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

are virtually owned and controlled by
Claus Spreckels, and that the annexa-
ton movement is only private spec
ulation on his part for his own selfish
ends?
"The facts will not warrant the sug-
gestior in any wise,n replied Mr.. Mer-
rift. "The men who have inaugurated
the Provisional Government and have
asked for annexation of the islands
would spurn to be Mr.. Spreckels' tools,
and are as absolutely Independent in
their action and judgment as any set
of men could be. That Mr.. Spreckels
has large holdings there and vast COM
mercial interests is only tribute to
his discriminating and wise business
sense. He does not control the greater
part of the islands or their products,
although he has two or three of the
largest plantations on the islands,"
'If the islands should be annexed,
of what direct benefit would they be
to this country?"
"Aside from their valuable produc-
tons, which include coffee, tropical
fruits of the choicest varieties, rice and
wool, as well as sugar, the future COM
mercial value of these islands is ines
timable. American capital is opening
up the Nicaragua canal. Honolulu is
the mid-ocean station between the
Pacific terminus of that canal and
Hongkong and Shanghai, China, and
Yokohama, Japan. The students of
the commercial developments of the
last fifty years tell us that the Pacific
ocean is to be the theatre of the worlds
great commerce in the twentieth GEN.
fury. Honolulu is almost a sine qua
non in the development of that COM
ing era. If the hosting of the Ameri-
san flag at the masthead of the City
of New York is of sufficient signiff-
canoe to warrant the presence and
participation of the President of the
United States, the acquisition of the
Sandwich Islands for the development
of American commerce is infinitely
more essential and imperative. More
over, the great power that controls
the Sandwich Islands holds the key
to the Pacific Coast of North America.
A fleet of naval vessels starting from
this mid-Ocean station could strike
any of the great ports of the Pacific in
five days, without warning, and if
held by a foreign power would be a
perpetual menace to the great cities of
the Pacific coast. The wise statesman
ship of w. H. Seward in negotiating
the purchase of Alaska is universally
conceded, but the unquestiOned i'm
pOrtance of the Hawaiian Islands to
future American commerce will make
their possession of vastly greater
value to the wealth of this nation
than all the mines, fisheries and tim
Der of Alaska.
''The native race of Hawaii will be
benefited by annexation beyond any
other class of laborers or small land
holders. The decentralization of the
native race, during these latter years,
under the influence of a corrupt king
and his court has been beyond descrip-
ton"
"You favor annexation, then?n
''AIost certainly and positively,
yes"
"What about the rights of Princess
'MOnarchial rights were forfeited
by the law of revolution. The reign
ing queen attempted to re-instate the
despotic powers of the old regime, sur
by Kalakaua in 1887. She
thus initiated the new movement, and
lost at her own game. The claims of
KaiuIani may have significance to
those who believe in the divine right
of kings, but have no basis of recogni-
ton when opposed to the onward ana
progress of the country
Tribune, Wash, March
II, 1898.