The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-19
WARM FOR STEVENS.

An attempt will not be made in this
communication to touch upon all the facts
which throw light upon the progress and
contamination of this scheme of annexa-
ton. A very brief and imperfect reference
to the facts and evidence at hand will ex-
hibir its character and the incidents in
which it had its birth. 1t is unnecessary
to set forth the reason which in January,
1898, led a considerable portion Of the
American and other foreign merchants
and traders residing at Honolulu to favor
the annexation of Hawaii to the United
States. 1t is sufficient to note the fact aud
to observe that the project was one zeal
ously promoted by the Minister represent
ing the United States in that country. He
evidently had an ardent desire that it
should become fact accomplished by his
agency and during his ministry. and was
not inconveniently scrupulous as to the
means he employed to that end. On the
10Th day Of November, 1892, nearly two
months before the first overt act tending
toward the subverslon of the Hawaiian
Government and the attempted transfer of
Hawaiian territory 20 the United States
he addressed long letter 10 the Secretary
Of State in which the case for annexation
was elaborstely argued ON moral, political
and economical grounds. He refers to the
loss to the Hawaiian sugar interests from
the operation of the Mckinley bill and the
tendency to still further depreciation of
sugar property unless some positive meas
ure Of relief be granted. He strongly in
Weighs against the then existing Hawaiian
Government and emph atically declares fer
annexation. He says:
I'm truth, the monarchy here is an alb
surd anachronism. II has nothing on
which it logically or legitmately stands.
The feudal basis on which it once stood,
no longer existing. the mon arehy now is
only an impediment TO good government
and an obstruction TO the prosperity and
progress of the islands,"
He further says: "As crown colony
OF Great Britain or as territory of the
United States Government, notifications
could be made readily and good admins
tratiOn of law secured. The destiny and
vast future interests of the United States
in the Pacific clearly indicate who, at DO
distant day, may be responsible for the
government of these islands. Under
Territorial government they could be as
easily governed as any Of the existing Ter
ritories of the United States. Hawaii has
reached the parting of the ways. She
must now take the road which leads to
Asia or the other which outlets her in
America, gives her an American civiliza-
tion and binds her to the care of American
destiny"
He also declares: "One of two course.
seems to me absolutely necessary to be
followed - either a bold and vigorous
unioD,' an ocean cable from the California
coast to Honolulu, Pearl harbor perpetu-
ally ceded to the United States, with i'm
piled but not expressly stipulated Amerl-
can protectorate over the Islands | be-
lieve the former TO be the better, that
which will prove much more advantageous
TO the islands and cheapest and least en-
barrassing in the end to the United States.
If it was wise for the United States
through Secretary Marcy, thirty eight
years ago. TO offer 10 expend 100000 to
secure a treaty of annexation, it certainly
cannot be chimerical or unwise to expend
100000 10 secure annexation in the near
future. To-day the United States has five
times the wealth she possessed in 1854,
and the reasons now existing for annexa-
tion are much stronger than they were
then. Icannot refrain from expressing the
opinion. with emphasis. that the golden
hour is near at hand"
These declarations certainly show a dis
position and condition Of mind which NAV
be usefully recalled when interpreting the
significance of the Minister'S conceded
acts or when considering the probabilities
of such conduct on his part as may not be
admitted. La this view it seems proper to
also quote letter written by the Minister
to the Secretary of State on the Sth Of
March. 1892. nearly year prior to the first
step taken toward annexation. After
stating the possibility that the existing