The San Francisco call., 1897-01-21
HAWA|PS HOPE
IS IN CONGRESS
Monthly Meetings of the
Annexation Club at
Honolulu.
Immediate Assistance Not Ex.
pected From President
Mckinley.
Contract Labor to Be Abolished in
Hawaii-Populatio of Honolulu
Is About 10000.

HONOLULU, HAWAII, Jan. 13-The
nrst of a series of meetings under the
auspices of the Annexation Club was held
in the drill-shed last evening. Important
speeches bearing on the annexation Ques-
ton were made by Hon. Henry E. Cooper,
Minister of Foreign Affairs; L. A. Thurs
ton, ex-Hawaiian Minister al Washing
ton; Senator McCandless and Representa-
tive Robertson of the Hawaiian Legisla-
ture; +. C. Jones, ex-Minister of Finance,
and others.
President Dole, Attorney General Smith
and all the leading Government officials
were present, together with about 400
leading men of the city.
The gathering was in no sense mass
meeting, but only called meeting OF the
club, which has about 200O names on its
mem bership roll. Minister Cooper said
The attitude of the Government has been
and still is annexation TO the United States OF
America.
While in the United Estates recently had
the opportunity of hearing much that is en-
couraging to those who believe in annexation.
First of all, it is not likely that the question
will become party issue; the proposition Will
be advocated by Republicans and Democrats
alike, while opponents will be found in the
ranks of both parties The question is likely
to be heard upon it's merits. There seems no
desire to recede from the Senate resolution OF
1898.
| The division of opinion comes upon the
question of annexation or the maintenance of
the present status. The lines seem to be more
sharply drawn upon this question than ever
before.
The fact that we have shown ourselves
capable OF self-government has strengthened
our position to a large extent. Although the
danger has been that some might consider it
best to let well enough alone, yet the more
general view is that the question should not
be left any longer in allegiance and has finally
settled in favor of annexation.
While many of the opponents of annexation
in the United States have based their opposi-
ton upon the policy of the Government here
tofore, that no territory should be acquired
which is not part OF the American conti-
nent, many now say that they consider that
an exception to this rule should be made in
the case of Hawaii. The reason tor this is that
Hawaii has become too important factor in
controlling the commerce of the Pacific to be
left where it might go under the control of
! another power.
The occupation of Pearl Harbor is considered
! by those who favor q progressive foreign
policy to be essential. Annexation is now
| question OF business, not of sentiment.
i 1t is most likely that special session of
! Congress VIII be called soon after the inaug-
uration of the new President and annexation
brought forward.
Senator McCandIess made an important
announcemen which foreshadoWs i'm
portant legislation. He said:
Sugar men oppose annexation on account of
contract labor. l wish to say as member of
the Hawaiian Senate gentlemen, that in the
of hot nod ha tron 1u1u nil
be repealed, and from that time we will have
free labor on the plan of American institutions
and American industries. Tremendous ap-
plause.l When this has been accomplished
do not see how any sugar man can oppose
annexation. The question has been asked,
"Whet will annexation do for the Hawaiian
This much: The Hawaiians have never been
| taught what Americans term selfrespect, and
what is called by the modern schoolmasIer
| character building The Hawaians are
treated as children to-day, precisely as they
were three-quarters ola century ago. We meet
them and if the man strikes our fancy and
asks for 1T we viii give him a quarter and he
goes off and buys meal. No man who has
! learned what self-respect is will receive money
unless he has earned it or gives an equivalent.
The Hawaiian is not to be blamed for this; he
has never yet been taught differently, but with
the infusion of new blood which will follow
annexation the rising generation will learn it
by contact.
President Hon. L. A. Thurston said:
If any one class in this country needs an
nexation it is the sugar planters. The United
States treasury is in need OF $4,000, 600 to
meet an annual deficit. Protection to sugar is
bound to be in the tariff. A bounty will uot
do, because it takes money out of the treasury
The sugarplanter in Hawaii to-day is like
man driving along the brink Of precipice
We had reciprocity treaty which expired in
1894. 1t has been liable ever since to termi-
nate at one years notice from either side.
According to the report of the superin-
tendent of the census, made public to-
day, the population of Honolulu by ma
tionalities is: Americans 2074, British 1908,
Germans 57S, French 69 Norwegians 179
Portuguese 1888, other races 366, Japanese
1881. Chinese 1898. South Sea Islanders
63, Hawaiians 1918, part Hawaiians 1858;
total 20, $50.