The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-05-02

Mr.. EDITOR: As an American citi-
zen residing temporarily in Honolulu
since New Years, an interested specta-
tor of the late peaceful revolution,
desire to present few thoughts on the
present political situation from an
American standpoint.
When the Hawaiian Parliament
passed the OPIUM and Lottery bills
and the Queen tried 10 abrOgate the
Constitution she had sworn to support,
and substitute one which gave her
absolute autocratic powers, the mon
archy sunk by its own weight OF rot
tenness and want of fidelity TO the
people, never to rise again.
The civilization of the nineteenth
century could not abide such iuiqui-
ties, and the revolution came, as
truthfully detailed In "TwO Weeks Of
Hawaiian History It was fortunate
that the L. $. ;. Boston was I'm port,
and that the United States Minister
and its Captain acted so promptly to
protect life and property, else much
violence might have resulted; but the
end would have been the same, Cor the
Anglo-SaxOn blood was up.
The Hawaiian Provisional Govern
ment having made n Treaty of Annex
alton with the United States, the
question il, shall Il be ratified as it
stands, or shall it be modified, or
shall we refuse to do either and estab-
lish Protectorate as against all
foreign governments, and leave these
cosmopolitan people to fight out their
own battles i'm domestic affairs.
Fifty years ago Lord George Paulet
came here in his ship, pulled down
the Hawaiian flag, and hOisted that of
Great Britain; five months later Ad-
miral Thomas came and restored the
monarchy. When this was done, the
United States did not have undisputed
control of one inch of Pacific Coast;
now she owns all between San Diego
and Behring's Straits, except British
Columbia. Since that time twenty
millions OF free people have made
homes west Of the Mississippi river,
and built large cities on the Pacific
coast which stand face TO face with
eight hundred million Asiatics, with
whom we must have trade and inter
course. They are intensely conserva-
tive, we are intensely progressive;
what problems are in store for us to
solve in connection with them no one
can tell. Men pass away, but nations
are long lived; China has existed four
thousand years, and has four hundred
million people. What a power she will
be when Western civilization breaks
through its encrusted shell?
England, Germany, France and
Spain control the islands Of the South
Pacific; with them we have nothing
to do except through an unfortunate
agreement with Great Britain and
Germany about Samoa, in regard to a
Joint protectOrate.
The Hawaiian Islands are the key
to the North Pacific ocean. Ameri-
cans have large and important inter-
ests here, which we are bound to pro-
tect. The United States to-day is the
strongest government on earth: we
have sixty-five million people. In
fifteen years, by past ratios, we will
| have one hundred million; in forty
years, two hundred milliOnu Our
strength lies in free institutions, which
| form a peaceful, progressive nation;
| but we look ahead with a view to
avoid war, hence we have iuaugurated
the policy of arbitration; and it is in
the interest of peace that the two ma
tions of America and Hawaii should
become one. A protectorate involves
! great responsibilities on the part OF
the United States with no cOmpen-
sating advantages, while it means in
ternal brOils and dissensiOns for ninety
thousand people Of many natiOualities
L 4 1s.sr Of
terest and obvious destiny these Ha-
waiian Islands must become part Of
the United States and the people
American citizens, a name Of which
any man may be proud.
These Islands mus ally themselves
with some first-clas- power that can
give them absolute protection, and
the sooner the better, for there is
much distress in the land. They are
the choice spots in All the world Tor
climatic sanitariums; free from frosts;
free from Indigenous malaria; with
bracing trade inds nine months in
the year; with good SEE bathing the
year round, yet with perpetual snow
on her highest elevation, atlOrding
every variety of climate; two thOus-
and miles from a continent; at the
crossroads Of the great ocean high
ways, these mountains in the sea stand
forth monuments OF the Infinite love
OF the Infinite Father, reckoning
America to bring good stable govern
ment to n cosmopolitan people who
have suffered much from a maladmin-
istratiOn of their affairs, and who
were threatened with moral ruin.
There are many problems Of n local
character TO solve, but time will cure
all. Brave men, Of a stock who never
finch, have opened the way wisdom
and experience will do the rest. When
annexed, the Crown Lands ought 10 be
subdivided into hOmesteads fkule-
anas), and the first 1pfi0h Of location
for two years should be given to those
Hawaiians who are not now owners Of
land; and i'm order to secure il 10 their
families as a home, il should be in
dlicn0ble for thirty years.
Forecasting destinies fifty or a hun
bred years, does any statesman sup
pose that these islands will remain a.
I'm the past? II America declines to
accept OF the offer now made, IL might
result In an Asiatic occupation or
war 90 prevent II. This would not
mean step forward for Christian
civilization, but an obstacle 30 such