New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-03
TO ACT FOR HAWAII.
THE COMMISSIONERS EXPECTED TO REACH
WASHINGTON TO-DAY.
THEY WILL DE PRESENTED TO SECRETARY J. w
FOSTER TOMORROW - MINISTER SMITH
THINKS THE NATIVES UNPREPARED
FOr ETF.GOVFRNMENT-S \DDI-

THINKS THE NATIVES UNPREPARED
FOR ELFGovERNMENT-No ADDI-
TIONAL suIrs TO III SENT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO The TRIBuSEl
Washington Feb. 2.-lntcreet in the ncgotia-
tions about to begun with the commissioners from
Hawaii promises - reach very lively stage to-
morrow or Saturday Tho commissioners are eN-
pectcd TO arrive mere Tomorrow afternoon, ana
quarters have already been engaged Tor them at
Wormcy's Hotel Mr. Mott Smith, the Hawaiian
Minister here indcr the former Government, has
put himself in communication with the representa-
tives OF the successful revolutionary party, ana
through his efforts an audience with the Secrc-
tary of State has been secured for saturday after
noon. If the credentials Of the commissioners
prove full and satisfactory they may bc presenter
thereafter to the President and the first formal
,,cps toward negotiation will then be taken.
| IL seems to he the general impression that the
| Commissioners will be able to give in few days
all the necessary information about the extent
of their authority and the scope OF their plans
Tor closer relations between the two Countries.
! ly tho first part Of next week lrcsh news Is On
| pcctcd from honolulu showing the prevailing SEN
| tmcnt Of the representative people Of the lsiahlS
| on the question of annexation or absorption into
| the United states From all these sources dc-
| cisiOn readily be reached by IN" adlillhlSia-
| ion as to the course Of action to be taken IN
dealing with the otlcr OF the Ilawailans. Either
= treaty will be concluded and sent to the Senate
fer ratification, or il Il rI,ssage TO congress thc
President will state the case and ask for some
legislative direction From present indications the
question of annexation will have to be dealt with
| bv Congress at tins session, and If the negotla-
tions soon 10 be begun are not concluded by March
| ! il il practically certain that the Lila Con
ores, will bc called together to assist the
| Executive in bringing the matter to some dchnlto
conclusion.
AZ to the policy to he followed in admitting
| Hawaii 70 political relations with this country
| there has been not little vague talk about the
State DEPARTMENTS favoring the establishment
| Of a protrctoratc. rather than the absolute ac-
! nusition Of the islands and their government
as Territory. Nothing in the practice or MS
! tory Of the Department can bc found to support
sucb . view The idea OF establishing protec-
| toratca is absolutely foreign 70 the traditions
| Of American diplomacy. and If accepted now would
| hc an innovation difficult Of application and I'M
| certain in results The method Of ann'Natoh'
| on the other hand, has been followed with sue
c-, by this country in all previous ealarScmenis
| Of territory, and il well adapted to IN" cir
| clmstances Of tho present situation as 1t was
|
! Louisiana. Texas or Alaska or the two means oi
.xi.ndin- tie authority Of this country ov"r
,bc Hawaiian Islands annexation seems, In the
! best opinion here, decidedly the moro reasonable
| and American course Minister Mott Smith, In
| discussing the proposition Of annexation ana
| politcal conditions in the islands, said today
Il am awaiting with good deal of interest
the arrival of the commissioners who Will reach
this city tomorrow afternoon, and for whom |
| have engaged an audience at the State Depart
| mont on Saturday | am in possession OF Few
| facts beyond the information already printed, ana
must dcpcnd upon the information which the
commissioners will bring. They are all men rep
r,>cntatiyc of the best class in Hawaii, and on
this crrand will voice the desires of the In
,elircnt and enterprsing portion of Hawaiian
| population. That portion il made up oil inc for-
ciencrs who have gone 10 that country ana
! those who were born there of American ana
| Furopcan parents The natives are not cap1-
BILE Of constitutional government They can
| govern themselves only hy the old trlpal rules
| They do not appreciate law ana oruer
| as il j. understood in this country or oN
the better class of population OF Hawaii IL j.
| the natives from whom the objection to anhcNa-
tion to this or any other country VIII come y
minority of the natives oppos" any change III ther
| form of government, while n minority oil 'ncm'
, probably the moro thrifty and Intelligent c'aSS'
| really favor American control. The desire Tor an
| indcy endcnt government. at lionolnl" Is pnf'N
sentimental have had good deal OF cN-
,c,icuce with the natives since took mp my resi-
Loncc with them in 1851. and have long since
| surrendered the hope that they would ever attain
| thc degree of intelligence 10 warrant ther s'H-
government. OF the $1,000 popr latioh 'hc'e ''c
only l4,OO0 voters representing inc Por,lon "
tho islanders who are entitled 10 suffrage by their
ability to think for themselves
(Which i. better for Hawaii, annexation or
| tbo establishment Of a protcctorate' was "NN"''
THAT is q complicated question. In ''e "'''
| nl,c. | do not see how n prot'c'ora'e co"iu "'
| fo.,nod II scens 10 me- IL would be- contrary
to m. establi,hcd institutions OF th's co""''H,
os !, +. imneriaI not democratic in character an'
| o,,oo, ~, ~ nrobcm may be solved by com
| nror,iso L. would not do to allow the ignorant
| I,,ort to covern 10 tho exclusion of the Det'e'
| ,,c,io, The responsibility for the future peace
| ~ rho island would rest with this uoVcfhm'h'
and in any arrangement mado Tor ''e govern
| ,,cnt of thc Uawaans il must not pe lorSo'''h
,bo, the conditions of life there are oiner"h'
from those in this country :.
VL,tcvrr may be tho final decision OF thIs
covcrnmcnt there il, | think, no danger ol
cor,nlications with foreign Powers. EnSlah"
will probably protest as matter OF form or
from force of habit. but | do not think she VIII
an any further The people of Hawai-, even tne
| rrclisbmen who are in business there, wouid
.-, c,ro ,o have Great Britain do more than
a,,ross hcrself in the case. IL Nh" question
,.oro nut 10 the white residents. whether thcy
,,.onld sacrifice their commercial chances ana
,rr;cuI,ural enterprises for tho privilege ct
.imnlv going over to England and losing the
fovors granted by this country. they would turn
,o tbe United States This is the place where
Hawaiian products must be sold, and the market
| remains here whoever takes the islands and what
over NAV be the government at Honolulu"
Then there is another and more material side
,o the value of Hawaii 70 the United States than
IFS advantages as "A military site and naval s'a-