Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-29

hostility and brought its own cure, While
this is insidious and is getting III It's
deadly work without the majority OF the
community realizing it.
Thorough information on the supJect,
amply confirms the correctness OF TINS IAN
guage from most responsible citizen Oh
Hawaii As in the memorable con-
test in the great Northwest between ire
civilization and pro-slavery institutions
and interests, emigration is to decide
whether those Islands are to be Asiatle or
American. 1t may be said that those
now in possession of the Hawaiian govern
ment command the situation and that
they are thoroughly American in principles
and interests. True they are heroically
holding the American fort, and so far as
any disorderly elements exist on the Is
lands the Dole government commands the
situation. But the Islands are open on all
sides to dangerous Adventures and lntrl-
guers from abroad. 1t puts severe strain
on the faithful men of the little Republic
to take care of their internal affairs and
at the same time protect the interests OF
the United States in the Islands against
foreign intrigue and outside dangers
Prompt annexation would put immediate
end to their difficulties and place Ameri-
can interests beyond doubt and uncer-
tainty. Why continue to keep that noble
American colony and its friends on the
Islands in painful anxiety: What right
has the United States to keep them for
years in suspense to their injury? Postpon-
mcnt of annexation can only be injurious
to all concerned The native Hawaiians
can best be protected by American laws
and civilization against the evils of cor
rupt royalism and of Asiatic morals and
methods of government. Annexation
would terminate at once and forever the
perplexing doubts and threatening evils.
1t would Immediately put an end to the
selfish hopes and efforts of those few
planters, not residents in the Islands, who
wish to make them mainly sugar fields
and the home and resort of Asiatic labor
ers, regardless of future civilization and
of American and other Caucasian popu-
lation-those who will be numerous, brave,
and loyal enough to defend the American
harbors and the American flag, and make
the Islands the feeding, coaling, and dock
ing stations of American commerce and
of American naval ships in that remark
able center for future American predomi-
nance and prosperity
1t is admitted that the sugar cultivation
needs to be fostered and to have favorable
conditions for success. But the resident
planters, those who regard the Islands
their permanent home and care for their
future civilization and government, are
fast coming to the conclusion that con-
tract labor is not a necessary requisite OF
successful sugar raising, and already only
about half the labor on the plantations is
by the contract system, which is destined
to entirely pass away. The necessity of
good government and of developing other
industries is being fully appreciated by
the planters and other enterprising citi
zens of the Islands. Hence the present
active movement to promote the coffee
culture, for which large area of land is
found adapted. This admits of small
| farmers.
The imperative exigency of the present
time demands that this Hawaiian question
shall be settled at once and forever, and
in the only way it can be settled to the
safety of American Hawaii and to the
permanent welfare of the United States
That noble American colony, which for
many years has been growing up under
America fostering care and America S
sacrificing Christian efforts, now anx-
iously, bravely, holds the splendid out
post in Americas name and interest, and
appeals to all that is heroic and patriotic
in the American heart, and a strangely
shameful page of American history would
be written, should that appeal fail to be
answered affirmatively by the people and
by the government of the United States.
John L. Stevens