The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-04-18
WITHDRAWAL OF THE TREATY

treaty with the Hawaiian Islands
But they did not do so, and it became
legacy to the new Administration
A serious opposition having been
raised against concluding the treaty
and the treaty not having heen con-
sidered by the present Administration,
it was rather to be expected that Pres
ident Cleveland would withdraw it
until he had time to consider it. He
has done so, and he has not done
wrong. He must know what he is
about. At least ne must satisfy the
critics that he is not acting hastily and
unadvisedly.
We do not consider this action of
President Cleveland as atall unfriend-
" to the treaty. We believe he will
again send it to the Senate, possibly
with some minor changes, and will
warmly approve its passage. We wish
it could have been adopted without
, opposition, but the opposition having
arisen we are glad to have all deliber-
alton exercised, and all necessary and
unnecessary caution practised, so that
| the mouths of all reasonable men may
be stopped. We cannot hope to stop
| the mouths of unreasonable, chronic
| ally captious and suspicious people.
Such there are who as soon as any
thing is suggested for the honor of
this country put the drag on every
wheel of progress. They have jumped
to the front row, and the President
will give them u courteous hearing.
A commission will be sent to Ha-
wall to examine the condition of
things and learn how completely the
Provisional Government represents
the population of those Islands. We
have been told that the white natives
may be a unit in approval of annexa-
ton, but that the colOred natives are
opposed to it. We do not believe it.
We think we know the natives well
enough to understand that they are
composed of two classes, the one pro-
gressive and Christian, and the other
drunken and enslaved to their ka-
hunas, or witch doctors. The former,
we understand, side with the mis-
sionaries and the white natives in de-
string annexation the latter, we
understand, side with The New York
Herald, The Evening Post and the
late Queen in opposing it. We have
little doubt that this commission will,
if appointed, present favorable re-
port, and that favorable action will in
time be taken.
But this proposed annexation of the
Hawaiian Islands is in itself very
small thing, and it might be COM
paratively Indifferent thing if it did
not form, TO the patriot, a part of 4
comprehensive policy. What do we
want for our country or for human-
ity? Have we any ideals or ambi-
tiOns that look beyond what is now |
accomplished Do we ever long for
The parliament OF man, the federation |
Of The world?"
Or, if we do not look so far forward as |
Tennyson could look sixty years ago,
do we feel any such deep honor for |
the principles of our own Govern
ment and any such faith in its power
and its future that we desire to have
it extended so as to embrace and bene-
fit at least the continent. If we do
not want to see II great continental
nation, if we do not want to be any
greater or more beneficent, then we
do not want this bit of contiguous
islands.
For our part-we may as we'll con-
fess it and thus explain our attitude
we so thoroughly believe in the prin-
ciples of American liberty, and We are
so completely possessed with sense
of its unifying power, that we not on
ly expect, but earnestly desire that
this entire continent may one day be
brought into one national union, We
Will lift not one finger of war to ac-
complish it. 1t shall be achieved not
by our violence, and not by our ask
ing but 1t VIII be achieved, as in this
case, by the desire and request of the
about us.
Think of the ornaments of Europe.
Ihlnk OF its vided nations. Russia
and Germany and France and Austria
and Italy and England bleeding them
selves to death with their war taxes
and standing armies, and calling it
self-preservation! Let US suppose the
old enmities and rivalries forgotten,
and all those nations united under
one parliament and federation of free
men. What revolution of peace
anu prosperity Inat would involved |
Even in war-cursed, quarrelsome Eu-
rope the tendency is that way. We
nave seen Norway and Sweden unite
20 their own advantage, Austria and
hungary become one nation; and it is
not too much to hope that we NAV
yet see Spain and Portugal, or Ger
many aud Austria make one nation
We have seen how, even when annex
alton has been accomplished by war,
III a generation an alien language and
people have, in the case of Alsaee aud
Lorraine, become assimilated and con-
tented. When the thrones shall fall
we may expect more unions by the
Tree Will Of the people. Then Holland
may be willing TO join Germany, or
Belgium France.
But how vastly more favorable the
CONDITIONS on this continent! We
nave mere one predominant people,