The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-01-29

MONDAY, JANUARY %, 1894.
GROWTH OF ANNEXATION
SENTIMENT.

lii briet but inspiring address
to the Annexation Club on Satur-
day evening last Hon. w. II. Arm
strong, formerly Acknowledgement
of the Hawaiian Government, dis
cnssed the Annexation cause from
a standpoint of broad and whole
some philosophy. He began by re-
citing an interview which it was
his privilege to have several years
ago with Mr.. Frelinghuysen, the
Secretary of State during the adj
ministration of President Arthur,
in which that statesman told him
that the chief obstacle in the way
of bringing the Hawaiian Islands
into the Union lay i'll the fact that
public sentiment i'll the United
States had not been sufficiently
educated along the proposed line of
action. To prompt and impart
such an educational process seemed
to the Secretary the necessary pre-
lude to the wished-fo achievement;
but how to do it was not then
apparent, nor did it become so until
the Hawaiian revolution of January
18TH was followed by the appear
ance in America of the Commits
sioners of the Provisional Govern
ment with their offer of these
Islands to the great republic
Then the people began to talk and
think i'll accord with the proposed
measure and a considerable senti-
ment, favorable to Iwhat Mr..
Seward called the continental pol
icy, was aroused. This, in the
lapse of few weeks, grew listless
and for a time there seemed to be
small chance Of its amounting to
much. Fortunately, however, a
series of startling events brought
annexation again into the arena of
vital issues and the educational
process went on with the best re-
suits. The hauling down of the
American flag on the first of
April aroused American patriotism
and increased the strength Of
the Annexation party many
fold then came the publication of
Blounts er barte report which, after
the report had been analysed, was
an aid rather than hindrance to
the popular Hawaiian movement;
and finally there was the bootless
attempt Of Cleveland to depose the
Provisional Government and put
head-hunter on the throne. The
national attention which these
events have received the intel
ligent discussions which have
grown out of them the friends
which respect, sympathy and in
dignation have made for the Pro-
visional Government and the issue
upon which its title is based, have
all been necessary to the final ac-
ceptance by the United States of
the annexation policy. Our worst
trials and worst dangers have
been overruled to subserve
the ends of bene6cence and
have contributed to the final
triumph OF the doctrine through the
influence of education, upon which
the best hopes Of the Hawaiian peo-
pie are based.
This is sound gospel and it shows,
as political history has always
shown, that what seems to be the
national disaster is but the instru-
ment Of progress to the cause upon
which it falls at first with almost
crushing force.
Though the cause of Evil prosper, vet tits
Truth alone Is strong,
And, albeit she wander outCast now, see
around her throng
Troops of beautiful, tail angels TO enshied her
from all wrong.
Truth forever on the scaffoId, Wrong forever
on the throne,
Yet that sCatiuld sways the Future and be- =
hind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping
watch above His own