The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-23
A TIMELY COMMENT On HAWAIIAN
AFFAIRS.

One of the greatest pieces of
igood fortune for Hawaii in the
latest chapter Of her history has
been the fact that she has had
good friends abroad who have
been able to speak for her at this
crisis. The presence of the Hon.
c. r. Bishop in San Francisco and
later in Washington, of W. G.
Irwin and B. f. Dillingham; in
New York, and of others who
might be mentioned, has been of
the greatest use to this nation.
High among those who have served
Hawaii with pen or voice during
the last weeks stands General S.
c. Armstrong. He is known and
respected all over the United
States, and his words carry weight
with men of character everywhere.
We had occasion in late issue to
cite some words of his from the
Christian Union. This morning
we reproduce for the benefit of our
readers the full text of a letter
which he wrote for the New York
Evening Post. 1t contains an adj
mirable commentary on the mean
ing Of the situation, and will be
read with great interest:
write to bespeak through your col
umns the interest and confidence of
your readers in the effort being made
by q delegation from the Hawaiian
Islands, now in Washington, to bring
about, If possible, closer relations be-
tween those islands and the United
States. Their objective point is, be-
lieye, the annexation of those islands
as territory, at the same time secur-
ing to its creditors the moderate debt
of that country and vested rights to
the chiefs and all concerned.
The delegation, or cOmmission, from
Hawaii Is composed of gentlemen
whom / have long known personally.
They are men of the highest standing
and are thoroughly trustworthy, hav-
ing the entire confidence of all except
the demagogues and schemers whom
they have been compelled to antagon-
i2e and defeat in order to make posi-
BILE new and better state of things.
Your readers have already learned of
the dethronement of the Hawaiian
Queen because of her efforts arbitrar-
lily to change the Constitution, and to
get thereby unlimited power. The
late Queen is INSCRIPTIONS to the last
degree, of 70 moral standing whatever
and not entitled to the least confidence
or respect. She is not without intelli-
gence, and has much more ability and
sense than had her brother, the late
King KaIakaua. Good things were
expected when, of late years, she came
to the throne. The sentiment of the
good people there was to stand by her
and give her chance. L met her only
last year at Honolulu, was impressed
with her intelligence and, with many
others, had hopes that she would do
we'll. Her restoration to power now
would mean destruction of the pro-
gressive element in Hawaiian life and
the collapse of all hope for that peo-
pie. AS to the Hawaiian dynasty, so
far it is the only heather dynasty in
the history of the world which has
survived the transition from barbar-
ism to decent grade of civilization.
This remarkable record has been made
possible only by the control of it's
affairs by white people, mostly Amer
leans. The situation there now is des-
perate. If the United States declines
to adopt Hawaii she will turn to Eng
iol 70 q
often been marked by much wisdom
and success. I can but believe that
the English would be likely to send a
better ruler than we would send from
the United States if the local governor
be appointed under the ''spoils' sys-
tenn. However, think all have con-
fldence that the Administrat ton
would appoint good governor for
that new territory should Hawaii be
annexed.
1t has been admitted on all sides
that the conquest by American mis-
sionaries of the Hawaiian Islands for
degree of Christian civilization gives
the United States both claim and an
obligation in the matter-a claim to
be considered first in the final DISPOSE
ton of that country, and an obligation
to save to decency and CIVILIZATION that
utterly brOken-down monarchy. The
social condition of Hawaii is peculiar.
There are about 10000 Japanese, 1900
Chinese and 10000 Portuguese. The
$4,000 natives are dying off at the rate
of about 1000 year. The mulatto, or
half. caste element is increasing very
rapidly. The half Chinese children
are of excellent quality. All males
may be voters except the Asiatics.
The Portuguese have right to vote.
The natives have an overwhelming
political power, making heavy odds
against progressive legislation. There
has been, and could have been indie
finitely, good government and very
satisfactory order of things under the
monarchy. The dethroned Queen,
who had an excellent Cabinet, has
thrown away great chance to make
anoble record, and hopelessly wrecked
the noble dynasty of the Kamehame-
has.
A decent civilization at the Hawai-
ian Islands is important to the United
States because of the very vital strate-
gic position which they occupy in the
center of the North Pacific Ocean.