The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-01-14
THE JEWEL OF CONSISTENCY.

The Argonaut" 81 San Francisco is
a paper of great weight, is brightly
written and more widely read than
any other paper this side of the Rock
les. 1t moreover prides itself upon its
consistency. A late number of the pa
per has some remarks upon the An
nexation question, in which it is
pleased to be little facetious over the
character of our population-and "The
Argonaut" has biting writer's who can
handle the pen as a soldier can handle
sword-and in point of fact belittles
the Annexation cause.
Now "The Argonaut" of 1s96-for
the paper referred to was published in
December of that years. very differ
ent from The Argonaut" of 1882. In
that year it was red hot for anneXa-
ton. Looking over that the paper
under review said, it is really curious
to see the change of policy.
IL $3.50 tEis country was Monarchy
and the readers of the article are in
vited to make merry over the Opera
Bouffe Kingdom and "all the pomp,
ceremony and nonsense of a court, all
the trappings, pageantry, and bright
colors of a national baby show.
1t further pointed out that at that
time the native population was vast
ing and numbered all told forty-four
Thousand people and basing its argu
ments upon such premises went in
neck or nothing for either annexation
or a military protectorate. The words
used were strong. The Argonaut"
said "it''-the United States-"wil not
submit to English, French or German
Hawaiian Kings and all the Hawaiian
dead should come from their graves
and all the Hawaiian living-King.
mobiles, and taro patch proprietors-
should favor it. q. Our own
government is its heir at law and its
residuary legatee."
There is much more in this strain,
the article in fact is almost prophetic.
1t points out course of events which
has actually come to pass. Before An
nexation it says "They'-the islands
fought to be Republic, and every
native born white man on the islands,
and every intelligent white foreigner
ought to unite in making them Re-
public" This has been done, at both
the cost of life and much bitterness.
The position taken by "The Argo-
naut" now is utterly illogical with the
position taken in 1882. 1t shows lack
not only of consistency but of ordi-
nary political acumen. Every argu-
ment used in 1882 is sounder today than
it was in 1882. The political program
suggested has been carried out and all
we ask is that the United States should
carry out their share.
The United States cannot afford to
allow these Islands to fall under the
control of any other power, but by
their inaction they are allowing us to
drift in that direction. Japan has I'M
doubtedly its eyes upon us and we
should be an uncomfortable thorn in
the side of California and the West
Coast if ever japan got a foothold
here. 1.-THE Argonaut" and others of
its present way of thinking should
study the question more closely. The
shadow is on the wall. The Eastern
civilization is moving towards the
Golden West. Will the power that
guards the frontier between Christian
ity and paganism, between the home
life of the American with its pure NOR
atty and the vices of the East, be false
to its trust? n cannot be believed.
America must thrust back the surging
wave of Orientalism and in no way
can she better thrust ii back than by
occupying this outlying post. The An
nexation of the Hawaiian Islands will
be the future safety of the West Coast
of America!