The national Republican., 1867-07-18
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The Boston Journal halls the announce
ment that good reciprocity treaty has
been proposed between the United States
and the Sandwich Islands, and hopes it
may prove true. The Journal favors the
treaty, but opposes annexation. That
paper says: ...
"It is true, the policy of national ex-
pansion received strong impulse in the
purchase Of the Russian territory; but even
that transaction, doubtful as il was in
some respects, affords no precedent for the
case Of the Sandwich Islands. The latter
are separated from the Union by more
two thousand miles Of ocean. If we can
overleap that obstacle, to say nothing Of
the numerous other objections raised by
the peculiar condition Of the Sandwich Isl
ands, then there is no barrier to the indef-
mite and indiscriminate spread Of the Union
in all directions till we fall apart Of our
own weight"
II we understand the above paragraph,
the Journal opposes annexation because
OF the immense distance Of these islands
from us; for two thousand miles Of ocean
lie between us and this group. We can
see no very formidable objection in this
Two thousand miles is not very far in these
days. California was once long way of,
and there are a good many places that are
separated long distance from the "Hub"
and Washington, the capital; but the peo-
pie in those distant localities manage to
get along, and, so far as We have observed,
give about as much evidence Of attach
ment to the Union as do the people Of any
other locality that might be named. Our
country is much larger than it was when
the thirteen original colonies formed the
Government under which We have lived
SO long, grown great in expanded terri
tory, and in wealth and political power.
There may be danger in annexing these
islands, which are two thousand miles away
in mid-ocean; but we submit we cannot
see it. Our Union received about as much
of a shock during our civil war as it is pos
sible to conceive of but it still survives,
and, after having endured so much by way
Of assault upon II, we think it is fair to
conclude that the annexation Of that
beautiful group Of islands in the Pacific,
though they be long way of, will not
shake the nation to its downfall. What
those other numerous objections growing
out Of "the peculiar condition Of the Sand,
wich Islands" are to which the Journal
= refers, we are at some loss to know We
shall not attempt to remove them from
the mind of our cotcmporary till we un-
derstand what they are.
Is not this other declaration of the Jour
nal, that the annexation Of these islands
presupposes the fact that there is no bar
rier to the indefinite and indlscriminaie
spread Of the Union in all directions till
we fall to pieces Of our own weight" an as
sumption? We do not think that it nee.
essarily follows that when We have an.
nexed these islands we must 60 indiscrimi-
nately 10 work and annex oil the rest Of
mankind to the Union. There is fitness
in things, and the American people have
not lost their senses. 1t is doubtless i'm
portant that we should have n good recip
rocity treaty with this Hawaiian group, and
we rejoice that such u prospect even is be
fore us; but, in our judgment, it is much
more TO our advantage to hold the island,
themselves as our own, and be able to
throw over them the protecting folds o
the stars and stripes.
The Journal itself suggests the very
reason that should impel us to move al
once for annexation, that we may put al
end to that struggle which is even nov
going on between ourselves and our Euro
pean competitors for the trade with thes,
people Annex this country to ours, auC
the struggle is at an end but leave thi
question open, and, in spite Of our rccip
rocity treaties, who can tell how soon thes
islands may be strongly allied to, II no
owned by some one Of these European
competitors Of oursi
Don't let US be alarmed, but let u
annex these islands il we can, becaus
they naturally belong to us, and becaus
we need them. Settle this question first
and when the proposition to annex an,
other country is submitted consider it
One thing at time, and let each question
be considered and decided upon its merits
We shall not be found opposing what is il
itself real good for fear of some possibl
evil consequences that may grow out {
our action, especially when we think "
are right. 1t is never wise to neglect t
perform good deed because somebod
may conjure up supposed evil cons
quences which may grow out OF our u
ton. Many Of our people fought again
the annexation Of Texas and also again
the acquisition Of New Mexico and Cal
fornia. Since that time we have waged
four years war to keep Texas in the Unio
and certainly none Of us would consent
let either New Mexico or California g
We have California, and we now want VIII