The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-11
VIEWS OF THE PRESS.
Remarkable Unanfmify on the
Annexation Subject.
Annexation OF Hawaii.

III cannot nave escaped attention
that the proposed acquisition of the
Hawaiian Islands upon an entirely
different footing from that of any
other territory which has been taken
into the United States, with one ex.
ception, and there the analogy is
striking, to say the least. The refer
ence is, of course, to the acquisition Of
Texas.
Texas, as will be remembered, was
an independent republic when nego,
tiations were entered into for her ad.
mission into the American Union
the United States having formally
acknowledged her independence il
1887. In 1884 Texas was admitted tC
the Union upon conditions similar tC
those which now regard the admission
of Hawaii, that is, by treaty between
the two nations, and upon the request
of the people of Texas. She aban.
doned her sovereignty and came into
the Union, just as the people of Ha-
wall are seeking to do now.
This is q precedent which is a com
plete answer to all the British crit
cism and comment on the subject. II
the Hawaiian people are autonomous,
as Great Britain agreed in 1S43 they
should be, it is not competent for Great
Britain 10 question or challenge their
contemplated change of sovereignty.
She might just as we'll question the
union of Sweden and Norway, or the
transfer of Alaska to the United
States, as to dispute the exercise OF
the right to transfer by the people OF
Hawaii if they choose to avail them
selves.-S. f. Chronicle.
Selr-Government.
A member of the Committee on For
eign Affairs of the House of Represen.
tatives said in discussing the Hawaii
an question: "Of course the argument
will be made that it is in violation OF
our long established principle of hui
man liberty for us to take possession
of these islands and deprive the ma
tives of self government. That ques-
ton, however, does not properly arise.
1t is not easy to understand how any
one could imagine that it should arise.
In the first place it was a Hawaiian
Government, established by the peo-
pie of the Hawaiian Islands, that has
sent commission to the United States
to ask us to accept the cession of the
islands. We do not take possession OF
the islands. All that we do is to &C
cept the possession which has been
rendered us by the existing Govern.
ment of Hawaii, which must be pre-
sumed to represent the will of the
people, and therefore to be an exercise
of self-government.
In the second place if the offer OF
Hawaii be accepted and the islands
become a part of the United States
under q territorial form of govern
ment, there is no surrender of the
principle of self-government except in
so far as the recognition of the sOve-
reignty of the United States is con-
cerned, and in return for that surren-
der the people receive the fellowship,
the support and the protection of a
nation of 65,000,000 inhabitants, the
greatest and most powerful nation OF
the world.
1t is true that if Hawaii were Ter
ritory the President would, in all pro
liability, appoint the Governor and
certain other officers for the Territory
but that would not interfere with
local self government any more than
it would with the private rights to
property in the islands. We shall not
be conquerors and intruders, but
rather friends and allies, called upon
to assist In task, that of governing,
which the people of Hawaii have
found to be too much for their unaided
effOrts.-S. f. Chronicle.
The Question of Hawaii.
The duty of the United States in the
Hawaiian problem is recognized by
hn 10 of - I'D 4
remarkable unanimity. In every quar-.
ter and by every party it is seen that
the United States must grant the re.
quest of the Hawaiians and annex the
islands.
The California Legislature yester.
day passed resolution in favor Of
annexation. Oregon was day ahead
of California. The sentiment of other
Legislatures is strong in the same di-
rection.
The commercial bodies of this Coast
are unanimous in the same opinion
The public men of the slope are as q
unit for the measure,
On the other side of the Rockies the
feeling is strong if less decided. The
press is by heavy majority for an.
neXing the islands. Few of the lead.
ing journals are found to oppose the
request of the Hawaiian Commission.
erS.
The President and Cabinet are be.
1ieved to favor That policy. President
elect Cleveland is thought to be o
the same opinion. Congress is wait
ing to learn the sentiment of tn,
country. The leaders have declared
themselves on the annexation sid,
and the majority is probably safe.-
rs. f. Examiner.
Eastern Opinions.
NEW YORK, Jan. 29.-All the news
papers of this city editorially refer a
follows to the situation:
The Sun: So the Sandwich Island
want to join the United States. 1t i
not surprising. Where else could thei
people wish to go? Where else coul,
they find safety and hope of libert,
and progress? We don't suppose ther
will be any difficulty in the way O
arranging proper terms for the admis
sion of the welcome applicants. TIL
State of Hawaii may thus be the frs
independent foreign country to be an
neXed to the American Union, and w
dare say it will not be the last.
The Herald says: There has been
growing sentiment on the part of tn
foreign element in the Hawaiian Isl
ands in favor of annexation. This ha
been deemed desirable, to secure boil
stability of government and CONNER
cial prosperity. Those who have ia
vored the policy naturally look to tn
United States, not only on account O
its nearness, but also because the bull
of Hawaiian commerce is with Thu
country and the chief foreign interest
in the islands are American. TIL
hope of the annexationists is base