New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-16
THE HAWAIIAN BOGY.

A considerable number of persons having ac-
cess on various terms to the newspaper press
are causing II to be understood that they are,
or wish to have it supposed that they are, in
state Of deep gloom because OF the Hawaiian
annexation treaty and the prospect of It's ratifi-
cation 1t is disngreeable to think that any of
these citizens prefers the welfare OF another
country to the welfare OF his own, and there
fore we leave out Of consideration those whose
conduct uniformly suggests such hypothesis.
There are others whose views OF every qucs-
ton are fixed by the course which the last Adj
mnstration pursued with respect to 1t, and
who consequently detest this resumption under
still more favorable conditions OF the policy
which President Harrison put into action and
President Cleveland reversed. 1t Is not neces-
sary to consider the uttcrarces of this class. for
they are fully understood and permanently dis
counted There remain few whose patriotism
is not disputed and whose sanity Is seldom I'M
der suspicion. but who nevertheless nave as
sumed an attitude toward the annexation prof.
ect which it is difficult to account for on grounds
consistent with their recognized claims to intel
lgence and public spirit. The outgivngs or
such persons may be worthy Of brief attention.
Their assumptions are that an ignorant ana
diseased population will soon be sending Sen
ators and Representatives to Washington; that
a great majority Of the inhabitants OF Hawaii
are destined to be forever unfit for citizenship
in and close association with the United States;
that tie protection Of the islands viii Involve
an enormous and unrewarded expenditure; that
they cannot be equitably governed by the United
States with honor and advantage to them or
us. and that an era Of corruption on vast
scale and Of continuous decentralization will in
evitably begin with the ratification Of the treaty.
These assumptions are practically equivalent to
a confession that American civilization is moth
ing more than q thin veneer on barbarism; that
the prodigious facts Of our history constitute no
guarantee or even hope for the future; that the
people cannot be trusted 10 take care of their
own credit and welfare, and, in word, that
popular sovereignty is failure. III d0lor0us
aug,,rles in relation to Hawaii came only from
those whose favOrIte occupation Is disparage-
ment Of their own country there would be moth
Ing surprising about them. But that Is not the
case They proceed also from men who are
robust and nationally sangulne who love their
country ard have faith in her; who hold fast
TO the conviction that the people can be implicit
ly trusted to correct mistakes, redress evils and
dismiss unfaithful public servants without long
delay. and who have derived from National en-
porience firm conviction that American clti-
zenshp will continue to civilize. elevate and
asslmilate It's ingredients. They have seen will
derness after wilderness populated. and wilt
messed the evolution Of numberless turbulent
outposts into intelligent and peaceful commun.-
ties.
If they would only permit themselves to
do 80 they would realize that immigration TO
Hawaii will accomplish there the same trans
formation which it has uniformly wrought else
where under our flag. and that meanwhile the
Government of the United States Is at least as
competent 10 administer the Islands as the Gov
prnment under which they have enjoyed pros
pen ~. tranquility and the respect Of the world
during the last four years In other words. II
they would look nj the facts AS they are they
would cease to shudder at the spectre whose
tcrrors are due to a temporary eclipse of reason