The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-03-03
Scheme for Annexing the
Hawaiian Islands.
(R om the Boston Hsrald.)

The large aud wealthy sugar-reinlng IN
terest Of this city DOES not entertain a very
high opinion of Mr.. Claus Spreckels, the
San Francisco sugar king, and his scheme
for getting the Island Kingdom annexed to
Uncle Sans domain does not strike the
Boston sugar people favorably. A number
of the heavy men in the trade were seen
yesterday, and their opinions are appended.
Mr.. Spaulding-of Nash, Spaulding, &
Co.-said 81 have not given any particu-
lar thought to this question of annexation,
but don't believe that annexation is likely
to come about certainly not this session of
Congress. You might as well try to annex
the moon Congress has not much longer
to sit, and it is crowded with business. 1t
is doubtful if a tariff bill is passed this ses-
sion. 1 not feel competent--not having
studied the subject veto give al opinion
as to the value of the Hawaiian Islands to
the United States.
President J.. B Thomas, of the Standard
Sugar Refinery, is a Pacific Coast man, and
his opinion is Of especial interest. He said,
sententiously We might as we'll annex a
piece of the moon "-(unconsciously using
about the same terms as Mr.. Spaulding).
AS A NAVAL STATION.
"Would not the Islands be useful as a
naval station 2"
What do we want of a naval station cut
there? England, or France, or Germany,
might come along with a feet and take it
in case of war and, if we were not strong
enough to hold it. we would nave to give it
up. In the event of war, the strongest
Power which happened to need the Islands
would take them, annexed or not annexed.
We have no ships to send out there if we
have no navy worth talking about. we cer-
tainly do not require a station for 1t to call
at. The whole of this matter can be put in
a few words Spreckels wants the United
States to annex his sugar plantation"
Treasurer Townsend, of the Continental
Sugar Refinery, was next seen 81 think"
he said, af er reading the HerdEd's special,
- that the scheme was all humbug All the
arguments which lie against the treaty apply
against the project of annexation. 1t may
be that some time in the future we may
want a naval station cut there as a protec-
ton to the Pacific Coast in case of war;
but if we have the ships to defend a station.
we have also the force to take it when we
shall want it."
Mr.. Foster of the firm of Charles D.
Foster & Co., said that he thought we had
now all the territory that we ought to try
to take care of judging from the ability of
the present Congress.
Another gentleman who did not wish to
be quoted said: 81 think it likely that the
politicians will favor annexation because it
would make a lot of fat places for them
lots of pickings and stealings, and a chance
TO reside in a lovely climate at government
expense. Tn navy people will regard any
thing with favor that seems to promise adj
ditional Importance to that arm of the pub
lie service. If we take the Hawaiian
Islands, we shall have to build a navy to
defend them in case of war. A naval sta
ton is always a prize in time of hostilities,
and the country which can send the biggest
and the most powerful feet to the Pacific
will take the Islands, no matter who nomin-
ally holds them. The whole crowd out
there are not worth annexing. Population
of mostly naked coolies, sickly natives and
specializing white men. Practically, the
whole group of islands is the property of
Spreckels and his associates. If he is to be
care of because he is rich and has
estates out in the Pacific, why should
our government similarly protect the
interests OF Mr.. Atkins and other Boston
gentlemen who have sugar estates in Cuba 2