The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-05

NY tnduNec III ILLS community WIFI
three and half tons TO the acre; and
I say let the labor system go, let con-
tract labor CO. Great applause.)
Gentlemen, I did not come here TO
speak tonight I have not the inf1u-
ence that good many men have, but
the one thing l have is a good deal OF
weight and every ounce will be put on
the side of annexation
Mr. John \. Wright being called
upon for a speech, responded as fol-
lows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen:
4 did not expect to make any re-
marks tonight. 1 do not think I am
capable of improving upon the re-
marks that have been made. l do not
think we need fear much opposition
in regard to the general feeling there
is in this country so far as annexation
is concerned, so long as we are united
together and making a stand for it,
determined to carry out our purpose.
We have been advocating for the past
three or four years, and I believe we
will have no opposition. [ have heard
remarks that there is opposition, but
I have not seen the man yet willing
to come out boldly and declare it loud
enough that you cauld hear it a block
away. | do not think we will have
much opposition in this matter. | am
very much pleased to see that we have
elected the officers we have. l think
they are the right men in the right
place. particularly Lorrin A. Thurs
ton; he is the right man for this COM
munity in this great undertaking. He
showed it in 1893 in the determination
shown there. He took decided stand
then and has held it ever since. [
ole 70 hn &c III oh
there.
Thirty-three years ago 1 showed my
disposition that l was not a sand
man. / stuck to the flag and main
tanned the flag; and 1 have always
wished since l have been in this cOun-
try that it might wave for this cOun-
try too. l believe the course we are
trying here now will bring it to pass
within a short time. l do not think
that the next Congress will accomplish
the thing. l do not think we will get
in the front at the next Congress, but
l believe, as Mr.. Thurston said, that
we must hang on to it. If we keep
bringing up that matter determined
Iy and showing the disposition of our
acts here as we have for the past four
or five years, the United States is
bound to take notice of us. We have
good man there-McKinley We
have a man that will use his influence
for us as far as he can. l think that
in his proclamation, his first one to
the United States Government, he will
say something very favorable to Ha-
wall
There are a few planters that [ can
mention personally that are opposed
to annexation. Why? 1t is simply be-
cause it is going to take their profits
for years. l think II those planters
will consider the matter, it will affect
them but for short time. II these
men will look forward four or five
years after we are anneXted to the
United States, they will see it will be
better then than in the past.
1T looks to me there is no other
course to protect ourselves from an
Oriental country only by becoming
annexted TO the United States of Amer |
ica You may look at the course pur-
sued here in the last two or three
months: Japanese students coming
here: what is the object? You look at
the immense control they have ac-
quired in Mexico, and the line of ships |
they are now building to run between
Japan and the Coast of Mexico to open |
up that country. Their great object |
and aim, 1 believe, is to get hold of |
the Hawaiian Islands; and the open
ing of the way is to bring these stud
ents amongst us with the population
that is already with us to get control |
of the Islands. 1 have read the law, !
the treaty between this country and |
Japan, and L do not see any way we |
can avoid, considering the power they |
have, their obtaining the right of fran |
chise here.
What can we do to right ourselves? |
The only way is to get help from Uncle
Sam Then we will get the help that |
they will not get the franchise here,
whether in three or six years, when
we get annexed to the United States.
So, gentlemen, l hope you will use
every effort towards annexation.
The chair called upon ]. H. Pratt.
Esq, of Albany, n. Y, for remarks.
Mr. Pratt said in substance:
L have long been in favor of annex
alton, and did what 1 could to accom-
plish it while at home. After looking
at both sides of the question l am con-
WINGED that annexation Of Hawaii is
of as much Importance to the United
States as to the people here. Had the
Islands in the Atlantic belonged to
the United States we would have had
much less trouble in times of war.
During the late unpleaSantneSs the
harbors of islands in the lands of an
-agonistic nations furnished refuge for
vessels that made themselves very an
moving. 1t would be a calamity for
these Islands to pass into the hands of /
any power but the United States. In
event of European war, there is no I
question of the advisability of the
United States controlling this terri
-ory. l one time had a conversation
with Mr.. Cleveland on annexation, :
and tried to convince him that he could
make no more popular movement than ]
o annex these Islands,
Mr.. Hartwell-I understand Mr..
Pratt is a relative of Mr.. Cleveland. I
Mr.. Pratt-Yes, that is true, but l am l
not saying very much about it. Mr..
Cleveland is a second cousin of mine, I
md that is not my fault. (Applause.) {
..Mr Cleveland asked me if | thought I