The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-11-17
Annexation Unjust to Hawaii, I'm
just to America.

iloi olulu have now returned home
or are on their way, and have not
brought the Hawaiian Islands with
them. They still rest in the bosom
of the ocean, somewhat disturbed
by the mighty volcano aud at times,
troubled by The leprous faint among
their people, but otherwise quiet,
1t is possible the visitors have
performed some diplomatic iucanta
ton which shall presently result in
great Transformation scene aud
which will widen the maps of the
United States by over one-half to
include these islands of the sea. In
fact, it is all too possible. They
went there not so much to consider
the feasibility Of annexation IS to
seek means to bring it about, and if
there were any among them who
had some little doubt of the advis-
ability OF the measure that it pro-
posed to carry out there were in
Honolulu and on the steamship that
carried them there men of plausi-
bility to deal with these honest and
creditable views.
1t might be we'll for the Federal
Government TO ask itself at this
time, has this country not got al
ready more diverse and opposed
races under it's flag than it can deal
with SUCCESSFULLY Why should it
seek to receive into citizenship at
one swoop $4,000 people who are
tainted with an awful and ineradi.
cable disease, whose customs are
alien to those OF this republic, who
are idle if not vicious, immoral if
not criminal, and at the same mo-
ment keep guard at the ports OF the
Atlantic Coast so that no single OBJ
jectionable immigrant shall set foot
on these shores7
Are these Europeans who are thus
debarred refused admission to this
country sole because they would
cheaper the price of labor in a
market which is already overlooking
Not at all. Those are reasons and
important ones, but there is
greater principle in the background.
It is that they have come in num-
bers too vast to be assimilated in
our republican life aud that their
increasing presence is menace to
the state.
Then yhy should these people Of
the Sandwich Islands be brought
into the Union2 Their social life is
as antagonistic to ours as that of
thst food of immigration We are
now stopping on the Eastern coast
They have country, it is true, that
is rich with possibilities, but it 10
far distant, exposed to attack in
case of war -indefensible, requiring
great outlay for administration pur-
poses-and out Of touch everywhere
with the genius OF the American
people.
Does any one think that the great
colonial possessions OF England are
the source or the mainstay of her
power2 If so, he is vastly in error.
They are source of outlay, OF trou-
BILE and concern. There 10 no colony
under the English flag to-day that
may not without her let or him
drance, or even remonstrance, hoist
a national flag and declare itself free
and independent. The colonies are
loyal, it is true, but they are loyal
because the mother country is pro-
tectress in fact, that her policy is
fixed by years of precedent, and by
reason of it the colonial people
know what to depend upon. The
people Of Hawaii can have no such
assurance OF steadfast support; they
must always feel that they will be
but nominally, not actually, Amer
leans.
There is no commercial profit to
DO looked for that is not ours al
raa6v or 4 hat tho Iooitinoat a affortu