The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-28
A GOOD AUTHORITY.

son OF that great statesman ana
annextionist, VIM. III. Seward, and
Assistant Secretary of State, dur
ING his fathers term of office, has
recently published a letter In the
n. Y. Tribune, which we copy.
He has a large acquaintance with
the leading men in the Orient.
He NAV not have had the long and
ripe experience in public affairs
that some men in this town have
had. But he is a strong anneXa-
ZIONIST, and some of us do not de-
spise his oponions. 1t is, perhaps,
a singular fact, that while he is
strongly committed to annexation,
he does not think that abusing the
Japanese, and charging them with
unspeakable wickedness in their
foreign relations, is so very neces-
sary to aid the cause. He even
thinks that the charge made that
the japanese are bullying Hawaii,
is an anti-annexation scheme,
made in the interests of Liliuoka-
lani. There are two decided opin-
ions afoat. One is that a charge
of japanese aggression will aid
annexation. The other is, that ii
will prevent it, by creating in Am
erica a belief that it will compli
cate affairs. Mr.. Seward seems tc
belong to the latter class. For
him to say, in the N. Y. Tribune
and to the great American public
that the japanese are properly
insisting upon the protection OF
the rights of their emigrants," is
to say that which is declared to be
Infamous political heresy in and
about Fort street. But Mr.
Seward is widely listened to.
To the Editor of The Tribune:
Sir: One of the most impressive
features of the marriage service is that
when the clergyman makes a solemn
pause after saying, IF any man can
show just cause why they may not
lawfully be joined together, let him
now speak, or else hereafter forever
hold his peace"
That is just what the Administra-
ton and Congress have wisely done in
regard to Hawaii They have made
and published the treaty of anneXa-
ton, and then, before taking final &C
ton, have paused to hear any Objec-
tons that may be made, by anybody
in the United States or any nation in
the world.
And now the long pause draws to-
ward a close; Congress assemblies in a
few weeks, and will have to say def
nitely whether we accept or reject Ha-
wall
The nations European and Ameri-
can, have not interposed objections.
Some look upon it with favor, as tend
ing to promote commerce and peace.
Some acquiesce in it as an inevitable
and natural gravitatiOn of republic to
republic. 1t was hoped at one time by
the opponents of annexation that our
good friends, the Japanese, might as
sumo a bullying attitude toward us on
account of it. But the Japanese, with
their customary urbanity and good
sense, declined to be made cat's-paws
to pull Queen Liliuokalani's or any
body elses chestnuts out of the fire.
While properly insisting upon protec-
ton of the rights of their emigrants,
they say they prefer to adhere to their
traditional friendship toward the Unit
ed States.
So there are no objections from
abroad. At home there are some, but
hardly so many as might have been
expected. Several having been made,
and after discussion dropped from con-
sideration, only one still seems to be
seriously urged. That is, that if we
annex Hawaii we shall be having "a
State with an alien population of di-
verse nationalities sending Senators
and Representatives to Washington
This might be an argument having
weight, if the question was as to the
admission of Hawaii as a State. But it
is not proposed to admit the Islands as
a State-only to annex them as ter
ritory, to undergo period of develop
ment and probation. like other Terri
tores-a period which with some has
lasted five or ten and with others thirty
or forty years.
It is not a valid argument against
their annexation; for if it proved any
thing. it would prove too much. 1t
would prove that no nation should an
mex outlying territory unless already
populated with it's own citizens-an
absurdity on the face of it. This OBJ
lection, however, has always been
raised when annexation of territory
has heretofore been proposed. If it
had been accepted as valid we should
still be only thirteen States along the
Atlantic Coast-for the Valley of the
Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains
contained 'an alien population" of
French. Spanish and Indians. 1t was
said of Florida that the Spanish would
go away. and then the population
would be only "Seminoles and alligat-
ors." SO in like manner California
was objected to as being inhabited only
.,