The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-02-15
Il PACIFIC
Commercial AOOrrtisrr.
SATURDAY. FEB. Is.
ANNEXATION.

frequently made Of late in there columns, has
now become the all-engrossing topic OF general
discussion in the community. And while all are
agreed that unless some strong. prompt and
active measures are taken To- relieve the country
at large, we must continue to rctrugrade in a
constantly aceelerating backward motion, TO ma
terial and consequently political insigni6canoe-
yet there is a wide divergence Of opinion felt and
expressed as 10 the proper course to be pursued.
Thus the public opinion would seem to be
divided, for although, as we are fully Convinced.
the majority Of those directly interested and who
think seriously and lar-seeingly on the questions
now up for consideration, believe with us that
the wisest and most feasible course TO be pursued
in the present pressing ~juncture is for the Gov
eminent, combined with the planting and mer-
camille interests, to make a vigorous and deter
mined effort to secure n treaty Of Reciprocity
with the United States, yet there IL unquestion-
ably a large party, respectable in point Of wealth
and position, that is now openly and earnestly
advocating the Offering of the sovereignty of the
country TO u foreign pOwcr-in short, the annex
alton Of these islands TO the United States of
America. We are all aware that there has long
existed here a small cotorie that has, in a quiet
and rather sub rosa manner, advocated this meas
ure it is only lately that Hawaii's misfortune
las apparently precipitated their opportunity,
which has been improved by the creation of an
actual party. 1t would be folly to ignore either
the existence or the strength of this party. \
wiser course will be to examine into the aims
and ends which it proposes, and the grounds
upon which il is based.
The annexatiOnists are those who tell us that
reciprocity is unattainable, and that therefore
. 80 .-.gNt L A. II, -
tion into the Great Republic and extinction as an
independent nation. The benefits to the country,
to which they point as the sure and necessary re-
suit of annexation, are all those that could be
expected from reciprocity, and much more, Of a
general and indefinite nature. Planters are to
flourish and grow rich new and extensive agri-
cultural enterprises are to be undertaken our
resources are to be rapidly developed, and all
kinds Of business are to take an immediate and
profitable impulse. In fact, better times are at
once to begin for all, money is to circulate in
plenty, and everybody is to have a chance to get
rich speedily. Truly, a pleasant picture.
But is it q fact that the American people and
Government are really DESTROYS of adding these
islands to the domain of the Great Republic?
Some portions of the press Of that country, with
which the fever of annexing anything and every
thing has been and still is unthinkingly chronic,
profess to be eager for the acquisition but there
is reason for very grave doubts whether, were we
to knock for admission at the door of their Union
to-day, our application would create any appre-
ciable enthusiasm, or whether indeed We might
not meet with a chilling rebuff. So long as these
islands belong to no other power, but remain IN
Extensively (and, if You please, insignificantly)
independent, the American Republic will be con-
tent that they should remain so. Doubtless we
are Of more importance in our own eyes than in
those of our giant n~eighbor, who may reasonably
prefer to patronize rather than to adopt us. 1t
would cost a handsome sum to annex us, and n
round appropriation per annum would be re-
quired to defend and support US. What argu-
ments of facts and figures could be adduced Of
sufficient force to convince members of Congress
from sugar-growing Louisiana and Texas and the
Western States, that solid advantages would re-
suit to their constituencies and to the Union by
taking possession of this group, situated two thou
sand miles away from the American Continent?
Would they be slow to perceive that the solid
advantages would enure pretty much to one side,
and that not their own?
The consistent policy of the Americans in all
their negotiations for annexation of territory on
the Continent, (and they have never yet gone
outside of that Continent) has been to require
II first of all, the freely expressed desire for annex
alton by the people of the territory to be ac-
CURED.
A question therefore arises in the outset, which
!, singularly enough appears to have been almost
entirely overlooked in the discussions so far, or
too hastily and unadvisedly answered in the
affirmative. 1t is n question moreover, upon the
solution of which depends all after considerations
connected with the subject.
Are the Hawaiians themselves ready to aban-
don their nationality for that of another race and
3 country?
Granting that there are but sixty thousand na-
tive Ilawaiians remaining out of the nearly half
n million that peOpled the group at the time of
their discovery, yet the right of this remnant to
n free and u~ntrammeled voice in the transfer of
their allegiance is as unquestionable, and that
/ voice should be as potent, as if they numbered
millions. And is it assumed that the love of
country, of race, and national traditions has
with them fallen to so low an ebb that they are
ready, on the first hint, to give up all of these,
for the preservation of which other races are
ready to peril life and limb? Possibly so, but it
: is not reasonable least of all is it reasonable to
; our apprehension, who profess to know the Ha-
waiians from a somewhat heightened and fami-
liar acquaintance. No! The thousands who
but the other day enthusiastically expressed at
the polls their unanimous choice of a King of
f the ancient chief blood, would Indignantly spurn
such n proposition, as an insult to him and to
themselves.
There are those among US who can see only
unmixed good in annexation. Is it not fair to
assume that their vision Is affected by the golden
medium through which they gaze at the pros
pect? Is it not selEinterest that impels them?
Let them for q moment, put themselves in the
place of the native, limited as may be his eduea-