The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-10-11
MR.. CARRIERS SPEECH.
An Dlaboratp statement Of the View
of tho Opponents to Annexation.

The speech Uf j. y. Carter at the
mass meeting on Friday night has
apparently worried "our friend the
enemy" who is now endeavoring to
meet the clear logical statements OF
Mr.. Carter in regard the status Of
Hawaii latter annexation"
The following Is the text Of Mr..
Carter's speech:
"Fellow- Citizens and Countrymen:
Aloha oukou. 1t had not been my
purpose to speak here to night, but
because of the requests Of the gen.
tlemen who have charge OF this meet
ing, | am here to make a few re-
marks, which / shall present to you
to the best OF my ability. l wish to
say in prefacing my remarks that
we are facing the gravest question
that has ever come before the Ha-
waiian people. l have come before
you believing that If have talent
it is 10y duty to let you know it and
not wrap it in napkin and bury it.
81 want to say to you who are Ha-
waiians that we are feeble folk,
but the people OF the United States
appreciate the loyalty with which
we have stood by our sovereign and
our country, The very men who
have brought the present movement
to its present position, themselves
admire the frmness with which you
have stood as you did in 1893
against annexation.
"Whether annexation is desirable
or not is a question which may be
ably argued upon both sides, but l
am able to say upon good authority
in the words OF the gentleman from
Alabama, that had he been Hawai-
ian born, he, too, would oppose an
nexation. l fear that those who
favor annexation have not consider
ed all sides Of the question. An
alliance with the United States
means grave responsibilities for the
Hawaiian people. The United States
of America form one OF the leading
nations of the world-a great coun-
try pressing to the fore for trade
and commerce and striving to die.
tate terms to the maratime powers.
So long as Hawaii remains indie
pendent she will be free from the
entanglements that beset the rest OF
the world. Imagine, if you can, that
the United States may some day be
involved in war, and that in the
event of annexation, we, as an un-
protected and farof portion of
United States territory, will also be
involved and open to all the misery
and suffering that war entails. 1t
would be far better that Hawaii re-
main independent and be able to en-
| joy tho advantages OF neutrality.
81 wish it understood that have
great respect for some annexation
lists; that l have less respect for
others. | believe that annexation
would be a mistake. l am told by
annexationists that, without annex
alton, there will be no Reciprocity
Treaty. l know the advantages Of
reciprocity, as we have enjoyed
them, they cannot be whistled down
the wind. l do not believe it fol-
lows that if annexation fails we
shall lose the advantages of recipro-
cal trade. We have no assurances
that, in the event of annexation, we
will retain the advantages that have
accrued under the Reciprocity
Treaty. The Republican party OF
the United States instituted recipro-
cal trade relations with foreign
powers, Negotiations along this
line are now pending with France.
According to the Importance Of our
trade will be the benefits granted
to us by the United States. We will
give and they will return. What
have we seen in six short years.
mi 4 = a.