The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-04
LET Us RECEIVE TIRE
PROFFE RED ISLES.

ministration is wrestling with i:
the question of the annexation o.
Hawaii. 1t Is said by those who
are afflicted wa,h political nervous
ness that it would be opposed tc
the uniform policy of our govern.
ment to assume dominion over the
central group Of islands in the Pa.
cifc. On the contrary, the logic
of American history commands
the proposed annexation. The
Louisiana purchase was supposed
TO be unconstitutional, but it was
much more important than the
Jeffersonian construction of the
constitution, as Jefferson himself
knew enough to know, and pro-
noted the public welfare, including
the national power and prosperity.
The uniform policy" of which we
hear as a sacred tradition, was not
in it. Common good sense pre-
vailed.
The annexation of Florida was a
smaller affair of like character.
We should have acquired Cuba
also. There was the plea of Euni-
form policy" against the annexa-
ton of Texas, the conquest of Mex
leo, the acquisition of California,
with New Mexico, Arizona and the
southern part of Colorado. Who
denies now that there was imperial
wisdom in acquiring Texas and
California, and the semi-tropica'
empire between the two grand
states? What an insufferable
mutilation of the republic It would
be to part with even a scrap of the
southern desert! 1t was against
the alleged holiness of uniform
policy to purchase Alaska and the
seal islands of the northern Pacific.
Charles Sumner arose to the occa-
sion and made a great and unan-
swerable American speech on that
subject. Our possession of Alaska
and California adds enormously to
our Pacific coast line, and
signifies as clearly as the light
from the north the further
expansion Of our dominion of
the greatest of the oceans.
There is no manifest destiny more
distinctly revealed. Shall we balk
that destiny by refusing the splen-
did Hawaiian group of islands? 1t
is the fairest prize for US on which
the sun shines. That luscious, ex-
quisite cluster of islands have, in
a political sense, dropped into our
hands, ripe and rich, fragrant and
delicious, like a bunch of grapes,
or peaches with the glow on their
cheeks. Why should we not take
them now, while there are none our
title to dispute, before there is con-
tention, or even agitation? 1t is
golden and glorious opportunity
that it would be imbecility to ne
glect-national loss and humilia-
ton to omit to improve. There is
cry that there should be no haste.
We do not care whether there is
haste or not, so that there is good
speed. The annexation Of those
islands is just one of those things
that it is well to do, and to do
quickly. To wait is to invite oppo-
sition, to court troubles. What we
want is full possession of the ISL
ands.
The nation should speak in no
uncertain tone. Indeed, there is
no real uncertainty. The scatter
ing cries of criticism are from the
impraeticables. Mr.. Cleveland
could not have opened his admin
istration more auspiciously than
by pushing Harrison's policy, but
he shows a purpose of deliberation
that may develop danger. The San
Domingo precedent does not count
against Hawaii. Perhaps if the
San Domingo incident were duly
reconsidered, we would ascertain
that Gen. Grants policy Was right,
and that the case was prejudiced
by agencies that aroused suspicious
that took exaggerated shapes. AS
for the sugar speculation charged
in the Hawaii movement, it is not
worthy serious consideration, for
the sugar bounty is, of course, to be
abolished under the Chicago plat
form. An act of Congress of ten
lines would exercise that bugaboo,
at any rate. That part of the OBJ
lection, however, is mere language.
i Brooklyn Union.