The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-17
WHICH SHALL IT BE?

A remark made by a japanese
servant to his master may be worth
considering at this time. He said /:
Suppose there be trouble Japan
csc, I no stay with you l have
one place down I know where to
60" Being interpreted, he had a
rendezvous in case of there ever
being Japanese emente. Now if
we look up the Japanese cores
pCndence and look up the articles
in the Japanese press, there is fire.
quent allusion to ali uprising of the
Japanese upon the islands. 1t is
one of the excuses for the Naniwa
being in our waters. Should such
rising take place it would be very
easy for the japanese Government
to repudiate it if it were unsuccess-
full, and 1t would also be very easy
for the said Government to reap its
advantages from it were it success
full. This idea of probable rising
is ever present in japanese minds
i'll the empire, and there is no good
reason TO think that it is not present
among Japanese minds here.
The remarks of Captain Read,
quoted yesterday, are we'll worth
careful thought. The idea put for
ward at the head of this article
comes from this city, and shows
something of an organization among
the japanese. Not for a moment,
under present circumstances, is
there anything to be feared either
from overt acts from Japan or from
organization here, but both of these
things show what might be if the
protection of the United States were
removed.
1t is from this point of view that
the question must be looked at, not
here so much as in the United
States. The Hawaiian Islands are
a post that any country desiring
the control of the North Pacific
ocean must obtain. There is only
one country which should have
that control. Certainly the control
should be on the Anglo Saxon side,
and not on the Asiatic or the Slav,
for the Slav will be very serious
factor in few years. With the
United States now, it is the annex
alton of these islands in December
or January of next year, and the
taking a determined stand as a
power on the worlds platform, OF
it is the leaving of the islands a
prey to anyone who will snap them
up-and we we'll know that the
Asiatic will snap them up, 1t is
not matter Of theory-it is mat
ter of absolute knowledge.
Now it is very sure that those
who oppose annexation, and object
to putting the frontier of the United
States two thousand miles west
ward, would object still more to
japan, or any other Asiatic power,
putting her frontier three thousand
miles eastward-that is, within
practicable striking distance of the
Pacific coast. 1t is one thing to
strike from a dis ance of five thou
sand miles, and a very different
thing to strike from less than half
the distance.
If the United States want Japan
as near neig hbor, the Senate and
representatives will not ratify the
treaty of annexation ; but there is
too much political foresight in so
great nation to commit so grave a
blunder.
The o-Saxons who dwell in
Hawaii, and their affairs, are as a
drop in an ocean. We consider
them of grave importance because
we, ourselves, are interested in
them. But to the mass of the world
it very little matters whether we
should be swept out of existence or
not. But there are far graver ques-
tons connected with the annexa-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands to the
United States than the mere pros
perity of the Anglo Saxons who
have brought their civilization here,
who have raised their home institu-
tons here, who have planted their
religious institutions here. All these
are great things, but there is yet
the greater thing of the position of
the United States as North Pacific
power. The opportunity now lies
before her statesmen to establish
that power. The opportunity also
lies before them Of letting it go into
other hands-hands which are only
too ready to grasp it. Which shall