Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-18
The Annexation Movement.

The Annexation Movement.
The movement among the royalist ma
tives for promoting annexation has gather
ed some force, but cannot yet be consid-
cred q decisive one. 1t is to be said that
the government feels a very limited in
terest in it, and is not joining in any effort
to promote it. This Is not because they
are at all lukewarm on the question of
annexation to the United States. That
continues to be ever their fixed aim.
But there is no reason to believe that any
effort made here can have any speedy in
fluence in securing that end. The present
administration is settled in hostility to the
measure, and its agitation here is not prac-
teal business. Yet, again, they will leave
any movement in that direction among the
royalists to be spontaneous, as it has been
SO far as 1t has gone.
AS have already reported. quite num-
Der of the most prominent native royalists
have united in a Hawaiian Annexation
League. They are forming branch leagues
throughout the islands and are gaining
considerable membership. Here in Homo
lulu, however, the common natives fight
rather shy Of them, not understanding why
they should now right-about-face and rally
to a measure which their leaders have
heretofore furiously denounced as robbing
Hawaiians Of their country. Those leaders
last week called a mass meeting to advo-
cate annexation. They were quite short
of speakers, as most of them apparently
disliked being looked askance at by their
followers. Paul Neumann, for one had
engaged to speak, but found it impractical
BILE to be present although he sent a note
avowing adherence to annexation. c. G..
Hopkins talked to the natives in their own
language, which few Of the whites pres
ent understood, there being no Interpreter
There was certainly in his case the utmost
latitude of free speech. He called the
government all sorts of evil names. They
had done their best to overthrow it by
United States aid, by appeals at Washing
ton and in Europe and finally by taking
up arms. All had failed But annexation
eminent. Should they hesitate, then, to
obtain it? Besides, it would open the pris-
on doors and set free their brothers and
sons.
Appeals to the People.
Hopkins did not hesitate to appeal to the
peoples lower instincts. II know you
Hawaiians have your weaknesses. You
love gin, saki and pleasure Now annexa-
ton will bring in money and you can graft
fly all your DESIRES" He knew his audience
Hopkins is half white. whose father was
an Englishman of good family imported
here forty-five years ago to serve in the
government. He sank very low in habits,
although having ability, always keeping in
office and near the younger kings, whose
boon companion he was The son has been
marshal. Another speaker was the ex-
queens friend, c. B. Wilson, who spoke in
English, in a rather sensible strain, Hop
kins interpreting. He told the natives they
had been badly misled. They ought to have
taken the oath and got their votes in and
helped elect the legislature. The situation
was inevitable. The whites must naturally
lead. Annexation was the best thing for the
Hawaiians, and would improve their
chances in every way. All the speakers
dwelt strongly on the great financial ad-
vantages which annexation would bring In
white immigration, booming the country.
etc.
There does not appear to be an immediate
prospect of rapid ralying of the royalist
majority Of Hawaiians to the annexation
standard. 1t will probably come after a
little time. They have been too long on the
other tack to swing around readily They
still fancy that something or somebody will
vet interpose to restore the monarchy. But
their leaders are mostly converted to the
new plan and will no doubt get their fol-
lowers to see and adopt it. AS 1 have
stated before, the great motive with these
leaders is hope of recovering their for
mer political power. They imagine that
with annexation will come unlimited suf-
frage The hated 5000 income limitation for
senatorial voters will be abolished The
native vote will then swamp the white vote.
The demagogues and boodlers will then be
run in by the ignorant and debauched ma