The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-01-29

and rice crops. l believe that an IN
vestment in coffee lands and coffee
raising in the Hawaiian Islands offers
greater inducements to immigrants and
settlers than can be found in any farm
, ing industry in any of our States. The
j Government of Hawaii is energetically
seeking to promote the growth of the
coffee plantation industry, and with
indications of marked success in the
near future.
In view of these facts it cannot be
claimed that Hawaii is agriculturally
a poor country; it is prosperous al
ready and potentially it is, in agricul-
tural wealth, one of the richest coun-
tries on the globe. Nature has made
it one of the garden spots of the earth,
ard all that is requisite to make it one
of the most profitable is capital, back
ed by enterprise and industry. The
population of the Islands is nearly
100000, but the soil alone is adequate,
with proper cultivation, to the susten-
apce in comfort, and with no small
degree Of luxury, of population of at
least 500 000-this solely on its agricul-
tural resources, and perhaps these fig
ures might be doubled without exag-
geTation.
With the products of the Hawaiian
Islands increased and multiplied many
times, as they should and Undoubtedly
| will be in the near future, Honolulu
| will become commercially a port of
| first-class Importance. 1t is obvious
| fl ON what has here been stated that,
| notwithstanding its distance of 1000
| miles from the nearest mainland, the
| California coast, Hawaii is no longer
| to be regarded as an inaccessibly far
away locality, in so far as the interests
Of trade and travel are concerned.
But regarded from a commercial
point of view, the Hawaiian Islands
are entitled to high consideration, and
their status and welfare are of no
slight consequence to the interests of |
the United States. The Islands occupy |
the central position in the North Pa |
cific Ocean, and are at the crossroads |
or meeting of the ways, of all trans
Pacific commerce. Just within ;he
northern tropic line, on the direct route
of ocean travel and transportation be-
tween the American ports on the Pa
cifiC Coast and the ports of Japan and
China, and just as directly in the path
OF commerce between Australia and
New Zealand and the Asiatic coast
ports in one direction, and the North
American Pacific coast, both American
and British, on the other, Hawaii is
the point, and the only one, in the
great ocean at which all travelled |
routes converge and it affords a place
OF CALL meeting, and exchange for all
the trade and travel of that section OF
the world.
While there is little or no danger
that the present Hawaiian status will
be threatened disturbed, or changed |,
by any agency or power within he
little Republic, there is and always
will be peril of attack from without,
and any such hostile action Hawaii
would be powerless to resist or repel.
The resident population of the Islands
will never revolt against the Republic;
so far as that is concerned the repub-
lican form of government in Hawaii
is secure enough. But Hawaii alone
has not and never can have the means
to successfully resist by physical force
any serious assault on its territory or
its nationality. Three times in its MS
tory while it was under monarchy,
the Islands were seized and for brief
periods held by foreign powers, once
by France and twice by England. {
against the recurrence of such an eV-
ent provision should be made. This
is one of the principal reasons why an
neXaJlOn OF the Hawaiian ISiollNio ~
the Republic of the United States is
desired and sought by a very large
of the people of Hawaii, and
by the best elements of its present cit
zenship. The consummation of an
nexation, the incorporation of the ISL
ands as an integral part of the terri
tory of the United States, would at :
once give that assurance of stable gov
eminent and the permanency OF re- r
publican institutions in Hawaii which
IS needed. and [ do not believe it can :
be satisfactorily secured in any other
way. That such annexation would be G
and largely advantageous 10 2
he United States and to the Hawaiian
Republic ought not to be doubted, when
he condition, resources, position, com
nercial Importance, and the possible |
development of industry and wealth of
Hawaii are duly considered, and when S
our own American interests in obtain !
ny sovereignty and control OF the ISL t
inds for commercial, naval, and STRAIT Y
egic purposes. is intelligently and G
lightly estimated. The United States a
cannot afford to permit any other ma I
ion to forcibly seize and hold this V
most important Pacific Island group. {
We would not seize it ourselves, nor I
hold it by any such title, but if it be I
comes ours by mutual consent or the a
wo parties most Immediately con- a
,erned, we can then maintain our right
o it successfully and with honor. If [
Hawaii is ever to become an integral .
portion of any other nation-and such
result seems inevitable-the United
states is the only nation to which It
should belong. There are other and
potential reasons why the people and
Government of the United States
should desire and promote the annexa-
ion of Hawaii, but these may be re-
'e1ved for future presentation. One
,cint remains to be considered now.
N what way ought annexation be eff
Continued on Fifth Page)