Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-01-21
Iust 70 Hawaii and 10 Ourselves.

a refusal on the part of our government
to proviae for the proposed cable TO
Hawaii would not only be short sighted
on our part but would be acting the dog
in the man ger toward Hawaii. Now that
country has secured possession of Nccker
Island it controls the most available mid
way resting place for cable across the
Pacific ocean. No one doubts that such
a cable will soon he laid. The marvellous
growth of the Orient in commercial i'm
portance necessitates some such commu-
nicaton.
After the clear exposition, which Sen
ator Hale gave of the matter, it must also
be apparent that the United States is
deeply interested in the control Of a cable
to Hawaii, at least. Neither would it be
just toward that country to refuse assist
ance in constructing the line, as England
would gladly connect them with the main
land free of charge except for toll. In our
assumption Of protectorato over Hawaii
we have virtually refused to ALLOW Eng
land TO secure o station on those Islands
for any cable line she may wish TO con
struct.
The Hawaiian government has acted
very Loyalty toward our government in the
matter and while realizing hat a cable
line connecting with Canada would be
of vast commercial Importance to the
islands the Hawaiian government has
done everything in its power to prevent
the consummation of such a scheme. In
decd those in charge of the affairs of
Hawaii have been much more loyal to
American interests in this respect than
has President Cleveland VINO has favored
object being to prevent in every possible
way any closer relations between the
United States and this important outpost
in the Pacific. He realizes as Senator
Hale pointed out, that cable connecting
Hawaii and the nted States would he a
notice to other governments that they
would not be allowed to interfere in the
relations Of the two countries II would
assure community of interests very ad-
vantageous to us as well as TO Hawaii and
would insure the benefits of annexation
while fastening t ne time when such union
would be generally demanded and be be
yond the criticism Of the few who are
now so bitterly hostile to it.
Three years ago last Friday, Jan. II,
1893, a provisional government was in
stalled at Honolulu, and was recognized
as the dc facto government of the Ha-
waiian Islands by our minister Hon John
L. Stevens. Few have forgotten the
derision that was flung at that little gov.
ernment; the insidiOus attempts to de-
stroy it made by men whose very natures
should have rebellcd at the thought of
betraying Americans born and bred into
the hands of a selni-bsrbaric Queen and
her dssolute followers We all recollect
the futile attempts to discredit the patr-
otic minister, who was wiser than those
above him in authority; we recall with
out effort of the memory the sneers at the
efforts of those who would establish
reign of decency and stability, and the
predictions that it would soon fall to
pieces, predictions hased upon hopes
rather than upon reason In the face of
all these things, notwithstanding rebuff
was received from our government where
these men naturally looked for friendly
counsel and wise assistance, they re-
mained faithful to their undertaking.