The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-01-28
ANNEXATION.
What Shall be Done With
Hawaii.
With

Ihe separation or HaWall from
the islands of the Australasian ar
chipelago and it's propinquity to the
United States have kept it out of
range Of European influences, grad
ually extending over the former, and
brought it within that of a nation
free in great measure from the colo
nizing habit. Any other power en-
joying half the opportunity of the
United States in Hawaii would have
annexed the islands long ago. The
predominance of American influence
in Hawaii has only resulted so far
in preventing its absorption by any
other power and in prolonging the
the life of native rule, more absurd.
ly feeble and shadowy than that of
any Indian prince who enjoys tlthe
of his revenues by the sufferance of
an English commissioner.
Meanwhile the destiny of the ls-
lands has been working itself out
through the operation of causes
more constant and powerful than
the forces of political intrigue or the
promptings of national greed of ag-
grandizement. Modern colonial ex
pansion does not proceed by the
rude and vigorous methods of the
pest. 1t is natural growth, rather
than forcible overrunning. Terri
tory is not seized by force OF arms in
these more refined days. Nations
dc not annex islands. They extend
their sphere of influence" over them,
and they do it through the slow and
gradual operation of individual set
Element and by the growth of trade.
The merchant vessel is the forerun-
ner of colonial expansion, and the
peaceful trader the founder of colo
NAL empire. The government re-
mains in the background until its
subjects or citizens have established
commercial interests in foreign parts
which warrant them in appealing for
protection in the name of the COM
mercial colony itself. This has been
the mode of British colonial expan-
sion since the congress of Vienna. It
is that adopted by Germany and
France in their late enterprises of
colonization. 1t is the mode which
suits with modern ideas of refine
ment. 1t is certainly the only one
which would be tolerated in the Uni
ted States.
This is what is going to happen
sooner or later in Hawaii. CONNER
cial occupation of the islands by
Americans has already advanced far
beyond the stage which other ma
tions have considered as warranting
annexation. Americans dominate
the social life of the islands, control
their commerce, own their land, di-
rect their agriculture. Persons of
American blood apparently control
the native rulers through intrigue or
favoritism, and persons of American
sympathy, as well as descent, seem
to control public opinion as we'll as
the feeble mockery of a legislature.
Hawaii is overripe for annexation.
Every substantial interest in the isl
ands would gain by it, and nobody
would lose but decayed dynasty
and few palace favorites. There
is no fear of external opposition.
European powers recognize the pre-
dominance of American commercial
influence in the islands. The rules
they have established for their own
control and guidance in extending
their respective spheres of infu-
ence mark the Hawaiian islands
plainly as an ultimate possession of
the United States Probably the |
only European sentiment in relation
to these islands is amazement that
the United States has not annexed |
them long since Tie only obstacles |
to annexation ere our customary
lethargy in colonial enterprise aad |
the reluctance OF the degenerate de- |
scendants of native chiefs TO surren-
der their shadowy authority and !
emoluments.
The last obstacle seems likely soon |
to be removed by an interval revolu- |
ton, which shall destroy what re-
mains of the power of the descend
ants of the chiefs and place political |
control of the islands in hands of |
those who already control its com
merce and owns its lands. Hawaii |
has been plagued by a series of |
feeble revolutions in the last ten |
years. Most of these have come to |
nothing for want of unity of action
the parties opposed to the |
" royalists," as those who wish to |
maintain the authority of the de- |
scendants of chiefs are called. Re-
cent events have strengthened and |
united the various parties in opposi- |
ton, which are now endeavoring to |
force upon the Queen Cabinet re-
sponsible to the majority of the popu-
lar legislative body. This, in itself,
would be revolution, since English |
forms have been only |
followed in Hawaii, and |
it would probably lead to a more
complete revolution by giving the
will an agent and executor
in the Cabinet. Popular sentiment
and commercial interest both look in
the direction of union with the
United States When they shall find
full expression in truly responsible
parliamentary government, the ques-
ton Is likely to be placed before this
country in such way that it will be
impossible to postpone or evade it.
We shall have to decide whether we
want Hawaii or not. There ought to
be no room for doubt or argument
on this point. We are willing to pay
millions Of dollars for an inferior
naval station in the Atlantic We ara