The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-26
THE FUTURE OF HAWAII
Accepting the General Theory
of Anne xation.
THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT.

HE VtEolION VI UUN
Shall 1t BE Colony or a Territory?-The
Question of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Top
les of the Near Future-Feeling OF the
People.
WASHINGTON, June 26. - Special -
There is great deal of talk here as to the
future of Hawaii. Accepting the general
theory that ultimately Hawaii will be an
nexed to the United States public men
perceive that many difficulties will surely
attend that acquisition and the adoption
of policy for the future government OF
the islands. In fact, the United States
will soon have to decide whether 1t Is go.
ing to continue its territorial system as to
new lands which may come under the flag
or whether 1t will create colonial system
similar to the methods employed by the
European nations in Asia, Africa and 9TH
er parts of the world. learn from adj
ministration sources that at the present
time President Mckinley and his princi-
pal adviser as to foreign matters, Assist
ant Secretary of State Day, favor making
Hawaii a. territory. They may change
their minds before the question has to be
met.
Eawairs Future.
| 1t is the prevailing belief here that next
I winter annexation will be consummatod
| and that congress will then pass an act
organizing Hawaii and providing for her
future government Then will come the
test as to the sort of policy this nation Is
! To adopt. 1t is argued in favor Of the ter
! ritorial system that it has worked well in
our own country. In several of the terri
! tories, it is claimed, the territorial form of
/ government was superior to the state gov
eminent which followed upon admission
TO the Union Under that system terri
tory has a local legislature, but its execu-
tive affairs are administered by a governor
appointed by the president. The claim is
made that this is precisely the form of
government best adapted to Hawaii.
The objections to 10 are that territorial
governments are always looked upon as
the prelude to statehood. The fear Is ex-
pressed that even if it be the understanding
1 Jnnt Hawaii is to continue as territory,
the day may soon come when some political
party will find it to its advantage to admit
the islands as u state for the sake of gain
ing couple of senator's and three new elect
oral votes. Many of the public men who
favor admission of Hawaii as an integral
part of the United States object to the state
of Hawaii. They do not wish to have sena-
tors from the islands or electoral votes
chosen by a mixed population. 1t is appar-
ent that any effort to bring Hawaii in as a
state at this time would greatly weaken the
annexation cause. Indeed, this is the most
serious danger which now threatens the
annexation cause. 1t would not be pleas
ant to have to wait for election returns
from the outlying islands OF the Hawaiian
| a.
been chosen president.
While there are no precedents for the es'
tablishment of colonial system, men who
have studied the question tell me there are
no constitutional obstacles in the way.
Congress has the power to set up any form
of government for Hawaii that it wishes
If Hawaii could be made perpetually col
ony, with no possibility of its being admit
ted as u state, the cause OF annexation
would gain great strength Men who TAKE
. this view say we already have enough hal
. fledged states, containing but small popu
lation, but each represented in the senate
by two senator's and in the electoral col
lege by three members. Unless we call q
halt somewhere, they argue, the balance OF
power in the senate will be wholly do
stroyed. Already the senator's from the
minor states arc able to outvote the repre-
|
= commonwealth.
Uplifting the Natives.
: Men who have been in Hawaii and made
= a study of the people there tell me there Il
:, no reason why the natives should not b'
lifted up to good citizenship At the pres
> emit time the Kauakas are ignorant, o
> course but they are not vicious. They are
>, somewhat like our freedmen in the south
2. ern states They are docile, easily man
+, aged. good humored, fond If music, poetry
dancing, amusements. They could, in th
:, opinion of those who know them best, b.
!, easily assimilated in progressive com
munity enjoying the right OF self govern
y: ment, with Americans as their leaders.
/ What to do with the great numbers o
IS Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and othe
!. foreigners in Hawaii would be seriou
: question in case of statehood. Under TN
laws of the United States the Chinese ant
Japanese may DO excluded from the right
of suffrage, but the Portuguese and other
:, would have to be admitted. only 2,OO
i Americans live in Hawaii now, and 1t !
= obvious they would have great difIcult.
: In maintaining themselves in power II tn
g suffrape system were extended to the Is
t lands as in the states of the Union. On
& yiously special provision will have to b
20 made for suffrage in Hawaii. 1t is claimed
n by those who object to statehood now
3 I'm the future that to set up state which
y will stand alone il will be necessary Z
Il confine the suffrage to few thousan
Il Americans, Germans and English. Tha
d would be ill balanced and not In accord
IS ance with our ideas of what state SHOULD
20 be.
q Difficulties In the Way.
One argument used against annexation
is that the people of the islands, considere
as a whole, do not favor it. To this tn
i representatives of the Dole government i
i, Washington reply that every voter in Ia
:. wall is required, as condition preceden
p TO securing the right to vote, to pledge hin