The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-03-28

Carthage was destroyed, and its very
foundations dug up. Carthage was
across the sea more remote from Rome
than many of our cities are from pow
erful seafaring nations, when we take
into account the improved methods of
modern navigation. How long shall
we hold out these tempting, unpro-
tected prizes of rich cities by the sea,
inviting the ambition and cupidity of
naval powers? Some progress has
been made within the last ten years
In meeting this condition of things,
but 1t has been painfully slow espe-
clally in the matter of coast defences
on the land. There are already too
many powerful naval stations near
our Atlantic Coast for our comfort.
We should not repeat the folly on the
Pacific Coast that we have been guilty
OF committing on the Atlantic Coast,
of neglecting an opportunity TO secure
in the most substantial manner i'm
portant commercial advantages, and
valuable naval station on that coast.
Our interests on the Pacific Coast will
be much better conserved by our an
nexing all the islands than it possibly
can be by a concession for a naval
station on one of the islands.
An objection has been urged to the
annexation of the islands, that some
how it is an invasion of the rights of the
lately deposed reigning family, and a
wrong to them. The appeal for the
rights of a reigninS family to rule q
nation does not have much force with
an American. The inherent and di-
vine right to rule by any sovereign is
denied by Us. The right to be ruled
by sovereign, if desired by the peo-
pie of any nation, we recognize.
When tie people throw off the rule of
a sovereign it accords with our ideas
of the peoples rights. If n sovereign
is deposed, they are like other human
beings, unfortunate from their stand
point in losing something they could
not hold, but that something was a
thing they had no inherent rights to
hold.
When a people find it for their in
terest to throw off the incubus of a
sovereign rule, to an American they
are simply asserting q right inherent
in the people to rule themselves, and
dislodging an unnatural and unjust
claim of an individual.
An objection has been urged to the
character of the population upon the
islands, as not a desirable population
10 be incorporated into the body po-
little. There is not much force in this
objection. While it may be true that
the population is such that it is not de
sirable to confer upon them the cleo
tive franchise, or to give the islands
voice in our national government;
yet it is fact that during our entire
political history, we have had album
dant experience in the matter of gov
eminent for people not represented in
the General Government.
The District of Columbia and the
numerous territorial governments that
we have had, from time to time, are
illustrations of the flexibility and
adaptability of our system of govern
ment TO the eXigencies and facts of
any case. 1t will be easy to frame q
government adapted TO the best in
terests of the islands, if they are an
neXed, and time and experience will
develop the form of government best
adapted to their wants.
A further objection has been made
to the acquisition of the islands, that
there are certain private interests to
to conserved by the annexation, and
especially that the sugar industry will
be promoted by reason of the present
laws providing q bounty on that pro-
duct. IF we assume that the motives
Of some of the promoters Of the revo-
luton are not altogether disinterested,
and that there are some private inter
ests that they hope to conserve, the
objections on this score are worthy of
but little consideration for the reason,
that the whole matter will be a sub
ject OF regulation by Congress at some
future time, if the provisions of the
treaty of annexation have not already
sufficiently guarded this point.
There seems to be no doubt that the
interests of the people of the Islands
will be greatly promoted by annexa-
ton to the United States, and there
seems to be no reasonable doubt that
in future years the interests of the
United States will be greatly promot-
ed by the annexation of the Islands.
Therefore, Resolved, That the Union
League Club approves of the anneXa-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands, and
earnestly recommends the ratification
of the pending treaty between the
Commissioners of the Provisional
Government of these Islands and the
United States.
Resolved, That it recommends to
each Senator in the Senate of the
United States, that he use all honor
able means to procure the ratification
of the treaty as measure of great and
lasting benefit to this country.
Union League Club, New York,
February 18th, 1893.