Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-12-11
EX-SENATOR FRED r. DUBOIS,

~ 0H 0H1ntcfHxcW C1YE6 The AeWs''
Interesting Facts Touching Ha-
sraii, and Briefly States His
Reasons for Opposing Annexa-
tion.
TIE NEWS found former Senator
Dubois very busy a home receiving
MS friends arranging his house and
cordially and polipely showing 70 his
neighbors the curios which he had
brought from China. Japan and Ha-
waiian Islsnds- We hesitated 70 i'm
pose On good nature, seeing his time
was more than occupied, but when ne
asked II be would give THE NEWS, for
this Issue, his views on the Hawaiian
question, he promptly said il would sf-
ford him pleasure 70 do 80, and gave us
the following:
THE Hawaiian Archipelago consists
OF eight islands, all mountainous.
Nearly all the lands capable Of cultiva-
tion have been utilized. Very little
more can be reclaimed All told there
is not as much agricultural Land on the
islands as there Is in Bingham county.
But even II the natural resources were
far greater, | would be decidedly against
annexation and would regard such ac-
tion on the part Of our government, as
q grievous mistake.
There are some 5000 natives and
haif-breeds on the islands, q, 900 Jap
anese, 1000 Chinese, 1900 Portu-
gese, and loo others. including South
Sea Islanders and kindred people.
There are also some 900 white people
Of whom 1900 are Americans. There
are nearly twice as many men as wo-
men. OF this population, practically,
all the natives are opposed TO annexa-
tion and likewise all the foreigners ex-
cept, perhaps, something over one-half
the Americans.
'It Is q dangerous policy for the
United States 70 establish such prece-
dent as this annexation would be. The
acquisition Of Louisiana, Florida and
Alaska furnish no precedent. These
belonged 20 European powers and were
purchased from them. Louisiana and
Florida were contiguous 70 our coun-
try, whereas Hawaii is 2,0S6 miles
from our coast. Texas was also really
part Of us and desired 20 be annexed.
IL was no trouble 70 assimilate these
people, for they were neighDors and
not foreigners These Hawaiians have
had their own form OF government for
years. They have not done anything
70 offend Us; on the contrary they have
always favored US Americans taking a
prominent part in their government.
Their government was q very liberal
constitutional monarchy and worked
well.
''The United States boasts that it Is
the cradle Of liberty; IL has helped the
weak and enforced the Monroe doc
trine. IL has claimed that govern
ments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed Since
we threw OF our allegiance to Great
Britain we have been working out a
problem, the theorem Of which was q
successful government by the people.
"Are We now TO reverse our whole
policy? The people of these islands
have not been consulted--their country
is being taken from them by force, and
as they love their flag IL can be KEEP,
from them by force alone.
$50 far, being quiet people, they
have remained passive, trusting to the
justice Of the United States, but If they
are forcibly annexed, given the right
Of suffrage las Of course would be donel
they will vote themselves free from
us as soon as they have the opportun
ity. II the people there were willing
10 give up their country to us, we mighi
consider the matter, but to take the
country against their will is an out
rage against our own principles aut
humanity"