Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-19

mlslcd.
The attempt will not be made in this COM
municauon 10 touch upon the facts which
throw INIT upon the progress ard consum-
nation OF this scheme OF annexation. A very
brief and imperfect reference To the facts and
evidence at hand will exhibit It's character
and the incidents In which II haddts birth.
IL 10 unnecessary TO set forth the reasons
which In January, 1893, led a considerable
proportion of American and other foreign
merchants and traders, residing 1t Honolulu,
70 favor the annexation Of Hawaii To the
United States
1t is snfficient to note the fact and 10 observe
that the project was one which was zealously
promoted by the minister representing the
United States In that country. He evidently
had an ardent desire that IL should become
fact accomplished by his agency and during
his ministry. and was not inconveniently
scrupulous as to
The Means Employed To That End.
On the 10Th day OF November, 1893, nearly
two months before the first overt act tending
toward the subversion Of the Hawaiian gov.
ernment and the attempted transfer of Ha-
waiian territory 70 the United States, he I'D
dressed long letter to the secretary OF state In
which the case for annexation was elaboratcly
argued on moral, political and economical
grounds. He refers 10 the loss TO the Hawaiian
sugar interests from the operation Of the Nc
Kinley bill and the tendency TO the still fur
ther depreciation OF sugar property unless
some positive measure Of relief IL granted.
He strongly inveghs against the existing
Hawaiian government and emphatically de-
clarss for annexation. He says "In truth
the monarchy here IL an absurd anachronism.
II has nothing on which IL logically or
Ggitimately stands. The feudal bases on
which II once stood no longer exists, the
monarchy now is only an impairment 10 good
government, an obstruction 10 the prosperity
and progress Of the islands.
H. f,.s ~.
Great Britain or a territory OF the United
States the government notifications would
be made readily and good administration of
the law secured. Destiny and the vast future
interests OF the United States In the Pacific
clearly indicated who at no distant day must
be responsible for the government OF the
Islands. Under territorial government they
could be as easily governed as any OF the sx-
istiag territories of the United States"
Hawaii has reached the parting OF the
ways. She must now take the road which
leads 10 Asia er the other, which outlets her
In America, gives her an American civiliza-
ton, and binds her to
The Care OF American Destiny"
He also declares: zone of two courses seems
to DO absolutely necessary To be followed,
either bold and vigorous measures for annex.
alton, or q customs union, an ocean cable
from the Californian coast TO Honolulu! Bar
Pearl Harbor perpetually ceded 10 the United
States, with an implied, but not expressly
stipulated American protectorate over the Isl.
ands.
believe the former TO be the better, that
which will prove much the more advantageous
to the islands, and the cheapest and least en-
ba rrassing In the end 20 the United States. IL
IL was wise for the United States through
Secretary Marcy 8s years ago TO offer to eI-
pend SlOO,0O to secure a treaty OF annexation,
II certainly cannot be chimerical or unwiss to
expend 10000 TO secure annexation IN the
near future, Today the United States has dvs
times the wealth she possessed In 1854, and the
reasons now existing for Annexation are much
stronger than they were then. / cannot re-
frain expressing the opinion with emphasis
that the golden hour IL near at hand.
These declarations certainly show a dispoei-
tion and condition OF mind which may be
usefully recalled when interrupting the
Significance Of the minister's conceded acts or
when considering the probabilities of such
conduct on his part as may not be admitted.
In this view II seems proper to also quote
from letter written by the minister TO the
secretary Of state on the 9Th day OF March,
1892, nearly year prior TO the first step taken
toward annexation. After stating the pos
sibility that the existing government OF Ha-
wall might BE- overturned by an ordinary and
peaceful revolution,
MT. Stevens Writes rs Follows,
Ordinarily, In like circumstances, the rnle
seems to be TO limit the landing and move
mont OF United States forces in foreign waters
and dominion exclusively to the protection OF
the United States legation and OF the lives
and property of American citizens. but, as
the relations Of the United States to Hawaii
are exceptional, and In former years the
United States afiicials here took somewhat sx-
ceptional action In circumstances Of disorder
desire TO know how far the present minister
and naval commander may deviate from es-
tablished internationl rules and precedents in
the contingencies indicated in the first part of
this dispatch.
To minister Of this temper full Of zeal for
annexation there seemed 10 arise In January,
1893, the precise opportunity for which he was
watchfully waiting-an opportunity which by
timely deviation from established interna-
tional rules and precedents" might be i'm
proved to successfully accomplish the object
In view: and We are quite prepared for the ex-
ultant enthusiasm with which in q letter to
the state department dated Feb |, 1893, he de-
clarsst "The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe
and this II the golden hour for the United
States to pluck it,
As further illustration of the activity of
this .diplomatic representative, attention In
called TO the fact that on the day the above
letter was written. apparently unable longer
70 restrain his ardor, he issued a proclama-
ton whereby, In the name Of the United
States, he assumed the protection Of the Ha-
waiian islands, and declared that said action
wa.taten pending and subject TO negotia-
tions at Washington" OF course this assump-
cion Of a protsctorate was promptly
Disavowsd by Our Government.
but the American flag remained over the gov
ernment building at Honolulu and the forces
remained: on guard until April, and after Mr..
Blount's arrival on the scene, when both were
removed.
Mr.. Cleveland then gives q statement of the
occurance Of the landing OF United States
troops and the proceedings Of the committee
of safety, and says This military demonstra-
tion upon the soil Of Honolulu was of itself an
act of war, unless made either with the con.
sent OF the governments Of Hawaii OF for the
bonahds purpose Of protecting the imperillsd
lives and property Of the citizens of the United
States.
- .lS.X ESa..