Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-02
The Revolution in Hawaii.

tickets and make sure Of at least one prize.
The Revolution in Hawaii.
The periodical political upheaval in Ha-
waii has just taken place. The reigning
sovereign has boon dsposod, the monarchy
abolished and provisional government es-
tablished. The5a political transformations
sre SO frequent in Hawaii that the present
revolution would ordinarily excite compar-
ntively liJtlo interest," in Amorica, but there
is an unusual feature about the present
revolution. The residents, both native and
foreign-boEn, are represented as being almost
unanimous in their desire for annexation
TO this country, ard q commission COM
posed Of Hawaiisns OF distraction has ar
rived on our Pacific coast on its way to the
national capital to petition our government
10 annex the Hawaiian Islands. \ serious
problem therefore, is presented to the poo
pie OF tho United States, and in view Of this
fact a brief survey of the Hawaiian stua-
ton viii be OF timely interest to our read
ers.
Hawaiian affairs have for a considerable
period been dominated by American infu-
once, a number OF the civil Offices Of the
COuHNA bSlbE LoiN W Au1oA4Cduss IL Is
made manifest by the present request for
annexation that the American party Is in
control OF the provisional! government, and
this fast aids to the gravity OF the situa-
ton. Tho petition for annexation is in
seeming conflict with the policy and prece-
dents Of our government. but on the other
hand there are strong reasons for granting
the petition.
Commercial considerations alone furnish
strong argument for the annexation OF
Hawaii At the presen1 time it is estimated
that this country controls about nine tenths
of the trade Of tho islands; and IL the pstl-
ton Tor annexation is denied the inhab-
tants will ssek an alliance elsewhere, with
the result that this country will lose control
OF the Hawaiian trade A second ar
gument in favor Of annexation is
the supreme Importance OF the is
lands from 4 strategic point OF view.
The Hawaii an islands lie practically midway
between this country and Asia, Australia
aud New Zealand and it is evident that the
country which controls these islands has
practical control OF the Pacific. There ia
no other land in that quarter Of the globe
where safe harbors can be secured for mod
war vessels or merchant ships or where
coaling stations or naval depots can be To-
Gated. In 1887 q treaty was arranged with
King KalGkaua by which this country in
exchange for commercial privileges secured
exclusive control Of the harbor OF Pearl
river near Honolulu, and in 1899 the
late Secretary Blaine sought to make
this arrangement pormanent, but the
project was defeated through the efforts
Of the English and Canadian governments.
American rights in that harbor are there
fore temporary and the steamers Of tho
Canadian Pacific railway are already stop
ping thure
The present population Of the islands is
about 81, 900, including 10, geo Chinese, 49,
600 japanese, 5000 Portuguese, 1000 Ameri-
cans, 400 English, 1000 Germans, ZOO
Trenchmen, and several thousand people
OF other nationalities, besides the natives.
During the ysar 1890 the value Of the ex-
ports from tho islands was $l3, 2S2, 600,
and Of the imports $1,000, 900, large
share Of which won't from this country
1t can thus be seen that the United States
has important interests at stake in the fate
Of the Hawaiian country, and judging from
the governments satisfactory experience in
ennexing Alaska by purchase no mistake
will be made in accepting this still more de-
girable territory q practical gilt.