The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-07-21
The Rufure of Hawaii.

next I1th Of June rise on Hawaii as an
independent autonomy?
Let not the native Hawaiian take fool,
ish alarm at this innocent but serious
question.
Has the United States ever hauled
down the colors OF Hawaii, spiked her
guns or forced an acceptance of her die
tations at the mouth of the cannon?
Has Hawaii ever received anything
but the most generous treatment at the
hands OF its powerful neighbor, and does
it not owe its present prosperity and ad-
vanced position to this very generous
| treatment? Are rot men accustomed TO
place confidence in those whom they
have found by long experience to be
worthy of confidence, and can they in
any manner prove this confidence better
than by seeking an alliance with the
tried friend for mutual benefit or for the
assurance OF protection and continued
prosperity when threatened with ruin?
Does not a wise business man seek
those conditions which best promote his
own interests and secure his own sue
cess. and does not nature itself teach
that a maintenance OF individual pride
and independence is foollshness when 1t
| means destruction?
Let the native Hawaiian, more than
anv other, consider, because he is so
over-sensitive to anything that touches
on his national independence, so detcl-
| ent in sound reasoning, so easily led
| about and alarmed by every loud
mouthed demagogue who would like to
make him believe that back is white and
white is black, and that long tired and
! proved friends are mere schemers bldlng
| their time 10 overWhelm them with
/ destruction, when the veriest slmpieton
NAV see II ne will that they have no
| need to scheme and wait, because they
could bv a sweep OF the hand accom-
Dlish an entire overturnlng II they so
/ wished.
Let the native Hawaiian, l say, more
! than any other, consider that his own
| welfare depends on the welfare OF those
whom he has been so prone to dlstrust,
! and that their ruin, from whatever cause.
is his own ruin. That his opportunities
! may safely res: in their instructive strug-
! gIes for sslf-preservation. That in saw
! inc themselves they will save him, and
| that they will not turn out OF their way
! 20 indulge in q foolish move merely to
| gratiiv a sentimental whim.
| Does anyone ask what is the drift OF
| all this? Well, it is just this: We have
ALWAYS been an independent kingdom
! and believed in continuing to be so. We
| have enjoyed being little highcocka-
/ lorum, standing on the fence Tapping
our wings and Growing all by ourselves.
| We have even carried the sport so tar as
| TO amuse the great world below us by
sending out our little toy man-of-war
and indulging in various farcical en-
| bassies and extravagancies which might
have ended with being merely amusing,
| had not the extent OF these extravagan-
cies lent = serious aspect to the case,
which spoiled all the fun and brought 2
change. This change, combining with
other agencies that were already at
work, has mounted US to high pinnacle
of success.
Now q heavy cloud merging over the
horizon has risen high above us and
darkened cur land. The sugar interest,
that is the life of the land, is threatened
with serious injury to say the least. and
possible ruin. To cripple or ruin that
means to cripple or ruin every industry
and every man in the Kingdom, so far
| as any business IN these Islands is con-
| cerned.
Now, how shall We save ourselves, and
| to whom shall We turn Tor rescue from
| this depressing situation?
Uncle Sam has offered bounty Of two
cents = pound on all sugar produced and
manufactured within his own territory,
and that two cents pound viii be sUifi-
cient to save Us.
Does not sound wisdom dictate that
We shall ask this friendly old big uncle
of ours to just please consider US as being
a part OF his territory?
ooh, them" says some one, "you
are an anneXationist, traitor to your
country, and you'd sell it for filthy
lucre . And forthwith those false lead
ers of HaWaiians viii raise the old time
cry of annexation, etc. Now just hold
on 4 bit. Did / not invoke the native
Hawaiian more than any other to SEN
sible consideration Oh this very point?
To consider that what conduces to the
welfare of the sugar interest owned by
the "haoles," as he calls them, con-
duces 10 bis own welfare; that whatever
Injuries or destroys their business or well
fare Injuries or destroys him? l have
always been, and always will be, in
favor OF Hawaiian independence SO long
as that position tends to our best in
terests. But when independence means
poverty, distress, ruin or death, and
protection means prosperity and life,
does not common sense dictate union in
some form with a successful and pro-
gressive nation that has always been our
friend and helper? What loss of indie
pendence would there be in that? How
would it initiate against the dignity or
welfare of the native Hawaiian?
How would you do it?" Simple
enough.
We'd still fly our Hawaiian flag. as a
State flag, and still hold our form of
government and legislature as a State
government and legislature. Above that
would hy the glorious Stars and
Stripes" that mean SO much, and as
special concession to SO small a popula-
ton as We are able to census, Uncle Sam
may even condescend to allow us a
representation in some other way, if we
are not satisfied with having a Minister
resident in Washington to look out for
our interests there. All these details
could be worked out by able minds when
the call came for them.
If at any time Uncle Sam, in the con-
ceit OF his triumph should attempt to |
exercise undue lordship over us, we'd |
have simply to resurrect the Kaimiloa,