The Hawaiian gazette., 1895-11-22
IN THE NAME OF HUMANITY.

W tHc american Board, Il
writing series of interesting let
tiers for the Outlook, giving a gen
eral description OF his trip and i'm
pressions gathered "along the road.
After setting out from San Fran
cisco on the steamer Coptic with
the expectation OF spending twenty.
four hours in this city, Mr.. Brad,
ford turned his thoughts to the
Hawaiian Islands, and naturally
enough more or less of his letter
written on board ship was devoted
to the problem of annexation. He
is an enthusiastic supporter of an
nexation and gives the following
reasons as the basis OF his opinions;
"The islands are nearer to the
American republic than to any
other nation; the methods of bust
ness and the habits of thought OF
the predominant class are almost
entirely American, and will, with
the swifter ships of the near future,
be still more so. If the islands do
not become American, they are
morally sure to become the prop
erty of some other nation whose
spirit is not likely to be so free or
progressive as ours. If no other
nation assumes the protectorate,
then in the future they will posi-
bly, be the scene of attempts at rev.
olution, with their strife and blood
shed; but if they are annexed they
will surely be for generations the
abode of a peaceful and progress
sive people.
1.-The alternatives seem to me to
be as follows: First, either some
strong nation must assume the
reins of government, or confusion,
unrest, and possibly diabolical
cruelty will prevail; second, either
our nation must interfere, or some
other, whose interest may be hos
tile to ours, will do so. Ii it is
said that we cannot afford the ex-
pense, l reply, it has been proven
almost to demonstration that in
stead of involving expense on our
part the islands would be source
of constant and increasing reve-
nue.. If it be declared that the
mass of the people do not desire
annexation, the reply will be that
that probably is true of the ignor-
ant, serving class, who simply ex-
list, and who, if their wishes are
followed, will inevitably become
more and more degraded, until
they cease to exist. But the intel
ligent class, those who have made
the islands what they are, those
may be depended upon to preserve
order and advance civilization,
with great unanimity do desire
union with the United States. We
do not ask the Indians of a Terri
tory whether it shall be admitted
as State, but we ask the intelli-
gent citizens. This is not ques-
ton of justice to a subject race, but
rather of the strong bearing the
infirmities of the weak.
SIN regard to annexation, then, 1
conclude that in some form it is
desirable, because in no other way
can the best ends of justice and
humanity be served. 1t is not
simply question of national pol
icy, but one which ought to be con-
sidered in its relations to the king
dom of God. Ii the best ends are
realized, some nation must step in
with its strength and guarantee
peace and civilization. Our own
nation is earnest; it can do the
work easiest; tits more desired by
the inhabitants than any other, and
the doing of it would not add ma
terially to our political difficulties
1r increase our financial burden"
1t will be remembered that the
OF the Coptic were not
to land on account OF the
prevalence of the cholera. Al
though Mr.. Bradford was sadly dis
appointed at this turn of affairs, he
points out one compensation-that
40 one could accuse him of having
been influenced by Hawaiian Off
,ials in forming his conclusions on
he subject of annexation. He