The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-01-15


to deal with. But it is probable, If
not certain, that Hawaii, after
having had a Territorial govern.
ment for some time, would, on occa-
sion, for political reasons, be preci-
plated as a State into the Union,
just as other Territories of ques-
tionable fitness for Statehood have
been. Now such State will have
the privilege not only OF governing
itself, but also Of taking part,
through its Senators, Representa-
tives, and Electors, in governing the
Union. And what kind OF State
would Hawaii be- What sort OF
contribution would it make to the
government Of this republicY
The population Of the Hawaiian
Islands consists OF very small
number OF Americans, Englishmen,
and Germans, and OF comparative
ly very large number OF natives,
Portuguese, Chinese and japanese.
It's government is now republican in
name, but government by small
number of usurpers in fact. OF po-
pular self-government as we under
stand it, aud as il forms the basis of
our political system, there is no
semblance at present, and no pro-
sp5ct in the future. Indeed, Mr..
John w. Foster, one of the priuci-
pal advocates OF annexation, admits
that the inhabitants OF the Hawai-
ian Islands are not able "to govern
themselves for any great length OF
of time, by reason OF the clash be-
tween the different elements, repub.
lican and royalist, and natives and
foreigners" This would seem 10 be
very good reason for not admit
ting them into political system OF
which self-government is the very
foundation. And if they cannot
govern themselves, should they be
permitted to take part in governing
the United States2 The question
answers itself II is useless to say
that. if the Hawaiian Islands were
annexed by the United States they
would be peopled with Americans.
Universal experience teaches us that
ia countries with a tropical climate,
such as Hawaii has, the working
force-thst is, the great mass Of the
population-never consists of the
Anglo-S,axon, or, more broadly
speaking, the Germauic race. That
race may be the strongest in intelli.
gence, wealth, and directing power,
but it will always be the weakest in
numbers, 1t may, therefore, be able
to carry on there any sort of govern
ment except democracy. The bulk
of the population in such countries
will always consist Of elements to
which the climate is congenial-
such people as are now largely in
he majority in Hawaii, and as are
VIGOROUSLY unfit for self-governmen,
in our sense.
: Having annexed the Hawaiian
Islands, and being thus fairly
launched on the course OF inds
criminate aggrandizement, we shall
. be likely TO go on annexing otheI
countries, with populations equally
heterogeneous, and they too will
in the course OF time, take part il
= governing the United States. VIVA
will be the end? There is grea
, anxiety among some of our PEG
!, Pile about few thousand undesir
: able immigrants coming into thi
4 country, for fear that they nigh
lower the standard Of our citizen
a ship; and laws are made to aver
this danger. But at the same tim'
schemes are set on foot TO bling int
I this Union populations far more un
- desirable, not merely by thousands
i but eventually by milions-and thi
Il under conditions under which thei
,s assimilation will be impossible. Cal
# two things be- more absurdly incon
Il sistent with each other'
It OF what benefit, then, is the an
l. nexation of Hawaii to be to this re
|. public? We are told that it is t.