The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-09-25
II IL f.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. %, 1889.
A PR0TEGTORATE.

Within the past few days rumors
that had prevailed for some months,
regarding an intrigue TO put this
kingdom under the protectorate of
the United States, have become very
positive. 1t is current talk about
town that the Cabinet had protec-
torate treaty under consideration in
council on Tuesday, and that Hon.
H. A. =. Carter will bear such
document away with him, on his re-
turn to Washington by this weeks
steamer. These reports have, as
part of their effects, caused 4 de-
termination on the part of some
prominent native Hawaiians TO call
mass meeting for the purpose of
protesting against the measure. 1t
certainly would be rushing things
with q vengeance for the present
Cabinet to become party to any such
a betrayal of the independence of
the country. The original Reform
Cabinet of 1887 was sustained at the
polls on a platform distinctly assert
ing a policy of maintaining the
national autonomy of the Hawaiian
Islands. Since then there have been
changes of two Ministers in the
Cabinet, yet the Ministry as a whole
is bound by the principles enunciat-
ed and upheld by the Reform Party
two years ago. 1t has long been
conceded by people of different
nationaliti,s, and even by the press
of England, that if the time came
when foreign annexation of these
Islands was inevitable, the United
States had the strongest claim among
the Powers for their acquisition.
This view the BULLETIN has time
and again adopted. And, if it was
now choice between an annual
revolution in the Government and
an American protectorate, we should
vote for the latter. But we cannot
concede that such 4 crisis has been
reached, Notwithstanding the late
uprising. We believe that if the
natives are approached in right spirit
by either the Government or a com
bination of representative foreigners,
they will not demand unreasonable
concessions TO their feelings as the
price of mutual confidence. This
protectorate scheme if there was any
thing in it would really, as cores
pondent warmly suggests, have
the appearance of cowardly sacri-
flee Of Hawaiian nationality to save
q selfish oligarchy determined tC
rule or ruin. In any case out and
out annexation would be preferable
TO a protectorate. The former would
give the people the free and I'M
trammeled suffrage of American
citizens, while the latter would
mean government by nominees of
domestic olgarchs under the pro-
lection of foreign guns.
We are happy to be in position,
however, to quiet all public appre-
tensions concerning the matter in
question. The BULLETIN reporter
having directly questioned His Ex-
ce!lency the Minister of Foreign
Affairs upon the subject, was in
formed by that gentleman that the
Ministry were unit in opposition
TO annexation, prOtectorate, OF
anything that would impair Ha-
waian independence. Mr.. Austin
added that the Ministry were only
DESTROYS of promoting increased init
macy of commercial relations with
the United States. His EYcellency
also volunteered the assurance that
in all their recent councils, the inter
course between His Majesty and the
Ministers has been most cordial and
harmonious.