The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-25
HAWAuANS
Accepting General Theory
of Annexation.
Consideration of the Question
of Government.
Shall Pacific Archipelago Be Made
Colony or Territory?

attend that acquisition and the adoption
of policy for the future government OF
the islands In fact the United States
will soon have to decide whether it Is GO
ing 10 continue its territorial system as TO
new lands which may come under the flag
or whether it will create colonial system
similar 10 the methods employed by the
European nations i'm Asia, Africa and 9th
er parts Of the world. learn from admin
istration sources that at the present time
President Mckinley and his principal ad-
wiser as To foreign matters, Assistant Sec
retary of State Day, favor making Hawaii
territory. They may change their minds
before the question has 10 be met
Hswaii's Future.
It Is the prevailing belief here that next
winter annexation will be consummated
and that congress will then pass an act or
ganizing Hawaii and providing for her fu-
ture government Then will come the test
as To the sort of policy this nation Is TO
adopt. II IL argued in favor Of the terri
torial system that IL has worked well in
our own country. In several of the terri
tories it IL claimed, the territorial form OF
government was superior To the state gov
ernment which followed upon admission
to the Union. Under that system terri
tory has local legislature, but its execu-
tive affairs are administered by a governor
appointed by the president The claim Is
made that this is precisely the form Of
government best adapted to Hawaii.
The objections TO 10 are that territorial
governments are always looked upon as
the prelude TO statehood. The fear Is ex
pressed that even IL it be the understand
ing that Hawaii is To continue as a terri
tory, the day may soon come when some
political party will find IL to its advantage
Co admit the islands as state for the sake
of gaining n couple of senator's and three
new electoral votes. Many of the public
men who favor the admission of Hawaii
as an integral part of tho United States
object 10 the state of Hawaii. They do
not wish 10 have senator's from the islands
or electoral votes chosen by a mixed pop
ulation. II is apparent that any effort TO
bring Hawaii in as state at this time
would greatly weaken the annexation
cause. Indeed this is the most serious
danger which now threatens the annexa-
ton cause. 1t would not be pleasant TO
have TO wait for election returns from the
outlying islands OF the Hawaiian group
before we could ascertain who had been
chosen president.
While there are no precedents for the
establishment of n colonial system, men
who have studied the question tell me
there are no constitutional obstacles In
the way. Congress has the power TO set
up any form of government for Hawaii
that 10 wishes. IL Hawaii could be made
perpetually colony, with no possibility
of its being admitted as n state, the cause
of annexation would gain great strength.
Men who take this view say we already
have enough half fledged states, contain
ing but small population, but each rep
resented in the senate by two senator's and
In the electoral college 10y three members.
Unless we call halt somewhere, they
argue, the balance Of power in the senate
will be wholly destroyed. Already the
senator's from tho minor states are able TO
outvote the representatives of the Older
and more important commonwealth.
Uplifting the Natives.
Men who have been in Hawaii and made
a study Of tho people there tell me there is
no reason why the natives should not be
lifted up 20 good citizenship. At the pres
ent time the Kanakas are ignorant, OF
course, but they are not vicious. They
are somewhat like our freedmen In the
southern states. They are dooile, easily
managed, good humored, fond Of music,
poetry, dancing and amusements. They
could, In the opinion Of those who know
them best, be easily asslmilated in pro-
gressive community enjoying the right Of
self government, with Americans as their
leaders.
What To do with the great numbers OF
japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and other
foreigners in Hawaii would be a serious
question in case of statehood. Under the
laws of the United States tho Chinese and
Japanese may be excluded from the rights
of suffrage, but the Portuguese and Others
would have Co be admitted. Only 1000
Americans live in Hawaii now, and IL is
obvious they would have great difficulty in
maintaining themselves in power IL tho
suffrage system were extended To the Is
lands as i'm the states of the Union. Obvi-
ously, special provision will have 90 be made
for suffrage I'm Hawaii. 10 Is claimed by
those who object TO statehood now or in
the future that to set up "a state which will
stand alone It will be necessary To confne
the suffrage 10 few thousand Americans
Germans and English. That would bo i'll
balanced and not In accordance with our
ideas of what state should be.
Difficulties I'm the Way.
One argument used against annexation
u tuht INV lfuplt ol lnt lsidnus, coDSluefeu
rs whole do not favor it. To this the
representatives of the Dole government In
Washington reply that every voter in
Hawaii Is srcquired as "A condition precedent
to securing the right TO vote To pledge hira
self TO that clause of the constitution which
declares annexation to the United States
To- be the settled policy of tho government
One difficulty IN rho way of statehood IL
the opposition oi the foreigners, the Euro
penns. The English and Germans are quite
Influential In Hawaii They are opposed
10 the United states They do not like
this country. md they do not relish the
ideo ot living under the stars and stripes
They have for some time been 10 work try
Ing to stir up discomfort among the ma
tiyos They have pointed out to the Kama
kas that \ Americans came among them as
missionnrics nuunrcntlY with "A desire tn
save the souls of he original inhabitants,
but that they have wound up with owning
the islands Considering all these things.
the belief appears to be gaining ground In
WnshiuUfnft fhus a Colonial aVof.,.. ,..,,lI