The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-01-31
ANNEXATION.
What Shall be Done With
Hawaii.

4ut StphI dNlOn Va hdNolA AACH
the islands of the Australasian ar
chipelago and its propinquity to the
United States have kept it oat OF
range OF European influences, grad
ually extending over the former, and
brought it within that OF d 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 1.-THE
of his revenues by the sufferance of
an English commissioner.
Meanwhile the destiny of the IS
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
past 1t is a natural growth, rather
than forcible overrunning. Terri
tory is not seized by force OF arms in
these more refined days. Nations
do 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 CON-
mercial colony itself. This has been
the mode of British colonial expan-
sion since the congress of Vienna. 1t
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
lions 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 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 infiu-
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. The only obstacles
to annexation are our customary
lethargy in colonial enterprise and
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 internal 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
hose who already control its com
nerce and owns its lands. Hawaii
mas been plagued by a series of
feeble revolutions in the last ten
Tears. Most of these have come to
lothing for want of unity of action
lmong the parties opposed to the
royalists," as those who wish to
maintain the authority of the de
icendants of chiefs are called. Re
,ent events have strengthened and
United the various parties in opposi
ior, which are now endeavoring to
orce upon the Queen Cabinet re
ponsible to the majority of the popu
ar Legislative body. This, in itself,
would be a revolution, since English
forms have been only
lominally followed in Hawaii. and
t would probably lead to a more !
revolution by giving the
popular will an agent and executor
n the Cabinet Popular sentiment /