The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-28
THE HOPE OF ALL.

1t is remarkable how the leading
men of what the Royalist party
are leaning towards annexation.
They fully realize that the Royalist
game is up and that the only saliva
ton for the Islands is to come
within the power of the United
States. The sensible men among
the party recognize the inevitable
and accept the position. In this
they show themselves men of sense
and men of the world. The annex
alton question, for and against, has
taken a very different face from
what it occupied some months ago.
Nothing that the people here can
do could retard its inevitable pro-
gress. The United States are an
neXing these Islands not for any
sentimental reasons, they are an
nexing them because they want
them. They annex them because
they foresee the tremendous COM
mercial and military advantage
that will be gained by their acqui-
sition. They annex them because
they intend to play the chief figure
of the future. They annex them
because some of these days the
isthmus of Panama will be cut
through and then the Islands will
be vitality necessary for them-and
more than all they annex them be-
cause they do not intend that any
power should step in and occupy
them, planting all ever ranking
thorn in the side of their commerce
and their prestige.
To every sensible person on the
islands annexation appears as a
boon. That it will bring in a
millennium nobody claims. There
will be difficulties to meet and diff
culties to overcome. There will
remain differences Of opinion as to
our own internal affairs, bnt an
nexation will give us peace and
will give us stability. Instead of
leading a precarious political exist
ence by the grace of the greater
powers we shall stand firm as being
part Of one of the greatest powers.
1t will no longer be a case of toler-
ance, it will be a position Of
strength and of Importance.
The leading men of the royalist
party are no fools. When they
see before them something that
assures them protection for their
property and their homes, when
they see opportunities for brilliant
career Offering to their posterity,
they are not going to stick to a
sensational idea and precarious fu-
ture. They want stability of gov
eminent as much as the most ar
dent anneXationist.
The raising of the Stars and
Stripes will be welcomed by all
here, save very small and dis
gruntled lot. When once the flag
goes up the royalist, the Indifferent
and the annexationist will alike
hail it with intense satisfaction.
To the United States the hosting
of the Stars and Stripes means the
definite announcement to the world
that they take and intend to keep
the commanding commercial posi-
ton in the Pacific ocean. To the
islanders it means career of peace
and assured prosperity. 1t means
more; it means protection and
safety in all future complications
when the jarring interests of great
powers turn the ocean into a scene
of battle strife. Resting under the
wing of the United States our fears
of Asiatic absorption may be lulled
to rest, and we may go about our
business, may develop the lands
and increase our commerce, salts
fed that no one will dare to touch
or interfere with the islands that
Uncle Sans banner floats over.