The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-03-30
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1896.
American Annexation.
EDITOR BULLETIN

The speakers at the meeting called
to promote the cause OF annexation
OF these islands to the United States
laid great stress on tina advantages
to be derived from such union
The last territory annexed by the
great republic was Alaska, aud the
condition OF that territory is set
forth by recent writer on the sub
ject as follows, ."On October 1S,
1867, all the Russian possessions in
North America were formally trans
ferred to the United States. 4 y
United States troops replaced the
Russian garrisons, and first bill TO
provide a form OF government for
the new territory was presented to
Congress. Thirty other bills we're
presented before this object was ac-
complished sixteen years later.
In 1877 the War Department with
drew all troops FROM Alaska, aud the
country existed only as a customs
district, whereupou the natives Of
the Sitkan region, who had so long
been held in check by severest meas.
ures, INDUCED in the widest license.
For two years Stka was at their
mercy, and no appeal to Washington
secured any attention. The citizens
finally sought protection from the
British authorities at Victoria, and
II. b. NJ. S. Osprey reached Sitks in
tlne to prevent general massacre
OF the whites, and TO Brighten of the
war canoes that were Assem- ding
there. The grateful citizens drew
up a petition for British protec-
torate over the abandoned country,
and we're raising tn. British flag on
the parade ground when Michael
Travers. an sx.soldier, prevented the
act. After this incident, naval
ship was ordered to guard duty in
the Sitkaa region, and for several
years the commander of tho man of
war Mt Sitka was virtually naval gov
ernor OF Alaska. This anomalous
and un-Americau situation was re-
sented by the citizens, and only the
establishment OF civil COVE 'umsnt in
1884 prevented the Russian born
citizens petitioning the Gear to call
the United States TO account for vio-
lation OF the treaty in which il pro-
missed these people "all the rights,
advantages and immunities OF
citizens Of the United States"
and to MAINTAIN and protect them
in the free enjoyment Of their lib
erty, property and religion Dur
ing the period OF no-government
succeeding military abandonment,
1t was suggested to attach Alaska as
a county OF Washington Territory,
and to make it penal colony--an
American Siberia. The Secretary of
the Treasury recommended that it
be discontinued as a customs dis
trict, and General Mcdowell, COM
handing the Department OF the
Pacific, recommended. that it be
given away or thrown away.
The common report OF no law in
Alaska gathered such a community
that local vigilance committee was
organized to assert and maintain Or
der. y In 1884 Congress
passed bill giving Alaska "a gov
ernor, courts and commissioners, but
not providing for any representa-
ton at Washington, nor any popular
assemblage elected by it's own citi-
zsns.' At this moment
hundreds of miners are encamped
along the Yukon River, free from all
restraints or protection. There is
not military post in the territory,
no telegraphic communication with
the rest of the world, and only one
lighthouse on the whole coast.
Yet Alaska stands alone among our
'bloodless acquisitions in having
yielded revenue from the begin
Mug. 4 Alaska has virtually
no voice at Washington. lis sketchy