The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-12-22


chances of annexation for the sugar
business. The refining of sugar here
would create a large demand for
skilled mechanics. Permanent free
trade, resulting from annexation,
would give an impetus to all Island
business and productions, and set go
ing many kinds of manufactures,
which would open the door now closed
to both the native and white popula-
ton.
"The political gain which Hawaii
ans would receive as citizens of the
United States has hardly yet dawned
upon many of them. But they would
soon see it. AS for the methods of
| seeking annexation, and the imme-
| diate prospect of securing it, L can
| only give my personal opinion and
conjecture. The treaty power rests
| with the President and Senate, the
legislative power with Congress,
which has repeatedly been exercised
| in cases of annexation, and which is
equally effectual and constitutional.
AS far as 1 have seen, the President
has refrained from expressing his
| view about annexation. / doubt
| whether any but his most intimate
friends, if even they, know what it is.
He might naturally prefer that Con-
gress, having practically assumed
charge of the Hawaiian question, shall
enact such legislation as will annex
Hawaii. If that should be his wish,
there are prominent members of each
House, in the Democratic party, like
Senator Morgan and General Sickles,
for instance, to introduce annexation
measures.
81 consider it unwise to anticipate
opposition from the majority of DEM
ocratic Senators and Representatives.
They may we'll prefer TO abide by the
traditions of the Democratic party in
favor of a strong foreign policy, and of
former acquisition of territory, than
to leave the matter to the Republican
party to make use of in the next presi-
Dental election. I believe, therefore,
in the advantages and in the reasona-
bic prospect of annexation.
"While deprecate any course tend
ing to make what is sometimes called
'Americanism' offensive to people of
other nationalities, L think that the
obvious gain which all island residents
would receive from annexation, polit-
ically, socially and financially, is so
clear and indisputable upon examina-
ton, that am fully prepared to see
general movement in its favor on the
part of those heretofore objecting or
hesitating.
"The student of Hawaiian history
can at once see that the course which
the United States Government has
for many years followed, concerning
Hawaii, has not been owing solely to
its desire to protect the interests of
American citizens but rather to main
tain American national interests. 1t
is a consistent foreign policy which
the United States has never deviated
from. 1t is policy which Great
Britain sanctioned as long ago as 1850,
when Lord Palmerston said in SUBJ
stance that in certain contingencies he
recommended receiving protecto-
rate under the United States by be-
coming an integral part of that ma
tion,' which he said he regarded as
the destiny of the Hawaiian Islands,
1.-THE statement made by Mr.. Foster,
as Secretary of State, in his letter to
the President of February 18th, 1898,
that he had received assurances from
the representatives of the leading
powers of the world and from our own
ministers abroad that the incorpora-
tion of the Hawaiian Islands will be
regarded by these powers with satis-
faction or ready acquiescence,' was
published to the world and has never
been criticized. AS far as the great
preponderance of official utterances ON
the part Of leading public men in the
United States, of both parties, extend
ing over q period of fifty years, can
afford any indication of the present
prospect of annexation, they are re-
markably unanimous in its favor.
at is not likely that the object les
son of the war now going on in the
Orient will be lost on American states
men. Whether that war shall result
in European civilization asserting it
self more prominently in the affairs
in China and Japan, or in those pow
opposition to Europe, the necessity of
the United States taking care OF its
picket stations off the Pacific Coast |
will not be less clear"
Cecil Brown, the next speaker, said |
that had anyone told him two years |
ago that he should address a body that |
had for it's one great object the annex |
alton of the Hawaiian Islands to the |
United States he would have laughed |
them to scorn.
Gentlemen, the time has come, and |
every day that passes makes it more |
apparent that annexation is our only |
salvation, and the only solution for |
peace and prosperity of these islands. |
You all know that the history of the |
past two or three years has been one |
of continual strife for those who are |
desirous of good government. Today |
we are on the road tc get it. The only |
way we can get it is to become part |
and parcel of the United States. This |
is the ccuntry of my birth, and, being
of English extraction, these senti- |
ments may seem somewhat incon-
gruous. There are others ia the same |
position, but we must all work for the |
benefit of the great whole. The object |
for which we are all so enthusiastic is |
as sure to come as is the sun to pursue |
it's course but we must not be idle. |
We have friends in both parties, and |
we must work them for one single |
end-that we may become part and |
parcel of the great American Re
public.
There was time, five or six years |
ago, when we native Hawaiians |
would have said-no annexation; but |
that is not true now. When the people |
of the country would trample under |
foot the class which Constituted the