The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-20
SUGAR TRUST AND ANNEXATION

In speaking of the Hawaiian ques-
ton yesterday The Star pointed out
the change that had come across the
San Francisco press in regard to an
nexation. The powerful petition
which had been got up and signed
by banks, mercantile houses, whole
sale and retail and mercantile organi-
cations, suddenly opened the eyes of
the big dailies to the fact that their
supporters had a very strong opinion
upon the point and that it was time
to really look into the merits of the
case. There has thus been an almost
entire change of front.
But it is not only in San Francisco
that one notices the strong leaning to-
wards annexation that is displayed by
the press. The Washington papers are
full of the question. The Washing on
Post is a strong political organ and
the mouthpiece of the Sugar Trust.
When that paper comes squarely for-
ward and advocates annexation, it is
clear that the Sugar Trust is strongly
in favor of annexation, and this means
very powerful factor in the future
of this question.
In its issue of April end the Post
alludes, editorially, to the story NOV
current that the Sugar Trust is oppos.
ing the annexation of Hawaii. The di-
rect purpose of this is to make the re-
4 .DlDr ,n1,t =,
contamination which a great maJoi
ity of the American people ardently
desire" Further on it says: 1.-The sim
tple truth of the matter is that tue
sugar refners are strong advocates Of
annexation. 1t is true that Mr.. Claus
Spreckels at one time opposed it, but
he was not then speaking for the So
called Sugar Trust, and really antag-
onized the situation because he
thought it would injure him to the adj
vantage of the Trust"
In point of fact it is to the advant-
age of the refiners to annex Hawaii
and Cuba or any other sugar growing
country close to the shores of the
United States. What they want is the
cheap crude material exempt from
tariff tax upon raw material. 1t is not
from the Sugar Trust that the oppo-
sition comes, says The Post, ut is
from the mugwumps and cuckoos-
from people who have no warmth of
feeling for the country, who do not
in, rhA I,
ject to navies, armies, self respect, in
fiuence, expansion, everything virile,
positive and patriotic" This language
is clear and distinct and foreshadows
action in Congress.
The support of the Sugar Trust is
given distinctly to annexation, not to
the present condition of affairs. 1t
wants the islands as a part of the
faction every success the islands make
when so incorporated. When the
islands are annexed the cane sugar
growers of Louisiana and the beet
sugar growers of Kentucky, Nebraska
and California will have nothing to
protest against. At present they pro-
test because they regard the Hawaiian
Islands as foreign country, which it
is in name, though in reality it is an
outlying position of the United States.
It's religion, laws, social conditions,
schools, language and business meth
DDS are all the same as those of the
N.rhi re
pirations are squarely and thoroughly
republican. Still it is regarded as a
foreign land by those who do not see
the tendency of events. But once an
neXed and those very interests which
are at present antagonistic to the pro
gress of Hawaii would be come most
friendly and would regard its advance
ment as portion of the nations pc.
litical, commercial and material great
ness. 1t is justly said that, at is one
thing to feel agrieved at discrimina
ton in favor of foreign country. II
is quite another thing to applaud an
Union"
To talk of the annexation question
having fallen fiat is the veriest balder
dash. 1t is live question and one
that is exercising the minds of the
statesmen and thinkers of the United
States and further it exercises the
minds of large majority of the peo
pie. The annexation of Hawaii is pop
ular with the masses. Beyond the
commercial side there is a political
and sentimental side to the question
The command of the islands is the
key of the Pacific ocean. 1t will con-