The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-06
TIMELY COMMENTS.
TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE ON THE
FAC.
ras PROs AND Cggs OF THE DUES
TON DISCUSSED.

The announcement that our nag had
been hauled down at Honolulu sent
sharp twfnge TO all American hea-ts-
Even those who have looked colby
upon annexation, could not help feel
ing hurt that our bugles had sound
ed retreat in the face OF the world,
and that "Old Glory" having been
once raised as q national assertion,
should have Jeen lowered without ap-
parent cause The raising OF the flag
in the first instance was approved
with remarkable unanimfty all over
the country. In addition 10 the great
strategic and commercial reasons Tor
the step, IL had a sentimental aspect
which captivafed the minds or patri-
otto people. Firmly believing our
form OF government to be the best
possible for securing the greatest en-
lightenment, progress and happiness
10 all people, we have looked forward
with DIeasurable anticipation TO its
extension 20 other less favored lands
The annexation OF Hawaii seemed TO
be the beginning of the great mis-
sionary work OF AInericaniZing the
nations OF the world, and the heath
en- OF the isles" It was the FIST step
IN the working oGt Of our manifest
destiny of which we have heard so
much since infancy.
The administration has given no hint
of the reasons which actuated it IN
ordering the flag to be hauled down.
It has maintained a silence on the
subject which Is not at all compliment
tarY TO the Intelligence and patriotism
OF the AmesicaT people, for 1t implies
that they cannIu De trusted to COM
prehend and properly Judge the con-
siderations which influence the Exc
eutive in his course, but must wait IN
patient silence until he determines
what To do, and then accept the result.
We feel that this Is wrong. The mat
ter OF the annexation is one of such
high importance that the people are
entitled to the fullest information at
every stage Of the proceedings. The
old time righteousness OF European
diplomacy Is entirely out of place to-
day, not only in this country, buteven
In Europe. Outside of Russia the
statesmen of Europe generally find it
both proper and necessary to drop the
woru-out assumption that they alone
know what is best for the nations
welfare, and To take the people into
their confidence on matters of serious
interest to the country.
Two explanations are current OF the
Administrations course The first is
that fs really intends to annex Ha-
wall, but for purely partisan reasons
desires to harvest all the credit posi-
fore ft liz carefully doing what it can
TO oi,Iiterate all connection of the pre-
vious Administration with the mat
ter, and MAKE the annexation orig
fnaI with this Administration. So
far IS fs safe aud practicable it Will
undo al that has been done, and after
an interval, start everything anew.
Color is given to this explanation by
the dispatch of Mr.. BlOun5 to the ISL
ands on q mission of Investigation
No one seriously believes that he will
ascertain any facts of Importance, for
the simple reason that there Is moth
ing new TO develop. Thanks to the
free communication between this
country aad Hawaii, and to the public
press, we are fully informed about
everything In the archipelago We
have mach more accurate knowledge
about the islands than we have OF
much of our own country. Should
Mr.. Blount remain there ten years he
would probably be able to tell US very
little that we do not already know,
and the presumption Is fair that he
was merely sent there in order to gain
time for the Administration to carry
out whatever plans it may contem-
plate
The second explanation is more
creditable to the administration It
Is that IL desires to remove all show of
force or con1pulsion upon the Hawai-
ians, leaving them entirely free to act
out their desires. The United States
win take its hands off the islands and
make sure that no other nation shall
lay ira hands on Then the Hawai-
iaus can make their election without
the least appearance of constraint. 1t
IL not even said that If they choose to
Spme to US we viii welcome them.
In support of this course it can be
said that IL the Provisional govern
meut of Hawaii shows that il is strong
enough to maintain itself without the
assistance Of the United States mar
ines and ships Of war, it may be un-
questiouably accepted as representing
the will Of the Hawaiian people, and
therefore its offer Of annexation can
be accepted without the slightest hest
tation-
The objection 20 the course is that it
discourages and Giscredits the annex
alton party on the islands, and makes
their task unnecessarily difficult. It
cannot be made to seem otherwise to
the Hawaiians as mass than q strong
rebuff to the annexationists by tie
United States, end this may
Of the annexationistS-
English agents in the islands will
not fail to make the most of this to
embarrass the annexationists, and
array against them all the elements
that can be brought into opposition.
Like most people, the Hawaiians are
Influenced more by symbols and
shows Of power than by abstract rea-
soning, and the hauling down Of our
flag and the re-embarkation of our
marines will count more with them
than many reams Of able editorials
on the justice of giving the Hawaiian
people q chance to freely express their
preferences Then, again, il viii seem
hypocritical to very many. All the
world knows that we want the Ha-
waiian Islands, and want them very
much There Is no doubt in the
minds OF foreigners generally that we
mean to take the country; but, in
stead OF going as frankly about it as
England, France or Germany would,
we are getting up some transparent
dim fam, hoping to deceive the world.
Had the first treaty been promptly
ratified, as il should have been, the
Whole matter would have been settled
with more credit TO US as nation than
IL can be now, or at any time in the
future.-National Tribune, Washing
ton, d. G.