The record-union., 1897-06-30
AN ENGLISH OPINION.

Mr.. Archibald, writer in the Eng
lish Illustrated Magazine" recently
had paper entitled, why Not An
mex Hawaii?' 1t is an argument show
ing why Great Britain should add Ha-
wall to its many possessions. Incl
dentally he points out the great ad-
vantage Hawaii would be to the
United States, which is really the chief
reason why England should take the
islands. The fear is added in the ex
preston of the hope that the United
States does not contemplate taking the
whole of the North American continent
to it's bosom.
Not just yet, Mr.. Archibald. We in
cline to the belief that for a century
or two to come you Britons can rest
content that your possessions on this
continent will not be looked upon en-
viously by the United States. Mr..
Archibald quotes Captain Mahan, the
eminent American naval authority:
These islands are the key of the en-
tire Pacific, and for a foreign nation
to hold them would mean that our Pa
cific ports and our acific Ocean COM
merce would entirely be at the mercy
of that nation Then the essayist
points out that the island group is
on the direct route between the Cana
das and Australia, and adds:
We have far more Iittoral in Can
70
slams and Japanese, and our total Pa
cific trade is incomparably greater
than that of the United States. Hith-
erto we have carefully avoided these
islands in the projected route for the
British Pacific cable, and have, at
considerably enhanced expense, di-
verged to Tanning island, because it
was desired TO have it entirely under
British control all through; but we
have done so on the ground that they
are an Independent Republic and not
out of Difference to any lien that
the United States may entertain in
regard to protectorate or to annexa-
tion. If the Monroe doctrine is to ap-
ply to the Hawaiian group, then why
not to the various small islands which
we have been quietly annexing Of re-
cent years?"
Conscious that British annexation
would not be tolerated by the United
States, Mr.. Archibald winds up with
plea for the permanent neutraliza-
ton of the islands, originally proposed
In 1S43, and to which the United
States refused to be a party If that
cannot be done, then Mr. Douglas
Archibald would have Great Britain
occupy the group. and especially Pearl
Harbor. which the United States holds
by treaty that is somewhat endangered
just now. IT." says the essayist, 1--WE
cannot annex Hawaii, then let us see
to it that neither an Asiatic power nor
the United States gets the islands to
be used as a point of vantage against
our commercerial marine"
All which is a side light on the an
nexation question that may have more
meaning for us than at first appears.
1t at least indicates the drift of a
line Of sentiment in England, that such
an article should have been written
and have found publication in maga-
zine that goes into most of English
homes. The essay leads the Hawaiian
Star to say:
This Journal has always pointed out
that with regard 10 annexation to the
United States, now is the time. Ne
glect the opportunity now, and vary-
ing interests will spring up and in
stead of carrying the islands desires
towards the United States, carry them
elsewhere. Just as there is a tide in
the affairs of the individual man. so
IS there tide in the affairs of ma
tons. At the present time the oppor-
tunity offers for the United States to
obtain easily and without effort the
North Pacific Ocean. Let that oppor-
tunity slip and it may cost years of
trouble and quantities of blood and
treasure to obtain what she will some
day in the future regard as indispens-
able TO her commercial progress and
10 her political greatness.