Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-04

Iof EDITOR OF The Evening Star:
The late issues of The EVENING STAR con-
tain copious details about sthe geography and
former history of the Hawaiian Islands: also q
very explicit narrative of the present troubles,
as given ont by the commissioners Of the PRO-
visional government. Allow me TO say through
the columns of your valuable paper that said
commissioners have quoted only one side of the
question. and even that side not in full.
The hawaiian people are perfectly willing
and able TO govern themselves. Though lying
in the mid-Paciic the Hawaiian Island group
must not be associated with the Samoan, Mar
quesan. Caroline or any other Sorth Sea Island
group. Hawaiians are not cannibals nor say
ages nor semi-civized, no. not even iiterate
people. On the contrary. my experience with
them goes 10 prove that they ere above the
average in intelligence and educational acquire
ments. According to statistics so per cent of
the native population can read and write.
Attendance at school is compulsory between
the ages OF six and fifteen, and any man unable
to read and write i3 debarred from the right to
vote. At the present lime three-fourths OF the
scholastic population receives instruction in
the English language only. or population OF
SO, 500 more than sc, 900 are Christians, and the
largest proportion OF the balance consists of
Chinese (1S,000 to20 ,O0O). Since the promul-
CATION of the first written constitution by
kamehameha in October. 1910. the kauakas,
with or without the aid of foreigners, have con-
Quoted their own affairs and governed their
country 10 the entire satisfaction of them
selves and Of foreign powers. IL is this fifty
years practical demonstration which goes to
prove more than anything else that Hawaii is
capable OF self-government
Why, then, should it be annexed to the United
States, or to any c:her power? and why should
not the $4,000 native Hawaiians be consulted in
| the matter! This question should be left to a
popular vote. the majority to decide. Annex
alton to the United States will eventually take
place. but in my opinion the opportune time
has not yet come. The generation now grow
ing up in Hawaii is in sentiment more American
than Hawaiian. They admire American insti-
buttons and copy American methods. With
them the islands will come over as one man.
The American nationality which predomi-
mates among white foreigners numbers about
$500. 1t IL these, in con- junction with white
natives, who foster the annexation project. A
/ similar coup d 'etat has been tried by the very
same men who have managed the present one
and twas owing only to the pacific dispositions
of the then reiSnirg King Kaakaua that serious
disturbance was averted. Every ono familiar
with Hawaiian history remembers the unbloody
revolution OF June 80, 1887, which resulted in
the adoption of a new constitution, the sum-
mary dismissal OF the kings cabinet and the
Punishment Of Premier Gibson. Some leaders,
supported by the Honolulu Rifles" military
organization of whites. made these demands OF
Kaiakaua. demands which they themselves never
expected to have granted, and upon the refusal of
which the king was to be deposed and repub-
lican form of government declared, with one of
| their own number as president. But Kalakaua
yielded. He was a good-natured, easy-going
indolent sovereign and granted new constitu-
ton which abrogated all his own rights and
privileges. and virtually made him figure
head.
Liliuokalani, the lately deposed queen. is
more intelligent and of a more determined
nature than was her brother, and she wished to
restore the other constitution with the rights of
the sovereign. This brought about iissatisfac-
ton which eliminated in her reinforcement.
hope that our government will not be too
hasty in this annexation boom, but will defer
to the wishes OF the Kanakas II annexation
must be, though. let it be to the United States
rather than to any other power.
s. JAS RIPPs