Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-05-31
From the Statesman.
Sandwich ISleS..AnnexatiOn.


Times, says that the consideration of the
Sandwich Islands annexation is now
before the Administration. He denies
that any project of annexation was ever
offered to Mr. Fillmore's Administration
Overtures were made by king Kane.
hameha. for political alliance. 1t
will be remembered that Mr.. Fillmore
refused to acceJc to the request Of the
Senate and give the information sough,
upon this subject.
The former proposition was not ex.
actly refused by the Wing lministra.
tion; but it was declared inc ompatiblc
with our policy. TIE Propositions were
sent back to King Hamc'iamcha for
amendment. 1t is understood that un.
der the present pressure anl posture Of
affairs; while the independent sovcr.
eighty of the Hawaiian is threatened by
France, because the King will not suf
fer his fast fading subjects to gnzzle
themselves to death all at once with
French brandies,-that the King has so
amended his proposition as to make it
an unconditional tender for annexation.
There is much 10 enlist our sympa.
thies and our interests in this Offer
The simple and docile nature Of the isl.
anders. corrupted it is true by the vices
ofciviizalion; the fact that our Mission.
aries have stemmcl the torrent Of intem.
perance and dcbauchery, which civ Ii.
znt on CT BROUGHT INTO those beautiful
isles; that Americans have controlled
the government; that nine tenths of the
commerce is with the United States; that
it lies Just between China and Califor-
MIA; that the places of the islanders are
fast being filled hy American emigrants;
that the air is soft and ha!my, not un.
like that ofNapies, after breathing which
it said, one may make his will-(ur.
nishns delightful retreat for the over
worked and dollar rdIcn American, in
which.o rocuperate his health anil en-.
crses,-aIl these considerations move
us 10 desire the annexation of these bright
gems of the Pacific to the American
galaxy.
But the interests of commerce are the
paramount motives for anncxation.-
The eorfcspondcn, ofthe Times, to whom
we referred, touches upon this subject
with so large and ample scope, that
We cannot forbear quoting his remarks:
"Commerce is the great strength of
nations. 1t has been so in almost all in.
stances in the past, ana will ever be so
in the future. Tyre, anil Egypt, and
Venice, and the Netherlands, and Great
Britain, successfully becoming the mer-
chants, became thereby the masters OF
the world. In all time to come, the
battles for national supremacy must be
from the decks Of the merchantmen,
upon the ocean; for that nation will be
ths greatest whose commerce is most ex.
tcnsive and prosperous. The shrIlI
whistle of the steam engine; the roar OF
the waters as they divide before the adj
vancing prov; the signing Of the wind
through the rigging through the fleets
and their clouds Of canvass-must re-
place the shouts Of deadly co.Aict, the
cannon's roar and the writhing smoke
the clans Of arms, and the sighs of wild
oweI women and helpless orphans
And it is upon the Pacific too, that this
bloolless battle must be chiefly fought
commercial enterprise having already sc
crowded the Atlantic that there is scarce
room for further contest. We have ia
ken the initiative in the struggle. En-
gland, for ages almost, has enjoyed {
commerce with Indies, without rival
But we have entered, the lists with he
there. And not there only. Our recen
acquisitions on the Pacific coast, follow
ed by immigration thitherwarl Of ten
of thousands Of our ener; etic country
men, have invited our clippers intt
those distant waters. But Yankee en-
terpriseis is not content to follow beater
tracks. 1t searches out new fields 70
its employment, and thus extends itsel
TO nooks anI corners never dreamed o
before. Our armed vessels are alrcad.
exploring the great PaciGc--from th
Equator to Kamschatka, and from Asi,
10 our continent--and examining close
ly into its resources. sit tf'.'s'
'All the objections urged against tn
t'snsler Of Cuba by Spain to any othe
foreign power. apply with ten fold fore
in the present instance; and the con
quest or transfer Of the Sandwich Island
by OTTO any, other great maritime ma
ton could never be permitted by tn
United States. "a. rs In tho possession Q
England,or France or Russia, Hondu
la would provideaa naval depot fror
which our enemies could sally ont q
will, and cripple or cut of, or entirel
destroy - commerce, compared wit
whicb.that ofan enemy stationed at Ha
yanpa, might strike at,, would be as tn
bSdSls sto iss slitseatas sShn. 2 'sshs'''ls
'Andsyet all thiSIisthteatened. Franc
snlsi the o Hawaiisns still unwilling 4
TO have herapries.s rand brandy force
down their lhioats.@ True, in their helF
lsssnsss.l they have sabmitted,, but vii
sosbad . GRACE that Napoleon III. prom
isesthsm laoiesson oor two in manner
With The fate Of the Society Islands b.
fore their eyes, The subjects ofthe Hawa
ian monarch ,ttembls ior their own. an
Ksnshansha slays Gs Grown as The. 70
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,H9H9JA YTNEI
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