The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-25
SANDWICH ISLANDS ANNEXATION.

SANDWICH ISLANDS ANNEXATION.
MAKAwAo MANI, HAWAIIAN GROUP,
May 10 1853.
TO the Editor of the National Era:
After an absence of some six months, to II
inexplcable the Era has lately resumed /
visits at Makawao The grief arising trol
the loss of this old friend is greater than yC
can easily conceive Please send IN your Dll
regularly, to Lewis Iappan, Esq so that
may not sustain another so serious loss, IA
at least, give you notice to the contrary
hope, ere long, TO make some arrangement an
obtain United States stamps, that may pa
for my papers and pay the postage, and thu
save my friends the trouble OF looking after m
newspaper affairs. ! mean to do tins, let m
add, unless you amer as before mare hne
send! Well said ! am taken all aback b
What see in these last newspapers. That 6
staid man as the editor OF the Era should tai
or sncb a thing ~ the annexation to the Unite
states Of these fair islands, greatly surprise
100 hint here we have it in black and uhH,
md no mistake. lSee Era for January 9Th
IeE2l True you say, Whenever they shall
,ronose such a measure" and you would
Ioubtless say of us as of Cuba, "and without
slavery not otherwise Thank you for this.
But INV dear sir, allow me to say, that hav
mo to;led for the Hawaians some twenty-five
years and expecting to toll on till die, it is my
Sornpst desire and my prayer to God in behalf
of this nation that it may be q free and indie
,andent one see no reason why it may not
he 20 proyide1 the three great Powers which
have nledped themselves to protect the islands
shall he faithful. That they will be so, at pres
I IN HOnbt il Tnr
the interest of each to do so. True the United
States at present have many more commercial
interests here than either England or France
Those of England are, however, considerable,
and those of France are increasing. 1t Is my
hope that these Governments VIII see the poll
cy, not to say duty OF protecting the little
kingdom of Hawai- in It's independence; so that
It may remain, az it now Is, common ground,
which all may equally occupy, not as owners,
but as friends and protectors. II am not
egregiously mistaken, the highest economy on
all hands would be promoted by thus leaving
the Hawaiian nation independent and by co
operating with the native Government IN en-
acting and enforcing laws which would pro.
mote the greatest good OF all classes The
Hawaiians are learning, to say the least, to
govern themselves; and the chiefs are fully
enough disposed to call to their aid the intelli
gent of other lands and | think such men will
always be looked up to for advice. AS things
now are the expense of governing the nation
is the merest 1.-THE Of what would be required,
were the native Government to be superseded
by foreign one. Taxes, in that case, would
be quite another thing than they now are.
can see no advantage to any party from annex
alton, unless | except some few individuals who
might fGtten on the spoils of Office. Certainly
the United States Government would be nc
gamer for long time to come, as 1t would cost
40 small annual sum to sustain the Govern
ment in q country 80 far from homo. Besides
agree most fully with the remarks of Senator
Hale on the subject Of annexation which Sc
in the Era of February Sd. 1t does seem t.
me that it is absurd, and will prove ruinous, t.
seek acquisition, or even to accept 1T II offered
an foreign and distant lands. Cultivate wha
you already have, ere you ask purchase, o
accept even, another foot of land No advan
tagc, then in my opinion, would accrue to til
United States from annexation. Who, ther
would be benefited! few planters woul
be likely to derive some Immediate adyantag
M duties on sugars syrups coffee, &c, woul
be removed or greatly lessened but even tn
class might find the little finger of Uncle Sai
thicker than the loins of Hamehameha II
The talk of an increase of exports, of the mu
tplication of supplies for the markets of tn
Pacific in consequence of annexation, seem
strange to my ear Perhaps ! don't under
stand the case but ! reason thus VIVA
ground is there TO expect an increase OF lndni
try in consequence Of annexation The Kin
il proverbially kind to foreigners; the Govern
ment, too will favor all industrious men, b
selling OF leasing them all the lands they ca
cultivation which they can raise sugar-can
wheat, corn, coffee, beans, potatoes, &c Lane
are not taxed at all, and taxes of all kinds n,
exceedingly light. What more indulgence,
pray, would Yankees have than they fin
here1 And what gain would they realize
annexation Still most of them will secon
the motion to annex-wil be clamorous
urging it, If such Il thing shall take plac
these foreigners will have ample time to roper
of their folly for, that the ajOrity of thel
would rue the day when they asked it, hay
not the shadow of doubt.
DO you inquire how it happens if lands ca
be purchased ut reasonable price, and Il
country is fruitful, and agricultural produc
IN demand, that there should be 40 few export
and that the Hawaiian markets should be
poorly supplied A ready answer ! can gi'
you, and one which will show that the dilhcu
ty is not TO DO found in the character Of Il
Hawaiian Government. 1t is this Foreigne
wish to become rich at once but they mean
become thus without turning the Havana
soil. | have already spoken with you on th
subjoct-told you what have seen. will no
give you an extract from letter of a man
thought and observation, who has lived on Il
island of Oahu some ten years. Under date
April 9Th, he thus wrote me
Blank told me, yesterday that he regre
ted that he had SO much land and that
would sell every foot of it for what no gave.
suppose he spoke rather strongly; but he an
many Others have been greatly disappointed
the land speculation business People are n,
about to give great prices for land situated {
most land is GEOGRAPHICALLY Americans
when there is so much land in Oregon al
California and the English are getting off
fast AZ they can to Australia So there is !
hope for land spectators but annexation. 4
for going to work on their land, to make som
thing out Of it, why that the Canakas III
waiansl ought to do; and they are a laz
good-ior-nothing set, if they do not. This
the way the mass of the foreigners talk al
Is a specimen Of their agricultural logic III
first and second terms of their syllogism adm
OF no conclusion but annexation, which prl
God may never Gomez
] am happy to give you the above quotatic
from man of great candor and information
that you may see that am not alone in M
views of things pertaining to agriculture at Il
islands | do not believe that annexation
the islands to the United States would nue.
if at all, increase the resources of the island
unless these were developed by other than 70
eign hands But IA | am nearly full, vi
resume the subject in another sheet
Truly thine in the cause Of humanity
j. =. GREEN
MAEAwAo MANI, May 10, 1883
Ny DEAR Sir; From my communication
the 18th, you will clearly perceive that 20 {
the independence Of Hawaii and this | ,
from sincere and disntorested love both to m
own and 10 NV adonted oountry Tho bivhe