The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-22
SPRECKELS Y. SPRECKELS
THE SUGAR. KINGS PREVIOUS
VIEWS.
For Annexation Last January-His Old
Time Sentiments on the Labor
Question.

The following article by Claus
Spreckels appeared in the Examiner
of January 2oth: it was headed "Shall
We Annex Hawaii p
The Examiner has asked me for an
expression of my views on the situation
in Hawaii. With the information in
my possession l have a very decided
opinion that the United States should
proclaim its authority over the Islands
in the interest Of good government. |
may, however, modify this opinion upon
fuller information, but from my general
knowledge Of the situation there it is
very unlikely that | should do SO.
1t appears that Queen Liliuokalani,
following the example of her late
brother, Kalakaua, attempted to estab
llsh an absolute Government and failed.
A provisional G. vernment has been
established, aud is sustained by the
moral force Of the foreign residents and
the armed support of voluntC ers, while
the Unit, d States stands in the back
BlOuHu Win (llC DOSlOH " llldllltdlu
order and prevent conflict between
the nat yes and the foreign population
who represent the capital and intelli-
genCe of the country.
1t is clear to any sensible person that
this state of things cannot continue
indefinitely without serious injury to
business and property. Life may also
be Imperfect. Under these circum-
stances, and inasmuch as the bulk of
all investments on the Islands repre-.
sents American capital, and as the
majority Of foreign residents are Amer.
lean citizens, | take it that it is the duty
Of the American Government to inter
vene and protect American interests.
What shape this intervention should
assume is not for me to say, but annex
alton would appear to be the most
direct and effective. When a country
becomes unable to govern ITSELF and
has in its care the property Of foreigners,
it becomes the duty of the countries
interested to protect their own citizens.
In this case, the United States has the
preponderating influence, and therefore
it is its duty to act. | have no doubt
that if our government annexed Haw.
ali, and gave guarantees to the other
powers that the rights of their subjects
would be respected and public credit
maintained, there would be no objec.
ton on their part And l have as little
doubt that the native Hawaiians would
soon come to recognize the advantage
of becoming citizens of the United
States and living under the protection
of a strong government.
From what | have said you may
reasonably conclude that l favor annex
alton of the Hawaiian Islands by the
UNITED States and the establishment O.
a Territorial governme 1t, which will be
satisfactory, because unbiased and just
to both native and foreigners.
CLAUS SPRECKELs.
The following appears in the AdVer
hSey, under date of March 8, 1879.
Claus Spreckels, or the subject Of
Chinese labor at the Hawaiian Islands
said that he was oppo sed to it, excep
on limited scale and under proper
restrictions. Mr.. Spreckels now has ;
few Cinnamon employed on his plan
tation, but he gives the preference il
all cases so whites, paying the latte
double the wages that Chinese can bt
secured for. He intenLs dividing hi
large estate up into farms of SO anC
100 acres each, and leasing them t.
white men with families, giving then
one third of the sugar crop annually
He will put in about 5000 acres Of suga
cane the present year and will increase
ANNUALLY until the whole tract is unde
cultivation. He is now, through hi
agent in Maui engaged in completing
an elaborate system of irrigation, build
ing refneries, constructing a railroad
eight miles in length, making harbor
and putting everything in readiness
for getting to work as the planting
season begins in August. Mr.
SpreckeIs outlay will exceed $1,000,
900 When asked if he did not fea
that by large influx of Chinese to the
Haw allan Islands, at first as menials
those astute barbarians might in time
gain such a foothold that it would be
difficult to control them, Mr.. Spreckel'
said that he had given considerable
thought to the subject, and had become
so much alarmed at the possibility o
such a result that he had had several
conversations with King Kalakaus
when last at Honolulu, That monarch
he said, agreed with him, and the
policy of the Hawaiian Government
was to discourage any general immi
grafton Of the Chinese or coolie ele
ment,"