Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
NO POPULAR VOTE
Hawaii's Annexation Not to Be
Sought by a Plebiscite.
THE NATIVES WOULD Be AGAINST IT
The British Element Would Play
Havoc With the Vote.
I'll E TART II @ q A K 4

Our last mail brings a renewal in CIR
cumstantial form of previous statement
| that President Cleveland would favor the
annexation of Hawaii by a resolution of
| Congress at it's present session, but that he
| will insist that the annexation proposed
| be submitted to all the electors who have
| the right to vote for members of the popu-
| lar branch of the Hawaiian Legislature"
l propose to show that such an offer to
favor annexation is delusive, and that in
! making Il Mr.. Cleveland is simply playing
| into the hands of the British enemies of
annexation in these islands. / do not
| thereby accuse him of insincerity or false
| intention. He is probably horost, but very
determined and adherent to past convic-
| tons What has been his record on his
co!nt?
Oar very earliest report of Mr.. Cleve-
lands actions on this subject came in
| March, 1874, VIA Auckland telegram from
| London, to the'effect that he was sending
out Mr.. Bloufit to- have plebiscite taken.
This created surprise and alarm, the more
in that it strangely corresponded to de-
| mand by the British minister, Wodehouse,
that a Dlebiscite should be taken on he
question of annexinf; Hawaii to the United
States. Mr.. Dole replied by asking Mr..
Wodehouse for any precedent of the an
nexation of any Oceanic group by Great
Britain being decided by plebiscte of
the native inhabitants. He might safely
| have asked TO- any precedent of any an
nexation whatever in all history being
made in that way. 1t looked then, how
| ever as If Mr. Cleveland intended to create
such precedent. So much was talked
about it at the time that the question was
very seriously discussed whether the pro-
visional government would allow: Mr..
Blount to hold such an election. AnneXa-
ton was then supposed to be the object Of
his inves legations, and not at all, as 1t
afterward proved, to try the case between
ha nd hn ct
Constant cutlery was made by the royal
lists during Col Blount's pre- sence for
popular vote on the subject of the restora-
ton of the queen. Her attorney, Paul
Neumann. published during the summer
something like formal demand for such
vote to be taken, appending to 1t
menace that United States power might
make it worse for us If We did not Neu-
mann was believed to be we'll informed as
| to Mr.. Cleveland's views. Every British
and other enemy of the government and Of
annexation urgently demanded popular
vote Of the natives to settle the question
between monarchy and annexation. They
well knew that ive-siXths Of the natives
decidedly wanted monarchy. with all its
abuses, rather than any government in
which foreigners directed or ruled.
British Residents Avcrse.
With the exception of a rather small,
but very intelligent and public-spirited mi
nority, British subjects in these islands are
jealousy and actively pro-Britsh and anti
American. They are deeply and bitterly
opposed to United States possession OF
these islands. Most periodically, from
their national standpoint. Britishers want
Great Britain to possess this most indis-
pensable Hawaiian link in her chain of
island groups leading from Australia to
Canada. Therefore the annexation of Hawaii
to the United States is a measure to be re-
sisted to the utmost, and by every posi-
BILE means. For this reason this large ma
jority of British residents in Hawaii who
are two-thirds of the number of the Amer
leans, have been ardent and bitter royal
lists. and have worked against annexation
especially by all the means at their con-
mand
Their chief and readiest means has been
from the beginning to embitter the min is
OF the natives against American annexa-
ton and its promoters. For three years
past these English foes of Americanism
have diligently and Systematically educat-
ed the Hawaiians to believe that it was
sought to rob them of their country, ie-
prive them of their political rights and to
force them into subsection and servitude.
Certainly there has never been one ND
ments intention of depriving the native
Hawaiian of a single right or advantage
or of discriminating against him in any
republic places him on the highest level
of political and civil equality. Assuredy
annexation would not lower his status.
But these British enemies of annexation
have scrupled at no falsehcod to pois On
the native mind against American inf1u-
ence. The native press. including four
five dailies and weeklies. has teemed with
the grossest falsehoods and misconstruc-
tions to teach and illustrate the enormity
of American intentions and practices and
the nefarioCs annexation robbery intended.
The consequence is that five-SiXthS of the
native people are filled to saturation with
tine strongest dread and antipathy toward
annexation.
An Illustration.
To illustrate the methods used to alarm
and embitter the native mind, let an Incl
dent be described. 1t occurred about the
time of Col. Blount's arrival, some two
| months after the overthrow of monarchy.
There was very intelligent elderly native
| lady in peculiarly intimate relations to the
writer. but living at a distance half
white daughter, with whom she mostly
lived was married to wealthy British sub
ject, who was extremely bitter against an
reXation. Meeting the writer Unexpectedly
she asked in great distress why We had such
evil intentions toward the natives and
were going to take their lands from them
and drive them all into the mountains Such
was the terrible talk she was constantly
hearing in her daughters home. The natives
throughout the islands have been stuffed
for three years with the same kind of
poisonous rubbish.
vote of the Hawaiian people to indorse the
annexation ri of. their country President
Cleveland can justly be said to be playing
into the hands of its British enemies These
enemies have. forcstalled the vote They
have prepared the minds of the Hawaiians
to give just such a vote Britishers most
desire Nothing has lately given these gem
tlemen such delighted satisfaction as the
prospect held out by Washington CORE
spondents that the President is going TO
favor annexation, with the trifing condition
as matter of form that the native people
shall vote in favor of it. That is all the
most strenuous British enemy of annexa-
ton will ask for. 1t is dead give-away''
OF the whole business
Knnnkas Oppose Annexation.
1t is entirely improbable that Mr. Hatch.
or Mr.. Castle, or Mr.. Dole believes that any
large number of native voters not already
registered would vote any other way than
solidly against annexation. 1 this week
asked prominent public man what he
thought of 1T. He is more closely in touch
with the native mind than any other white
senator in this country and though an