The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-17
AN OPINION OF HAWAII.
Colonel Steinburger Relieves An.
nexation a BAD Move.

f 81
Colonel steinburger Believes An
nexation a bad Move.
SANDWICH, Mass, Jan. II, 1S94.-Coionel
A. B. Steinburger, who has spent many
years in the islands of the Pacific, where he
was sent by the late President Grant as a
special commissioner of the United States
to reconnoitre and report upon the various
islands, as to their political, social and other
features, and who has revisited the islands
rom time to time, and is peculiarly conver-
SAINT with the social and political character
istics of the Hawaiian nation, said yesterday
on the affairs of the islands:-9'I cannot
condemn too strongly the policy of inter
ference by a great power like the United
States in the internal affairs of a tiny group
of volcanic islands, producing practically
nothing but sugar, and situated far out in
the ocean, 1900 miles from our nearest
coast.
81 am decidedly opposed to annexation. In
the first place it would establish bad prece-
dent and might be applied with equal reason
to the northern Mexican States, Lower
California and the West Indian Islands. Be-
sides, the formation of the present Pro-
visional Government in Hawaii is of itself
sufficient to preclude such policy on our
part 1t is the result of the Vaccinations of
the handful of Americans, who are the
descendants of the missionaries and their
satellites, Revolution and intrigue are un-
avoidable products of tropical climates.
Now, here are 900 Americans in a tropical
country mainly descended from missionaries,
and all they have has been given them by
the natives. The children of the mission
aries have acquired no end of property all
through the kindness and generosity of the
very natives against whom they are now
arrayed The time finally comes when they
become ambitious, and, having much, want
all They seek to overthrow the Govern
ment from which they have received nothing
but kindness and advantages, and it is
astonishing to discover in the conspiracy the
hand of an American minister, who from
the outset becomes associated in an unmis-
takeable way with the entire proceeding. 1t
is significant that he should anticipate the
revolution far in advance of its consumma-
tion.
"I regard the affair as an iniquity and
nothing else. 1t is one grand conspiracy,
pure and simple. We are assuredly not to
be the supporters of fllibustering, intrigue
and conspiracy. It was an outrage, great
outrage. In my opinion the only thing with
regard to annexation is puerile, senseless
sentiment
sBut how about annexation by some
European government? Colonel Steinburger
was asked
mot word, not a sign from them has
been manifested" was the reply. ''Their
silence is significant They are doing moth
ing in that direction. Let me say here that
the significance of their attitude is due to
the fact that the English are natural coloni
zers, and although they are forcible and
cruel in annexing country, they follow it
up by beneftting the natives. They put a
stop to their internecine wars, govern them
well, open up the country and improve it.
But the United States is not experienced in
this policy. We don't know how to conduct
it. 1t would be mere experiment.
Besides no other power will interfere. 1t
is fact not generally known that in 1S42, a
covenant was entered into by France and
England, by which it was agreed that neither
should absorb the Sandwich Islands. Ger
many might be tempted to do SO, but neither
England nor France would permit it.
Neither would nor should the United
States"
When asked his opinion as to the proper
course for the United States to pursue in the
present situation, Colonel Steinberger said
he thought this country should enter into a
convention with the powers most interested
In Hawaii with the end in view of restoring
the monarchy, preserving the autonomy of
the islands and establishing joint quasi
protectorate He believes that international
courtesy of itself demands this course.