The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-06-20
Mr.. Nordhof on the Hawaiian
MIDDLE.

Mr.. NOrdhof on the Hawaiian
MIDDLE.
To the editor of the Transcript
A sudden non-organized domestic
revolution on the Hawaiian Islands
has brought their annexation to the
United Sattes prominently before
the public. Newspaper men have
been sent there to observe the sit
uation. Notably among them Mr..
Charles Nordhoff, who goes as a
partisan of the New York Herald
to gather facts and arguments to
fortify its position already an
nounced of anti-annexation. No
correspondent better fitted for the
work could have been selected than
Mr.. Nordhoff, who, from his visit
TO the islands about 1875 to the
present has never failed to oppose
and scout the idea of the United
States having any commercial or
political relations with the islands,
other than that of hands off"
policy, such as might beft the re-
lations of the United States to any
of the tribes in Central Africa.
The cabinet of General Grant in
1876 and that of Mr.. Cleveland in
1887 differed from Mr.. Nordhoff
and adopted a policy of CONNER
cial reciprocity which has bound
the islands irrevocably to the des-
TIMES of the United States this re-
suit having been an understood
sactor of the bargain, so to speak,
when made in 1876. 1t was for
seen that when the reciprocity
treaty should fail, either by abro-
cation or by changes in the tariff
of the United States, rendering
the treaty valueless to the islands,
the question of a more intimate
connection would Immediately
arise, involving the sequence that,
having through a favorable COM
mercial policy of fifteen years de-
veloped the islands into a garden,
the United States would be called
upon to decide whether to accept
this garden, or abandon it to others,
or let it revert again to its original
insignifcance.
This is a situation and ques-
ton, not sprung upon the islanders,
either native or foreign, but one
contemplated and thought upon
for years, with the accepted con-
clusion that some day it would
come to the front and was capable |
Of but one solution, so far as the
native autonomy is concerned.
The decadence and disappear
ance of the native race, continuing |
1ninterruptedly for the last fifty |
years and showing no signs of ces-
sation, until now they are only |
one-third of the total population of |
.he islands, brings wildly before
he minds of thoughtful men the
mpossibility of the failing race to
'etain the reins of government.
Rule by a minority in these days |
S an absurdity, except under I'M
Usual circumstances.
Hence this among other causes
has produced the island situation
If today, a situation not to be ex-
blamed away by newspaper cor
who seek to elucidate
t by superficial explanations of the
misleading statements of Minister
Stevens the innocence of the
queen of all guile or sinister pur-
Jose; her facility of repentance,
When opposed by the revolt of those
whose material interests would be
uined the absurdities and incon-
of the rank and file of
hose who are part of, or support
he Provisional government the
mercenary leanings of
he sugar planters, and an expose
# the dirty lines inseparable to all
political revulsions and political
contests. To such exposes Mr..
Sordhoff has devoted his attention,
the logical sequence of
sland history, the philosophy of
he situation, by recommending
he public of the United States to
everse its past policy towards the
stands for one of mawkish senti-
nentalism. AMERICAN.
: Boston Transcript.