The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-08-04
A Voice From Japan.

America disappointed man. Like
many members of the American
diplomatic corps he rose from the
ranks Of journalism, and that journal
ism being American it is not surpris-
ing if he developed taste for the
sensational. After a brief appren-
ticeship in few Consular appoint
ments he attained to the dignity of
the Ministership to Hawaii. For a
time he upheld the dignity of the
American flag with due decorum,
apparently minding his business,
feat difficult of accomplishment.
But the trail of the serpent of sensa-
tionalism was over all his being, and
when the opportunity arrived he
posed with considerable scenic effect.
His triumph was momentary, and it
is followed by a lasting eclipse.
Many pulses thrilled responsive
ly when first the news flashed
throughout the length and breadth
of the United States, that the Ha-
waiian Government had been over
thrown, that an appeal had been
made to the United States for an
nexation and that the appeal had
not been made in vain. For a mo-
mont the proud spectacle of an
American warship protecting revo-
lutionists striving for the pure liber-
ty of citizenship attaching to the
greatest Republic the world has
ever seen, excited sympathy and
elected approval. But sentiment,
though powerful, is not supreme,
and the hard-headed fathers of the
Senate asked for facts. The facts
we're soon forthcoming, and then
the tinsel trappings of people
striving for liberty against an odious
monarchy vanished like the hues of
a soap-bubble; and there appeared
the unattractive fact that a few for
eign settlers plotted to usurp the
legitimate authority of the ruler of
the island, and to make the thou
sands of natives bow to the subjec-
ton of few hundred aliens. The
attempt is not without precedent,
but the precedents did not delude
the United States Senators. At the
last election in Hawaii, 1858 votes
were cast. OF these, 1854 were cast by
Hawaiians, 637 by Americans, sos by
Englishmen, 1872 by Germans, 2O91
by Portuguese-the Chinese and
Japanese being non-voters. Why
did not Mr.. Stevens appeal to these
when the handful of foreign schem-
ers established their provisional
government In the United States
the people are all powerful, yet as
the representative of the greatest
existing democracy, he allowed the
influence of the few planters and
shop-keepers to sway his decisions
and Immediately ordered the ma
rines from the Boston to protect the
usurping Government. Doubtless
for the moment he considered him
self performing great political
operation, which should rebound to
his own honor, and add new lustre
to the country he represented. By
this time he is undeceived. Yet he
has no lack of pretty phrases to OK,
cuse his act. The revolutionists are
stretching "out pleading hand to
this mighty nation of freemen not
to abandon them in their days Of
imperative need" Also the Queen
of Hawaii is extremely immoral and
he says, the Argonaut is chiefly
shocked at the Hawaiian mon
archy "because it is coarsely luxu.
rious in its tastes and Wishes
constantly aending out impure
exhalations," utterly vicious and
demoralizing," "an astounding OK.
hibition of shame," with "a semi.
barbaric queen at it's head
and corruption, anarchy, and bar
barrie sensualism" at it's tail. 1t was as
a moralist, and not statesman, that
he consented to take part in the
farce of the "Three Tailors of Too.
Icy Street" How sad to think that
SO pure an apostle of virtue should
have remained so long in the pollut
ing atmosphere of such carnival Of
vice. But America is not the guard.
ian of the morals of the islanders Of
the Pacific and unless an almost
unanimous appeal be made from the
natives for annexation the plea will
be of no avail. America cannot be
anxious to incorporate State whose
population is SO largely composed
of Chinese, of Japanese and Hawai-
ians. Missionaries may preach the
equality of souls and the frater
nifty of man, but the souls require
much expansion, and the men much
education before even the free anc
enlightened citizens of the Ameri
can Republic will admit the China
man and the Japanese into all the
privileges of a man and brother
Minister Stevens has lived a hun
dred years or SO too soon.-Japar
Gazette.