Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-02-27

1
country are Internationally against
annexation, aud II is not flAttery to
say that their objections have been
weighed In the balance and found TO
count, for the present at least. One OF
them heads an article on this subject,
"a fine thing for Claus," and then
proceeds to show that Mr.. Sprecklcs
owns about 75 pr cent OF
all the Hawaiian land III
for the cultivation Of sugar AMI rice,
some Of which IL worked by himself
and tue rest rented out 10 other plant
ers. Why, It asks, should the United
States annex these lsand., spend mil.
lions on n cable, build few battle
ships and pay sugar subsidy TO the
tune Of $4,000, 900 annually all for the
benefit Of "this Hawsiianized German
WHO never did thing In this country
except to extract some Of tho peoples
wealth 2" A pertinent question,
whether founded In fact or error, yet
but portion OF the case Is developed
By II.
There are several reasons why the
United States should own tho Sand
witch islnnds In fee simple, the chief Of
which Is that history, ancient and
recent, has abundantiy shown that
the islanders cannot maintain thcm-
selves and keep up with the Christian
lily, civilization and progress OF
the age In which we Hnd ourselve.,
aud rs such are bound TO boz
come the dependency Ia one form or
another Of one or more Of the great
20 wers sooner or later. The United
States has the best and least assailable
right not only because OF contiguity,
but because OF having more people
and greater interests there than any
other nation aud because OF having
done threo-fourths OF the improving
aud civilizing, placing the people
on the way 10 eventual enlightenment
and self.support as the better races
elsewhere are supported. Then the
islands are strategic point Viewed
either Ia n civil or military sense; ms
coaling headquarters for steamers, 40
points Of general supply, or Us naval
station for auxiliary work In case Of
war, from either point Of view they
are valuable not to say indis.
ponsablc adJuncts. Perhaps the
greatest and most pressing reason Of
all is that " We do not accept the offer
OF the Islands Grcat Britain will DO
made the tender. and Britannia would
M soon rule the waves which lash the
shores Of the little insuiar nation as
any others. OF course we could not
stand that sort OF thing; even at the
risk Of ridicule II nothing more serious
for acting the part Of the dog in the
manger, wa could not permit her
mnJesty's dag to float unchallengci
over Hawaiian soil, aud thus would
likely arise an ENHANCEMENT much
more serious aud consequential than II
Uncle Sam took possession and lot
John Bull do tho growing. IL has
been observed all along the line OF his.
tory that Britain is much more easily
kept out THAI driven out.
As TO the cable, we must have that
before long anyway. We should no I
only be In immediate toiegraphlc
communication with Honolulu but
with Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne,
Yokohama, Hong Kong and other
great commercial port, OF tho inter. aud
trans Pacific regions. 81 that objec-
ton may us well be rubbet oil the
blackboard. We arc aud for some
years have been In the business OF
building battle ships, 30 there IN no
potency In the second count. Lastly,
the sugar bounty, or "subsidy" n that
term be preferred, lisa matter within
the control OF Congress-, and II It APP
pears that Spreckles or any other man
or number OF men are going to be un.
duly profited by the operation OF any
OF our laws, we must repeal or change
the laws No that such special privilege
may no longer exist.
President Harrison Ia said TO be
strongly in favor OF annexation; we
y believe President Cleveland IL not OPP
posed To 1t, aud 1t seems that nn over
whelming majority Of the people actu'
ally demand It. This 10 certainly tho
II .aaa an tha Daaluo alan.