Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-02-03
THE HAWAIIAN SITUATION.

The rotten royalty which has been
running the government of the Sand
wich islands attempted last month to
foist upon the people new constitution
depriving foreigners of their rights as
citizens. a revolution followed, and
provisional government was formed with
one 5. b. Dole, formerly of Maine, as
president. The new government was
assisted in preserving order by COM
mttee of safety and by men from the
United States ship Boston. There was
little disorder and no bloodsbed. The
provisional government has sent repre-
sentatives to Washington to ask that the
Islands be annexed to the United States.
England objects, of course, and some of
the London papers are uppish and i'm
pudent in discussing the proposition.
The Telegraph, for instance, says: 1--WE
could not allow the United States to an
mex the Islands, even if the established
policy at Washington permitted the idea
to be entertained. This policy, how
ever, Will not permit it. Obviously the
native government ought to be re-
stored, for the revolution is the work
of dscontented, selfish foreigners, chiefly
Yankees.
| Commercially these islands are of very
great consequence. Long ago, when
reciprocity treaty between them and
this country was under consideration, the
San Francisco chamber of commerce
said
Opposite the very portals of this
commerce, and in its track, lie these is
lands, keeping, as 1t were, watch and
ward over the entire coast. Plant an ac-
tive enemy upon them, and even if he
were the most insignificant of the mari
time powers, he would probably annihil-
ate this commerce. a power with Il fleet
consisting only of the Florida and Ala
bama would, intrenched in these marine
fOrtresses, harass all profit out of il. In
the bands of England or France the eff
feet would be to enable either of these
powers to shut us out of the great high
way of the Pacific, and lock us up, so
far as commerce is concerned, within our
own mountain ranges.
Hon. John w. Stewart of this town has
been interviewed on the subject of an
nexation by Rutland Herald reporter,
and perhaps nothing more illuminating
on the general question has been printed
He said:
The question of the annexation of
Hawaii has been suddenly sprung upon
the public attention. In the absence of
precise information of the present situa-
ton there, opinion as to the action de-
mandcd by the government should be re-
served. But | think this may be said, q,
namely: If the time is ripe for anneXa-
ton, let us have it. The autonomy of
the Hawaiian government cannot be
much longer maintained. The present
revolution is witness that the thinking,
active English-speaking business men
there will not tolerate an imbecile or
weak government. They want the secu-
rity which a wise and stable government
alone can afford. Their country is too
insignificant in area, population and re-
sources to maintain respectable and re-
spected autonomy. They must come to
us or go elsewhere. Either of the great
nations of Europe would gladly accept
the offer made to US, but we cannot CON
sent to such result Nor do we want
Joint prOtectorate with either Germany
or England or both of them.
Our policy has really been to hold
that country neutral until we could do
better. The reasons are obvious. The
Pacific States are in the early dawn
of their development. Their resour-
ces, industrial, mineral, agricultural
aud commercial, yet undeyeloped, are
beyond estimate. Their commercial
relations with Asia must be most
intimate and with their rapidly ex-
panding proportions the importance of
an intermediate station for cOaling and
defensive purposes is manifest. Indeed,
the possession and control of these islands
will become necessity. They lie direct
ly in the track of the immense commerce
which will In the near future spring
up between the West and the great east
ern continent. We want no divided con-
troll. The close proximity of these islands
to our borders and their position as rela-