The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-05
P0RTUCUESEM MEET
Discuss the Advantages
of Annexation.
Different Opinions Expressed
Prefer Annexation With
Statehood.

A meeting of representative Portu-
guese to the number of about 800 was
held in Lusitana Hall, Punchbowl
Slope, last night, and from 1880 until
after IL o'clock various speakers held
the floor. A. G. Correa, chairman, pre-
sided, and having called the meeting
to order, announced that the busiless
of the evening was the consideration of
the question of annexation. The SUBJ
stance of the various speeches IS given
below. Chairman Correa said:
II am in favor of the annexation of
Hawaii to the United States as a
State" He then outlined what the
Portuguese would gain by annexation,
such as the right of franchise. He also
referred to the treaty of annexation
recently adopted by the Senate of the
Republic of Hawaii and compared it
with that of 1854. t'In the treaty of
1854 all subjects were given the right
of suffrage. In the treaty Of 1897 no
mention of such a thing is made. I
don't see how we can acquire the right
of suffrage under the present treaty
without complying with the Constitu-
ton of the United States. The situa-
ton of the Portuguese under the pres
ent Government is oppressive. What
show have the Portuguese under the
present Government? None at ALL
Dat to- 60 -
nexation as Territory or State. If
we get one the other will come. The
present Government should be de-
It is certainly not sincere in
it's work after annexation. It takes no
stand against the Asiatics. The only
way this can be stopped is by annex
alton. The only way we can get rid of
the present oligarchy is by annexation.
We could not take up arms against the
Government, although we have suffi-
cient force" In closing, Mr.. Peters
spoke of Senator Morgan's career, his
capabilities, etc.
j. NJ Vivas: "My position is that of
my past political record, notwith-
standing rumors of my being bought"
Mr.. Vivas then narrated the political
privileges acquired by the Portuguese
in 1887. "The Importance of our num-
Der and position is well understood"
The treaty Of 1854 was then compared
with that of 1897, and the speaker OUT
lined the manner in which the Portu-
guese should look at the matter. "Any
Government that might go in instead
of this one cannot possibly do us more
harm. Our future is dubious. Our po-
sition with the planters will not
change the phase of the question. For
what reason have the planters changed
their minds in reference to annexation,
when in former years Spalding and
Baldwin were the only ones in favor of
it, and all the rest against it? This is
the reason privileges have been guar
anteed them. am in favor of the an
nexation of Hawaii to the United States
as State at any and all times. How
ever, we should insist that we be con-
suited first, for we are political fac
tor
M. A. Peixoto referred briefly to the
speeches of those who had taken the
platform before him. 81 have spent
/ days and nights shouldering gun for
this Government at the risk Of my life
and that of the welfare of my family
What did I get for it? The Royalists
ceased to come to my barber shop to
get shaved and the people of the pres
| ent Government did not put in an ap-
pearance."
M. A. Gonsalves: Annexation, in
my mind, is very doubtful. The future
of the Portuguese colony is also in
doubt. We haven't taken any part in
the present annexation movement, moi
| because we are satisfied with the
| way things are going, because what we
gained by entering politics in former
years taught us that it did not make
much difference whether we went ii
or remained out. We gained about a!
much. With annexation we nigh
have immigration of Japanese under
slight restrictions, but the invasion
would not be stopped. American cap
| ital might come into the country tt
| be invested, in refineries, wool manu-
factories and the like. This would Civ,
work to the Portuguese. It. seems t.
me that we would not lose the RICH
of suffrage by annexation.
| v. o. Teixeira: 81 have heard wha
the former speaker has had to say. /
is true that the present Governmen
fears the vote Of the Portuguese. Tn
Government is in very shaky stat
land is tottering to it's fall. Its only sal
walton is annexation. The Portuguese
took up arms in 1893 for the purpos
of dethroning the Monarchy and es
tablishing Republican form of Gov
eminent. That's we have nova Gov
eminent for the few and not the many
Those few are lining their nests wit
gold, so that when annexation come
they may retire and sit on their cas-
chairs. 1t is matter of Indifference
me if the Portuguese colony is in fave
of or against annexation. If the Unite
States wants us she will take us with
out regard to anything we may hav
to say
c.. Pereira: "The Government want
annexation as State or Territory
in fact, anything that will take the RI
sponsibility of government out of the
hands. In order to insure the reign {
tranquility over these Islands, it migf
be just as we'll if we got annexatio
as State"
M. A. Gonsalves then introduced
resolution to be presented to Senate
Morgan, to the effect that the Portl
guese colony desires the annexation {
Hawaii to the United States as Stat
This was unanimously adopted and tt
meeting adjourned sine die, with thrt