The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-19
A STIRRING STATEMENT OF HA-
WAITS IMPORTANCE.
Reasons Why the Islands ShouId
Be Annexed.

The following address by Rear
Admiral Belknap was given at the
Boston university during the dis
cussion of the question of "1he
Relations of New England TO Ha-
wall" 1t was first printed in the
Boston Daily Globe under the fol-
lowing headlines Watch out.
Keep one eye on Japan, other on
England. Both scheming to possess
Hawaii. Admiral Belknap, U.S.N.,
sounds alarm. Points out strategic
value of Islands. Flag of United
States ard no other should 60 up
Matter of vital concern to the peo-
pie. Cleveland and Stevenson
were elected IN mid-ocean."
Rear-Admiral George E. Belknap,
U. 5. N, said:
"The political situation in Hawaii
today is q matter of vital concern to
the people of the United States. 1t
would seem, indeed, to be one of the
most important OF the questions con-
fronting the new administration for
consideration and settlement. The
social, religious and political order of
things at those fair isles are the Off
spring of New England teaching.
Her methods and traditions can no
more be eliminated from Hawaii than
they can be stricken from the progress
and the achievements of our common
country.
"The present political complica-
ti0ns Mt the islands are seemingly but
the outcome OF natural law, the inev-
liable clash of the old order of things
with the new, the yielding of the
weaker race to the stronger. In har-
mony with such law the native men
are gradually passing away.
"In the fields of labor the Portu-
guese, the Italians and the coolies
from China and Japan have supple
mented the Hawaiian tiller of the
soil. Adventures from all parts of
the world have fiocked 10 the islands
like birds of prey, under the inviting
conditions held out to them through
the reckless, If not immoral, rule of
the late king and the unconstitutional
tendencies of the recently deposed
queen, making the need of strong,
guiding hands at the helm of govern
n1ent more apparent every day.
Leu uOpcr luIcIc-lc VI
mainly and the continued advance of
civilization, that the present turmoil
will not be prolonged, and that the flu
ture OF the islands will be determined
with definiteness and solIdity that
will ensure to them q stanch and
stable government, and status of al
legiance to, or an alliance with the
United States, that will brook no
questioning from any quarter"
Admiral Belknap then spoke Of the
commercial advantages and strategic
importance of the islands, of the grow
ing Importance of Honolulu, which a
generation hence will be one of the
most fiourishing commercial points
on the face of the globe, and then he
asked, HWhy, as measure of politi-
cal sagacity and prime necessity,
should the group become part aid
parcel of tho United States, or be held
in her strong and sheltering arms?
"The answer in part is, because of
the virtual protectorate our govern
ment has maintained over the group
Cor more than fifty years; it's neigh
borly position as regards the Pacific
coast; its growth in material wealth
and advancement, as result of the
treaty negotiated with the king in
1875;
ITS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE
to US in time of war; its commercial
value to our people and the all potent
fact of its thorough AUGMENTATION,
the latter phase of exceeding interest
and pardonable qualification being
due in great measure to the. noble
men and women, three-fourths of
them from New England and many
from Boston, who as merchants, ship
owners and missionaries, have done
more than all other people towards
transforming the islands from state
of barbarian to q condition of civili-
zation.
eff you were to visit Honolulu to-
day the first thing that would strike
you would be the thorough American
air Of the, place. On every hand you
would be quick to see the ways. the
methods, the, social customs, the re-
ligious observances, the characters
tics of our peoPIe-a real New Eng
land stamp and flavor of things in
mid-ocean.
"Go to the ForS street church of
yourself in the Park street church or
the Old South, an their palmiest days
OF orthodox co1gregationalism.
son all the islands you would see
dotting the landscape the white coral
walls of the country meeting houses,
and in every district catch refreshing
glimpses of the neat little school
houses, patterned after the school
houses of our youth and of o 1r fathers,
wherein the children of Hawaii have
been taught for two or three genera
tions by missionary or J native
teachers.
"You would see the ceremonies of
Memorial day carried OUT by the
hourishing Grand Army post at Homo
lulu, with as much solemnty and
fervor of observance as in any part of
the United States.
eff such notable AID earnest OBJ
servance of Memorial day stirred up
the blood within you, the Fourth of
July there would thrill you through
and through with its glow of feeling,
its intensity of patriotism, its outburst
of rejoicing and its eXuberant splendor
of celebration.
"On the day of the last presidential
election our countrymen in Honolulu
took so much interest in what they
knew 10 he going on at home that
they went through the form of
voting.
We may well imagine the excite
ment that prevailed, and when at the
close of the polls it was announced, as
with president knowledge of what was
happening at home, that the tickets
headed by Cleveland and Stevenson
had swept the field, it needs no seer to