The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-12-11
COMING into LINE
MI. Castle Writes Of Annexation
Letters Received.
SUGGESTIONS To MR.. ISENBERG
Reciprocity Treaty His
tory Recalled.
SIDE Discussion on Matter of Sen
Citizenship and
Labor.
SUGGESTIONS TO Mr.. ISENBERG

II l4tAA dAA1lh VI MN II Na> AON
50 intended. and does not, it appears
10 me. warrant so strong 3 conclusion
1 think II Is there stated. perhaps not
in terms, that Mr.. Isenberg was spoken
Of in particular. because he has said
3 good deal more than Others against
annexation and might, therefore. be
selected as 3 type Of the opposition.
Since that letter was written I have
had communications from all sorts of
people all over the Islands. on the
subject, and am satisfied that there is
very much les opposition 10 annexa-
ZION than I had been led 10 suppose:
also, that il growing in favor with the
native Havaiians.
do not forget that when active eff
forts were made 10 secure the Reel
prOciry Treaty. the natives were quite
as bitterly opposed 10 il as they are
70 annexation today. I was 2 mem
Der OF the Legislature Of 1876. and well
reCollect that to speak in favor of il
was 70 court the rankeSt abuse, 10 be
called traitor. an enemy OF Hawaii
and ike names. Yet when the native
learned from experience what the
treaty really meant. he turned. about
and was friendly.
The leader and ablest man of them
all-Mr. Pilipo-Jold me in 1852 that he
was mistaken. was glad 10 say so, and
he admitted that the treaty had been
and would be 2 great benefit TO the
whole population of the Islands His
subsequent conduct showed the SINGER
ity Of this statement I believe that
after annexation comes, the natives
viii gradually come around. and. learn
ing that il benefits and does not in
i4ls them will rejoice that Hawaii
forms part Of such powerful eoun-
NY as the United States
Mr. Isenberg intimates that cannot
understand and appreciate the senti-
mental nobility Of the position stated
by him; that he can not reconcile his
conscience TO so grave q departure
from q position Of friendlineSs 10 the
Havsiians as to take away the last
particle Of their political power and in
dependence This means. I suppose.
that he Is very strongly the Hawaiians'
friend.
I am free TO admit that I may not be
as full OF sentiment as I ought 10 be.
but hardly willing TO eoncede 10 him
any greater practical friendship for the
Hawaiians than that OF such well
known annexationists as the Wilooxs,
Baldwins, Alexanders. and many 9th
erS
Is NJ. Isenberg today doing for them
what they are2 Does the history OF the
relations Of the koloa Plantation with
the natives indicate any friendIiness
Lei the natives al Holoa answer this.
I an sorry 10 make this suggestion.
but submit that II is necessary from
the position assumed by the letter in
the Bulletin
How is II that not only politically
but socially. the Hawaiians would suf-
fer loss. being put on the same level
with the negroes and Indians?" The
negro has the same political rights as
the white man in the United States.
and The social position there, in Ger
many. England. all over the world. Is
determined by considerations into
which politics DO not enter The Ha-
waiian would not occupy the position
OF the Indian in any case. The mis-
take regarding them is freely admitted
in the States, and II Is as freely said
that IN case OF annexation they would
become citizens with the same politi-
cal rights they have. or even exercised.
In common with others who. Ike
myself. we're born here, the sen
Jimental feeling controlled in 1857.
kept The Government Hawaiian
and the country independent. but il
very nearly wrecked that movement for
constitutional government: for large
number Of its supporters; clean,
straightforward honest business men
believed that the time had come when
Hawaii ought 10 seek shelter under z
strong Government Slowly and re-
luctantly those who decided on the
sentimental side then. have been CON-
pslled 70 change their opinions. and
they stand convinced today that the
safest and best things for Hawaii Is 10
become 2 part of the United States.
In this commercial age. business con
sideTations decide national questions.
II Is perfectly right that II should De
50. on many grounds. which need not
Be entered into Al length Ii Is one
Of the strongest that peace must be
preserved or business viii suffer
bringing with II much personal mis-
cry and loss Of property II is this
principle which decides all European
questions today, and there Is no rea-
son why II should not be applied here
Il is also quite evident from Mr.. Isen-
berg's letter that commercial reasons
control This is not 10 his discredit
But il seams 10 me, and 10 many 9TH
ers, that the contract labor question
ought not 10 decide the question of an
nexation- Il is assumed as z matter
Of course, that with annexation. il
must 90.
The share planting system, in vogue
al Eva. and elsewhere. I am informed.
was suggested as an expedient Il Is
not perfect. but il seems 70 answer q