Evening star., 1896-07-18
How Hawaii Regards the St. Louis
Platform.
ANNEXATION Is, FHE THING DESIRED
The Republic Has Developed Ability
to;.Govern.
DANGER OF INTERFERENCE
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

scrutinized. Few here looked for ANYTHING
mole than the guarded expressions uttered
"The Hawaiian Islands should be controlled
by the United States, and no foreign power
should be permitted to interfere with
them" We are quite sensible that even
within the republican party there cannot
be entire unanimty upon the question of
actually anneXing these islands as a part
OF the great American empire. However
clear to ourselves may seem the expediency
of such union. we are aware that it must
| nee oessariiy seem questionable to many re-
publican statesmen. from lack of intimate
acquaintance with the question, if from no
other cause.
Here we have the cIearest conviction that
such union of Hawai with the United States
is inevitable. 1t is manifest destiny"
which every year Will make more manifest
We can be content to wait for time to fully
develop that necessity. Hawaii need not be
it, any great hurry. We are in no distress.
We are prosperous and In peaceful condi-
ton. Perils, no doubt, lurk around u.s.
from which annexation would protect us
They are not urgently menacing, scarcely
apparent to 81 careless eye Some protec-
ton from America We are actually enjoy
ing, although very imperfect, and not
guaranteed. In the meantime events are
progressing, which we seem to see must
inevitably advance, indeed hasten the COM
-ng union to the United States Of their only
foreign colony.
Indeed. seem to read between the lines
of the platform declaration much more
than appears on superficial reading. To
control, to permit no Interference. These
involve much more than Is EXPRESSED This
is so, whether viewed from the standpoint
of the foreign powers who are to be warned
off. or from that of Hawaii itself. If Eng
land. or Russia, or Japan are not to inter-
fere with Hawaii, on peril Of the displeas-
ure of America, then it would seem to fol-
low that America must be responsible for
such behavior of Hawaii as shall give no
cause for such Interference. That will be
very serious responsibility. Apparently il
cannot be discharged without exercising a
complete control over Hawaii such as
would be easiest under If not inseparable
from Hawaii becoming terr:toriaIly a mart
of the United States. 1t might be quite
pleasing for Hawaii to be able to defy the
great Pacific powers, and behave as contu-
maciously toward them as she listed secure
in great Americas protection against their
Interference. But they would inevitably
hold America responsible for Hawaii's
tricks and caprioesi and count her under
bonds to secure her protege's good be-
havior.
Hawaii's; View of Control.
America would soon find that this objec.
could be the most easily accomplished by
taking the misbehavins ward right into her
own household. "A mere protectorate would
be far more involvement and embarrassing
o
ercisng the "cuntral proposed by the re-
publican PLATFORM Hawaii would In Justice
have much to say about the conditions of
that control We should most vigorously
demonstrate agdinst being subjected to the
orders OF the United States government,
without voice or representation therein. If
We to come unoer American control. we
shall demand present or prospective part
nership, either state territory We
shall expect complete commercial and po-
litical union. or we shall claim to be let
alone. free to form perhaps more ad
vantageous alliance with Great Britain.
Hawaii is anxious to enter the Union as
partner, but not as slave.
No doubt all this was more or less In the
minds of the statesmen who expressed
themselves as above about Hawaii. We
seem to be justified in thinking that they
really contemplated annexation, but wisely
deemed guarded expression most ex-
pedent. The entire platform evinces the
handiwork of cautious and circumspect
men, who say nothing that is unnecessary.
We have reason to feel happy and hopeful
over their judicious deliverance upon the
subject of Hawaii, seeing therein a clear
recognition of the inSeparab!e political,
well as commercial, relations. of these is
lands to the United States-reations which
inevitably lead toward the closest political
union.
1t has become quite generally felt by us
all that it has proved to have been alto
gether for the best that the annexation so
nearly consummated by President Harrison
seemed to US a great disaster. The pro-
visonal government was in perilous posi-
tion-peril SO serious that the then United
States minister tStevens) deemed 1t neces-
Sary to raise over us the United States flag
as protection against what was thought to
be a menace from the two large japanese
cruisers, which had been hastily sent here.
There was really greater danger from the
very disaffected British population, who
had, and still have, great influence over the
natives. Under this hostile British infiu-
ence the majority of the natives and most
of the half-Whites were being worked up in
to violent animosity toward the new gov
eminent, being made to believe that 1t was
intended to disfranchise and dispossess
them of their lands.
The Republic n Discipline.
When annexation was thwarted by the
new administration. and Col Blount haul
ed down the American flag, we were In
much distress. We were left to the re-
sources Of our own courage and force.
Happily those resources were not lacking.
Our American people rallied to the emer-
eency. and fortified the provisional govern
ment, both financially and with military
force. Our position was felt to be hard.
We were deeply disappointed, and found
ourselves in great peril. The native oppO-
nents were exasperated by the attempt to
destroy the Independence OF Hawaii, and
by its failure stimulated to confidently eX-
pect restoration of the incapable native
attempt that restoration themselves. Our
intelligent and determined American col
ony STOOD firm and united in strong mill
tary array. supported by the best and most
influential public sentiment, which had be-
come thoroughly weary of the political
monkeying of the willful and capricious
native sovereigns. Il
We established the republic OF Hawaii
and have administered 1t with high sue
cess. These three and a half years of ex-
ertion and manly courage have furnished a
priceless education 70 our people in civic
virtue. They have developed our manifest
capacities. They have united us in pa
triotism, In beneAcent political activity, in
thoughtful legislation. By our successful
political and fnsnciaI conduct, these years
of delay have proved our viriIe fiber, and
won for us the respect Of the world. on
account Of our proved capacity to create
and administer noble and prosperous
state. Therefore hweohcld that it has been
| well that annexation was delayed, and we
were left to test our. liability to stand alone,
and show ourselves a political community
or such worth and capacity that America
need not doubt our fitness for her partner
ship.
Many of you hold strong doubts of that
ntEess on account Of the great majority of
INFERIOR or alien races in our population,
the white races forming only twenty per
cent in mass of over 100000, But con-