Evening star., 1896-11-30
WAN T ANNEXATION
What MIR. John W. Foster Says oi
Hawaii's People.
ISLANDS PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY
Question as to independence With
out the United States.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT

Mr.. John w. Foster ex-Secretary of
State, returned last night from six weeks
1aunt to Hawaii, whittier he went as the
representative Of the Pacific Cable Com
pany. Of which q. S. Spalding IS president,
and ex-Minister Lorin A. Thurston, now
practicing law at Honolulu, is attorney
Our Journey" said Mr.. Foster, this
morning, 'fllustrs tes what is possible nova
days In travel We left here the 10th of
october, spent four days very comfortably
on the cars in making the journey to San
Francisco. After enjoying q three DAYS
rest in that city we sailed on a pleasant
and comfortable steamer for Honolulu.
which we reached in six days. We STAYED
there sixteen days and came home within
SIX weeks from the time of our departure.
we were detained few hours by the bliZ-
Zard on this side of the Rocky mountains
but experienced no special hardship from
it.
Feeling as TO Annexation.
Just at this time the people of Hawaii
are intent upon the question of annexation
to the United States. There is a feeling of
unrest and uncertainty as to the future of
the government of tine islands The col-
siderable majority of the popula ton of the
hawaiian Islands consists of the native eIe-
& U
gueSe, brought there originally by labor
contracts, and the time for which their
labor was contracted having expired they
nave remained, settled there, are building
themselves houses and forming ar indus
tr1ouS and worthy class. After them in i'm
portance of numbers come the japanese
VINO IN the past few years have increased
considerably in the Islands and furnish a
large part of the labor necessary on the
sugar plantations.
The Chinese are there in considerable
numbers, but of late have been gradually
Diminishing: The foreign element. con-
slstlng OF English German and American
people, is the important part of the popu-
lation of Hawaii. This is the only ele-
ment possessed of adequate capital and
having the energy to influence and control
the government and commerce Of the
islands.
business is FIouri.hinx.
The condition of business in Hawaii is
hcurlshing. The islands are prosperous
anc their future is bright. The Pacific
Mail has recently doubled its service send
Ing steamer twice a month instead of
once, as formerly, and new line is soon
expected to be established by the Japanese
which will touch at the islands on the
way to San Francisco. The people of
Hawaii wish to be annexed to the United
states. The present government has the
approval of a majority of the native Ha-
Wa1ians, and there is no likelihood that
monarchy. The English and German ele-
ment. however. are opposed to annexa-
ton to the United States because they
believe it will interfere with their contract
labor and SO affect their interests COM
nerciaIly.
The present government in its admin
istration is giving satisfaction. With the
exception possibly of a small native ele-
Hent which cherisheS the hops Of q
restoration of the monarchy. and the En-
glish and German sugar-planting class, it
has received the approval of the people
Yet this government is only temporary,
and the people want to be annexed to The
United States. The members of the gov
ernment are pledged to it, and the present
constitution of the republic expresses this
expectation. So it is the general belief
that the matter should be decided at an
early date. If possible"
Stability of Their Independence.
To the question, rs 1t apparent that Ha-
waii could maintain herself as an inde-
pendent government in case the United
Mr.. Foster said:
No, 1t is not apparent that Hawaii could
maintain her independence. While her
people are law-a6iding and peaceful, and
her present government moves along
smoothly and successfully, there is a con-
unual fear that some change may occur.
So far as the Hawaiians are concerned, in
derendently of outside influences, they are
capable of self-government. Mr.. Blount
in 1893 predicted that the present govern
ment would not last year. Nevertheless
it will soon complete the fourth year of its
existence satisfactorily to the people OF
Hawaii and successfully in all respects.
To my mind annexation Is the only way
out of the situation in which Hawaii is
placed"
AS to the form of government that might
be set up in Hawaii if the islands were
annexed to the United States, MIR. Foster
said our present system of territorial gov
eminent was complicated and various
enough to furnish means of governing the
islands There are three forms of ter
ritorial government now in the United
States-that of the territories that are in
line for ultimate statehood and enjoy home
rule and self-government that which we
er joy in the District of Columbia, which is
probably the best municipal government in
this country, and the government which
we give to Alaska, where all government
officials are sent from outside the ter
ritory. The United States would have no
trouble in governing Hawaii. Her people
are peaceable. In all the political changes
there no bloodshed occurred. Her people
are thoroughly capable Of self-government
ard have ably demonstrated the fact