The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1895, 1895-05-06

question:. Iuere were TWO SIDES
to the question a year ago. How
many sides there are now, no
one can tell. First, there is the
missionary view, beautifully set
forth in the letter of good Mother
Mary Rice, in the N. Y. Sun.
Second, there is the political view,
Cleveland VS.. Harrison, the fol-
low Of each determined to see
nothing good in their opponents
argument Third, there is the
common-sense view, aptlystated
in the Outlook; / liked DIR. Alb
bott's calm statements. Mrs. Rice
blinks the fact that the revolu-
tionists were usurpers like Napo-
leon Ill. in his pup d'etat. Those
l hear speak about Hawaiian
affairs quite generally assume
that the Queen was corrupt per
sonally, that her administration
was bad, that the change of con-
stitution which she essayed would
have been worse, and that all this
taken together justified the act of
the revolutionists whoyoverthrew
her power. Had they been unsuc-
cessful, they would have been re
bles. Having been successful, they
are patriots. So, in the American
revolution, so in the Southern
rebellion, 80 in Ireland, so in
Cuba to-day. They say the pre-
sent government is the only one
possible for the Hawaiian Is
lands, and that it must and will
be sustained. The hungry looks of
japan and England are referred
to and magnified to incite Ame-
rioan feeling in favor of annexa-
tion. L should think we had
enough experience with half-ci-
vilized people within my memory
to make us pause before taking
in any more half fedged states.
For example. Texas, California in
AZ, Alaska, Utah, and host of
the Northwestern states. True,
} all these communities have great
ly improved and are gradually be.
coming assimilated But, it is a
grave question how much our
digestion will stand of that trying
! kind of diet. The negro problem
was an inheritance from our
fathers, and could not be lodged.
But, in my opinion. it was great
mistake to give the negro vote,
How far the southern negroes are
being civilized and christianized
l cannot tell; but think the
work does go on, though slowly.
The bad stream OF foreign immi-
!, grafton of the past ten to twenty
years IS menace to our national
life and far below the earlier
. immigration in moral stamina, in
telligenc, andl financial strength
, this is largely owing to the perni-
cious contract labor law, but not
5 wholly. Pardon these detaila,
; but it is necessary to consider
l how much mince-pie one has
already eaten, before deciding to
take another piece. Portland, o.
prides itself on being q New Eng
: land city, because so many from
: thence are resident there; so OF
> Seattle, SO also of many other
cities, counties and states in the
West. So far as intelligence,
morality and thrift pervade a
community, 50 far it should be
considered worthy to join the great
American republic. Now, if the ma
tion of Hawaii contains enough of
the right kind OF people to bring
, us strength and not weakness,
should say let it either be annexed
or let it come under United
States protectorate. But if out
. of the 100000 gross population
less than 10000 are worthy
/, according to the conditions above
named, then I say We must let
them alone and give them time ia
, grow in intelligence, morality
and thrift, as we'll as in numbers.
ITO this it may be replied that
under annexation those islands
would develop by ihunence from
the United States. L am not sure
j of this. England, it is true, car.