The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-15
FACTS ABOUT THE FAR AWAY
ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC
OCEAN.
A STRATEGIC KEY 70 THE PACIFIC
In the Possession of Any other Ma
ton Than Ours 1T Would BE u
Menace to Our Peace, IL In
Held-Its Trade with Us
Is Enormous.

Washington, July To-Day by day the
Hawaiian question grows in Importance
1t is dawning on the general mind that
it is no longer matter to jugglc with,
but must be finally decided before many
months. Hawaii is at stage where
something must be done. Advices recciv-
ed by the state department, not generally
known, are to the effect that the pres
ent republic is tottering-nOt because the
people of the Islands do not want re-
publican form of government, but be-
cause it is realized that they are at the
mercy of the first big power that takes n
notion to gather them in.
Japan stands like the wolf ut the door.
The telegraph has told how but for the
demonstration of marines from the two
! United States vessels now at Honolulu,
! the Japanese would have seized the Gus
tom house. 1t is only because the "Yan-
KEGS of the East" as they are called, are
afraid of the United States, that Japan
has not long ago taken possession of the
Hawaiian islands with or without the
consent of the so-called Dole government.
Japan busters, and says she will have
what she terms her rights, but it can be
set down as fact that just so long as 1t
is likely that the Hawaiian islands will
be annexed to the United States, just so
long will Japan keep on her side of the
fence. She may be spunky, but she is
not looking for trouble with your Uncle
Samuel
Few persons in the United States. even
newspaper readers, fully realize the con-
ditions which surround Hawaii, or are
familiar with the facts that render the
ISLANDS so important n factor i'm COM
mercc How many know that Hawaii
last year took all but 23.73 of her imports
from the United States? If, as is so
often stated, it is trade and commerce
which shapes our international policy, it
would seem n reasonable prediction that
the business element of the country is
likely to favor the annexation of the isl
ands.
There are, however, as is well known,
two sides to every story. The opposition
to annexation claims that our famous
Monroe doctrine did not contemplate any
tnlng IN the way of going outside the con-
tinent to obtain additional territory.
When the land included in Alaska was
purchased of the Russian government II
was alleged we were stretching a cOnsti
tutional point. 1t is rightfully claimed
by tne anti-annexation element that the
constitution says the president of the
United States shall never go beyond the
limits OF our possessions If we an
mex Hawaii; they say, there will be n
portion of the United States which the
very constitution will prevent the presi-
dent from visiting. He could not visit
Hawaii without going beyond the three
mile ocean limit and, therefore, San Fran
cisco would be as near as ever he could
get to the Hawaiian islands.
Whatever may be argued, pro and con.
however, there are a few facts which al,
OF MS must consider in order to form
an intelligent opinion. For example.
American shipping has earned during the
existence of the present reciprocity treaty
for 1relghts carried to and from Hawaii.
Sl4, lS2, 900. In what is termed the
inter-island trade, it has earned the fur.
Their sum of 81 ,912, 102 American com
mission merchants have received as com
missions on the sale of the produce of
the islands, $4,464, 253. American ship
yards have built vessels for the Hawa.
iian foreign and inter-island trade the
profit on which has amounted to $780,
9l1. The total amount Of premiums
collected by American insurance com
panies on policies for life, property and
freight amounts to $3,S471 1876. Ameri-
cans have made profits from sugar cane
raised IN the islands and the sugar made
thercfrom, since the execution of the re-
ciprocty treaty amounting to $20,S61,-
$50.
If the intelligent observer will take the
time to consider what this really means
to the sugar trust, he will see point Of
tremendous importance in the matter of
the annexation of Hawaii which the ma
jorlty of persons are inclined to over
look. What would be the effect upon the
internal revenue and what would be the
effect upon the receipts from the taxa
ton of sugar if Hawaii became a part
of the United States. This is very
excellent problem for the student of
finance to consider. There is much
more in it than appears at first glance.
to the actual profits made by American
merchants on goods sold to Hawaii. Es-