime, we venture upon a few unofficial consideTa-
tons Of our own. as TO the right treatment oil the pro-
pOsal.
The Sandwich Islands, ever since their discovery, by
Cook, and the Introduction Of Christianity, have steadi-
ly deciin d in population. The presence of merchants
and missionaries, and the annual visits Of nayigators,
stopping en- route to the Northern Pacific, have forced
in. necessarily, some OF the results of Christian Gu
lightenment; and the physical effect appears t. be seri-
Ously injurious. The nation has lost P%aganIsm, 10 be
sure, and. in receiving the Gospel substitute, gained
very little in moral or intellectual advancement. They
are a conquered race-conquered by superiority OF arts
and the moral fate Of subjugaled people falls heavily
on them. They fast disappear before the Caucasian
race. The American Indian vanishes no more rapidly.
Another century, and where shall the normal inhabl-
tants beg And, unless we at once meet their wishes,
and secure the survivorshiP, who shall possess the de-
populated islands,
The urgent reason for the application now made is
the vexatious behavior of the French Government. In
despite OF all treaty siipulatiOns, they persist IN disturb
ing the island government, and, according TO MIR. jar
Wis, there Is every reason to believe new attempts upon
the independence of the kingdom are at present cOntem-
plated. 1t is to guarantee themselves against any fur
Their molestaiions that they offer to place themselves I'M
der our broad flag and Is it consistent with our nation
al tenderness for the weak and do~wn-trampleds~ uppliant
TO drive him away comlortless and succorlessl
Fortunately, interest in this matter harHOnizes mu-
sically with the dictates Of benevolence. The sound po-
Icy Of securing a right of property in that oasis in the
water-desert; that out post upon our own exposed from
Tier; that resting place TO the mariner after a year or
more OF toll in the northern whale fisheries, strikes US
as too evident for argument. Mr.. Jarvis estimates the
American literally floating population touching at the
island every year at 5000. 1t is well known we differ
from Official authorities as to the %propriety Of neglecting
our citizens abroadj and we do certainly regard the pro-
priety Of securing them a mid-ocean haven as beyond
all dispute.
Besides, American commerce is clearly destined to
reach the East Indies 10y the Pacific route. A way sta
lion will be absolutely necessary for the VOYAGE; and
that station will have to be in the Sandwich group. II
lies happily very nearly on the same parallel with Te-
huantepec and Macao. Is not the policy as manifest as
the destiny2
The present resident population deserves considera-
ton. There are now eight or nine hundred Americans
engaged in the cultivation of coffee and sugar; and we
are told a citizen Of Boston has $50 900 there invested
in the latter staple. Mr.. Jarvis refers to the fact, that
The American Board of Missions has spent some ST.
500 600 in their various operations, amongst which is
the settlement of Fifty or more families upon valuable
homesteads." Thus has a peaceful army Of occupation
prepared and indicated the course we ought to take in
reference to the prayer Of our humble orator. Is there
any point Of view. IN which the tender appears disad-
vanfageous and meritorious of reicction2
We cannot hut he reminded by this Hawaiian suppl
cation. Of the days when dying kings appointed the Ro-
man Republic their executors, or bequeathed their
wealth to the Roman people. The Sandwich Islanders
beseech US in the language Of a people, soon to he ex-
tinct, to become the executors Of their will and the in
heritors of their wealth. In view of The fact that we
are proximafe canses of their dissolution that every
year Of association with us will accelerate their decline,
the obligation resting upon us 10 accept the prohered
trust is Inevitable without dishonor. We cannot in de.
cency reject it. In other times, should we do so, we
shall probably fight madly. for what we now madly
throw away: and buy with blood. what is now offered
gratuiiously. Or is an outlay Of blood, necessary to
every bargain for Territory7 Is nothing worth having
that We are not Obliged to pay for with lives9