The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-12-10
COMING into LINE
Mr.. Castle Writes Of Annexation
Letters Received.
SUGGESTIONS To Mr.. ISENBERG
Reciprocity Treaty His
tory Recalled.
Side Discussion on Matter of Sem
-CitizenShi and
Labor.

Mr.. Isenberg regards my note as "a
virulent attack on him. 1t was not
so intended, and does not, it appears
to me, warrant so strong a conclusion.
think it is there stated, perhaps not
in terms, that Mr.. Isenberg was spoken
of in particular, because he has said
a good deal more than others against
annexation and might, therefore, be
selected as a type of the opposition.
Since that letter was written [ have
had communications from all sorts of
people, all over the Islands, on the
subject, and am satisfied that there is
very much less opposition to annexa-
ton than | had been led to suppose;
also, that it growing in favor with the
native Hawaiians.
1 do not forget that when active eff
forts were made to secure the Reel
procity Treaty, the natives were quite
as bitterly opposed to it as they are
to annexation today. l was a mem
Der of the Legislature of 1876, and well
recOllect that to speak in favor of it
was to court the rankest abuse, to be
called traitor, an enemy of Hawaii
and like 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-toId me in 1882 that he
was mistaken, was glad to say so, and
he admitted that the treaty had been
and would be a great benefit to the
whole population of the Islands. His
subsequent conduct showed the SINGER
ity of this statement. | believe that
after annexation comes, the natives
will gradually come around and, learn
ing that it benefits and does not in
jure them, will rejoice that Hawaii
forms a part of such a powerful coun-
try as the United States
Mr.. Isenberg intimates that I cannot
understand and appreciate the senti-
mental nobility Of the position stated
by him; that he can not reconcile his
conscience to so grave departure
from a position of friendliness to the
Hawaiians as to take away the last
particle of their political power and in
dependence. This means, 1 suppose,
that he is very strongly the Hawaiians'
friend.
1 am free to admit that I may not be
as full of sentiment as I ought to be,
but hardly willing to concede to him
any greater practical friendship for the
Hawaiians than that of such we'll
known anneXatiOnists as the WilcoXs,
Baldwins, AleXanderS, and many 9TH
ers.
Is Mr.. Isenberg today doing for them
what they are? Does the history of the
relations of the KolOa Plantation with
the natives indicate any friendliness?
7 Of 10 oil hi
am sorry to make this suggestion,
but submit that it is necessary from
the position assumed by the letter in
the Bulletin.
How is it that mot 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 it is as freely said
that in case of annexation they would
become citizens with the same pOliti-
Cal TlShIS Chey nave, VI even eAeIcloeu'
In common with others who, like
myself were born here, the SEN
timental feeling controlled in 1887,
kept the Government Hawaiian
and the country independent, but it
very nearly wrecked that movement for
constitutional government; for a large
number of its supporters; clean,
straightforward. honest business men
believed that the time had come when
Hawaii ought to seek shelter under
strong Government. Slowly and re-
luctantly those who decided on the
sentimental side then. have been COM
PEELED to change their opinions, and
they stand convinced today that the
safest and best things for Hawaii is TO
become a part of the United States.
In this commercial age, business con-