The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-03-08
A~nnexation.-No 2.

ton would be an insuperable barrier 10 the Ha-
waiian Islands being received as a state, on an
nexation TO the United States. Our population OF
5000 would be too small a fraction OF the basis
of representation, and would barely justify the
organization of n Territorial Government. 1t is
even now proposed to mite Dakota with some other
territory, the population being too small to justify
the expenses of u Territorial Government. The
writer in the last issue of the ADVERTISER, above
the signature of =" Hawaiian" has no basis what
ever for his probability that these Islands might be
admitted as a state. / will now proceed TO my
second proposition.
Do the people of these Islands desire annexation :
There is a feeling of intense nationality pervad-
ing the Hawaiian people-nOt a majority-but the
whole people. They love their independence, and
they look forward to the preservation of their GOV
eminent and the integrity Of their territory with -
sentiment so deep, permanent and exclusive. that
it will admit of no other idea. They cannot endure
the thought of losing their independence as n ma
ton and merging their political existence in any
other power. The all-pervading idea with the Ha-
waiian, whether high or low, is this,-"I would not
exchange my independence as n Hawaiian, although
L may ENJOY 1t in poverty and toll, for wealth, ease
and luxury, with subserviency and the loss of ma
tiOnal existence He is right, and there is a moral
snblimity in the sentiment. The Hawaiian may
toll en- bis kuleana and cultivate his taro, bananas
and yams, and fish in his coves and or his reefs for
A1 Dhb Nv BiVSIN1N u tuAuAS NAiA
Will induce him to part with his independence.
Like one of the immortal Signers of the Declara-
ton Of American independence, when approached
by one OF the emisSarieS of Great Britain with q
bride, who answered, Il an poor. but your King is
not rich enough TO buy me - so gold and wealth
will not purchase the independence of the native
Hawaiian.
1t is true that there is n warm sympathy felt by
the Hawaiian people towards the United States. 1t
springs from the nOblest trait in the human char
acter, gratitude. From the people of the United
States they have derived their religion, their civil
cation and their laws, and they regard the Govern
ment and the people with the kindest and most
grateful feelings. In the recent struggle for the
integrity of the Union, they deeply sympathized
with the loyal people OF the United States, aud
many of the sons of Hawaii fought shoulder to
shoulder with the friends of the Union. 1t was the
warm and generous sympathy that an Independent
boy would feel for the vigorous and powerful man
who had befriended and educated him, who, while
he exhibits his gratitude to his benefactor, wishes
to preserve his independence and his freedom. Can
we blame him? Does he not rather excite our adj
miration? Men do not fdeserve independence
where there is no feeling of nationality. In the
language OF the Lay of the Last Minstrel,
"Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native landr'
And ! do not believe there is a solitary Hawaiian
so dead to an honorable feeling of national indie
pendence, as to be willing to merge the existence
of his native land into that of a strangers.
The Hawaiian people are generally Industrious,
prosperous. contented and law-abiding. Although
there is no overgrown wealth among them, they are
generally land-holders, and very few indeed are in
poverty. Hawaii nei has no paupersi They en-
joyed as much, if not more prosperity. before a
sugar plantation was started upon the Islands. as
they do now They are all educated. capable of
self-government, and would live and prosper if
there was not q plantation on the Islands owned
and conducted by O foreigner. Many Of the artif-
cial wants and new tastes introduced and created
by foreigners, could be remedied by the observance
of strict economy. The discussion of this portion
nf tho nmpcfInn laa1S mo tn m " third nrOnnGitiOn
viii not the independence of these Islands be
more beneficial TO the people and to the world,
than annexation to any foreign power?
When the Land Commission closed its labors,
there was a tract of land, called a kuleana, of
greater or less extent, awarded to every head of a
family on the Hawaiian Islands, and designed to be
a.homestead. There was a more general proprietor
ship of the soil than in any other country or gov
eminent. This was a firm foundation for national
wealth and prosperity. 1t was also the surest basis
of patriotism. By making men owners of the soil,
you give them a tangible basis for love of country,
and you make them its defenders. 1t is planting
the dragons teeth, that spring up armed men.
This wise and judicious policy inaugurated in the
reign of Kamehameha Ill. with the outstanding OF
ministratlon of the government, would have made
Hawaii ni at this time a rich and strong govern
ment, relatively to population and territory.
But the influx of foreign population, extravagant
habits and the many vices of civilization, have
checked and thwarted in some degree what should
have been the material development of the Ha-
waiians as a nation. Many of these kuleanas have
passed into the hands OF foreigners, recently the
most valuable have gone to the sugar plantations;
the real estate is passing from the natives, and the
very basis of their prosperity and development is
thus going into the hands of strangers. 1t would
require no prophet to foresee the consequence if
the country should be annexed to the United States.
The present generation would not see q foot OF land
in the possession of a native Hawaiian, unless per-
haps in the rare instance of some chief or his de-
seendant! If under the fostering care of their own
government many have lost their natrImOnV-thpIr
bomesteads, and are now dependent and subservi-
ent, what would be the result if transferred to u
foreign power, and surrounded by strangers, specu-
lators and IandJobbers? There Is a simple remedy
for these evils here, by our own legislation, and by
which The errors of the past may be retrieved. Di-
vide the government lands, give each native Ha-
waiian a homestead and pass q homestead law which
would make it inalienable. But l digress.
What status would the Hawaiians enjoy on annex
alton Would they be treated as the Mongolians arc
in San Francisco, or as many regard the citizen OF
African descent from the south Would they be re-
garded as proud American citizens, or would they be
regarded as belonging to another race? Here they are
subjects, equals with the citizens Of any other nation
under a King of their own choice, and a government
of which they form a component part through their
representatives and governed by laws which they
assist in making. No people are freer. What would
they gain by exchanging all these advantages to be
mere cyphers in a great government whose nearest
coast is 200 miles away Would there be any hope
of the typical people of Polynesia arising to fame,
eminence and distinction? 1t would be a higher, a
nobler ambition for the Hawaiian people to try and
unite all Oceanica under their flag and work out for
their race q new and separate development
1t is urged that the Hawaiian population is rapidly
decreasing, is dying out. 1t is evident that since the
introduction Of foreign vices and diseases, the Hawai-
ian population has been diminishing until n recent
period. Sinee the tabu-breaking battle Of Kuamoo,
Hawaii and the insignificant loss in the George
Tamree rebellion in Kauai, there have been no
wars in the Kingdom since 1897. The great pesti-
okuu. in 1904, destroyed more people
than war had ever done. The measles in l34S, and
the smallpox IN 1853, both diseases Of foreign birth,
gave another terrible blow to the population. Malig-
nant fever wss unknown to the islands till foreigners
introduced the Panama or g Boohoo fever. All
these were active, immediate causes. Bat there was
another, and a continuous cause, acting from 1871
up to the present time. 1t was the transition from
barbarism to civilization. A change of diet, habit,
-r.I:-- FL - n H. o1Jo1 oprI;ancaO of civili-