New-York tribune., 1896-12-01
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
xo SIGNIFICANCE ATTACHED TO THE
VISIT OF MINISTER COOPER
SENTIMENT IN THE ISLANDS STILL FAvoRs
UNION WITH THIS cOrNTRY-EN-sh'HhiN iNNi
JOHN W. FOSTERS COMMENTS on

SENTIMENT ~ THE ISLANDS STILL fANof'
Union WITH THIS corNTRY-EX- SECRETARY
JOHN W FOSTERS COMMENTS on
THE SITUATION.
washington Nov @-The Hawaiian Minister OF
Foreign Affairs. Mr.. Cooper. who arrived IN this
country several weeks ago. reached Washington
last night He spent last week In Boston ana
will remain In Washington about ten days wneh
he starts for San Francisco lie states that his
yisi, 10 this country l. purely personal. and that
he has nothing to say for publication.
II Is su:horitativcly denied that his presence IN
the United States has any connection with the
subject of Hawaiian novation Members u '"o
Hawaiian Cahine, n:c ex-ofiicio members also OF
the Hawaiian Legislature. and during the session
Just closed Mr.. Coopcrs time was fully occ"pio"
in dischurglng these several duties. Feeling the
necessity for rest. ho came 10 the inl'"d o'"'c'
10 seek H. The friends OF hawaii VIII MAKE no
effort at the coming session of Congress III 'ne
direction OF annexation.
Exsecretarv OF State John W. Foster Is IN tae
city again after his brief trip 10 Hawai' wh''he'
he went TO secure concession from tha' '"'e''
ment for a cable from Honolulu 10 Jai''A ana
Australia as a part of the concession wnich ne
Hawaiian Government had already given 'olohci
Spauding Mr.. Foster found the Hawaiian Gov
ernment rndlsposed 10 grant any furtner co'c'S
sons west until the Congress Of the United STATES
had decided what action II would take WIN re-
spec. to the cable from San francisco to iiono'uu'
II Congress votes a subsidy for this latter cable,
then Hawaii will grant the concession for an ex-
tension TO Asia and Australia. II. on the other
hand the United States does not subsid'Ze the
San Francisco and Honolulu cable In" Iiawa1ah
Government prefers TO be In n position to enter
tain propositions from other governments "hich
desire to connect the islands with Jardn ana me
south.
afr among
the Americans and some OF the BRUSH ana Ter
man residents In Hawaii in favor OF annexation.
The British and German planters. as Il rule. OPP
pose the proposition. principally because annexa-
ton would abolish the contract labor system now
in vogue in the islands. Under existing arrange
ments the Japanese laborers in the islands TO the
number of twenty thousand or thercabout, are
all under longtime contracts which make them
practically the subjects of the planters by whom
they are cmpl0ycu Tho American planters. who
also the contract system do not as rule
believe that IL is good for the country. and their
argument is that what Is bad for Hawaii must
be In the end bad for themselves. They arc Will
Ing therefore 20 relinoush what temporary benefit
they may get from the system for the ultimate
good which they believe will necessarily follow.
General Foster believes .hat the United states
should take definite action speedily with
reference to Hawaii II Is not right. he says 10
leave them In their present uncertain position.
nounce to the world tina; VIC have no further con
Germ IN their affairs If this be dore. 1t VII! leave
them free 10 make other arrangements when
would doubtless result In the maintenance or "A
stable form OF government such ~ now exists
The foreign element In Hawaii IL very aTse. m anu
sooner or later they mus, become dangrrouss
menace to the prcsent peace ana prosperity Oh
the islands II the United states should hhncS
Hawaii the moral influence OF this t"V'iiiihh'n'
would be sufficient TO insure a permanent OF 'nS'
conditions and the islands might be- admitted on
any terms satisfactory to this Government. pro
yidod they were such M TO throw it, protection
around them. - - -,
Tho present said General Foster. Is mn era OF
land-grabbng. and; he detailed In THIS cohhcclion
the extent to which OF III" great European
Powers have already gone In this direction IN
his opinion ~ tie. United states does not CIV,
lis support 10 tho present Hawaiian Government
and the latter should become too weak 10 MAINTAIN
itself In the face OF it, present dl'ncultles :, u
no. unlikely that some of III" great inhrlut"
Powers may seize the islands IN pursanc" OF lh'
colonial plan of conquest II * the Am"richil ''-
ment which largely dominates IN" trade or me
country and II has been Americans Tor NOR vi. !.
s,xfy years who have lsfi tftir impress uioh IN"
destinv OF the country. Moyn than halt '.htutv
ogn they were The advisers OF its rulers. ana uey
represent to-day not wholly. but very largely, to
best thought Of the country.