The morning news., 1897-07-07
Toru Hoshi and John sherman.

TOru Hoshi and John sherman.
A reading Of the correspondence be-
tween the japanese minister and the Sec
retary of state with regard 70 Hawaiian
annexation is apt to induce In the average
unbiased American citizen a sense of
shame and regret. Our government gets
the worst of it, The gentleman from
| Japan, in clear precise language presents
a good tempered strong-almost unan-
| swera ble-protest against the annexation
| of the Islands without adequate provision
being made for the preservation of the
treaty rights of the people of his country
in Hawaii. On the other side, Secretary
Sherman replies in 2 weak quibble. which
justifes nothing, explains nothing and
promises nothing.
1t will be observed that minister Toru
Hoshi does not protest 80 much against
Hawaii and the United States following
the bent Of their own inclinations in
the matter, as against taking away the
treaty rights Of japanese citizens in the
islands. Senator Sherman tells him that
there is nothing in the proposed treaty
that is prejudicial to the rights of the
knows, and the Secretary of State knows,
full well that it is the policy of
this government to debar Asiatics in the
United States from the privileges which
are enjoyed by them in the Hawaiian
Islands. Secretary Shermans statement
that it is his understanding that the gov
ernment of the United States does not
take upon itself any obligations of the
Hawaiian government arising from treat
les or conventions made by 1t with other
governments" is merely a qulbble Every
body knows that in the event of the con-
summation of The annexation scheme, all
Hawaiian treaties would be set aside;
Hawaiian public policy would be prac-
tically annihilated and the public policy
of the United States would be substitut-
ed. The act which destroys the existence
of Hawaii as separate and independent
| government must necessarily also destroy
| the agreements entered into by Hawaii
as a separate government After annex
alton 1t is no longer ''the government of
Hawaii" but "the territory of Hawaii un-
der the United States government"
Secretary Sherman attempts to show
that annexation is the logical outcome
of the rela ations which have existed be-
tween the United States and the Hawaiian
Islands for half a century, or such mat
ter. However that may be, 1t is an un-
questionable fact that except for the
greed of few New England adventurers
and a few sugar estate owners, there
would never have been an annexation
proposition submitted. The proposition,
coming as it now does, is not the demand
of either the people of Hawaii or those
of the United States. The former have
not had an opportunity to express them
selves with regard to the matter, nor
will they be given such an
opportunity, and the latter have
not been asked what they think
about it. Less than 5000 carpet-baggers
and sugar growers in the islands propose
to barter the political liberty of more than
$1,000 persons to the United States. re-
ceiving In return the offices of the island
and free trade with this country. 1t
makes no difference to the adventurers
| If they rob a woman of her birthright.
two-thirds of the inhabitants of the is
| lands of their treaty rights, and -all of the
| natives of their voice in the direction
of the affairs Of their own land 1t makes
no difference to the adventurers il the
government of the United States is COM
PEELED to sever its friendly relations with
other governments because of their fill
clustering scheme; they are not looking
out for the good of the United States,
they are after spoils for their own pock-
cts. Unfortunately the flibusters seem
to have captured the President and his
administration; and Secretary Sherman is
outclassed in diplomacy by Toru Hoshi,
the gentleman from Japan.