The herald., 1897-10-15
MORGAN'S MISSION


II seems to be deemed important by
F, the friends of Hawaiian annexation to
relieve this country from the impression
that the Kanakas are opposed to the
scheme. Senator Morgan of Alabama
has gone to Hawaii apparently to CON-
vert them; at any rate, he has ad-
dressed them and endeavored to show
them how annexation would be to their
advantage. What views the Kanakas
have on the subject are quite indeiin-
able. 1t has been made to appear that
as if annexation means the floating of
the island from mid-ocean to the shore
of California and fastening them to
the main land with hawser
| 1t is safe to assert that the mass of
the Kanakas have no intelligent opin
ion; that among them there is no such
thius as public sentiment. 1t is not
SO material to find out what are their
wishes on the subject of annexation as it
is to determine as TO their fitness to
participate in the important matters of
government, for annexation means pop
ular rule, TO some extent at least, and
| to very full extent if the principles Of
our government are to be applied in the
spirit in which they were conceived aud
| have elsewhere been carried into effect.
Not more than fifteen per cent Of the
population of the islands comprises mek
of sufficient intelligence to take part in
political affairs. They are so remote
as to be substantially beyond those i'm
proving influences which are felt where
| the ignorant come in contact with an
intelligent and contiguous population
| In speech to the Kanakas, Senator
Morgan points out that suggestions of
annexation were made in the past which
! could not be entertained. for the rea sons
| that the government was monarchical
| that we cannot annex monarchy, but
he adds that that objection is removed,
as Hawaii is now republic. There are
those who take issue with him In regard
| to the character of the Hawaiian gov
ernment. 1t is really an oligarchy,
rather than a republic. The present
rulers do not pretend that they have
| been chosen by the body of the people,
and they must admit that the question
| of their government is not based upon
popular choice, and that the vast major
| ity of the people are incompetent to
found republic in the true American
sense. There have been attempts to
alarm the native people, and to influence
sentiment in this country by saying that
if we do not get the islands, some other
strong nation will, and in support Of this
Morgan says that all the islands in the
South Pacific are now possessed by
Great Britain, Germany and France.
| 1t should be borne ir mind that those
| countries govern on a principle very
different from that which binds u.s. They
have not the unbending constitu-
tions which we have. Since France
| became republic she has not acquired
territory; her dependencies were all ac-
| quired under monarchical rule, and
her constitution does not require that
the population of her dependencies shall
be governed as are the people of France
proper. Our constitution, in its general
principles, applies to all subjects or peo-
pie. Congress cannot contract or ex-
pand it. The constitutional right of
people everywhere Is to have some voice
| in the government and it would be
dangerous precedent to violate ii, as
would seem to be necessary in distant
| Hawaii The Kanakas have progressed
quite imperceptibly towards civilization;
the most they have gained has been
| through intermarriage with Americans
and Europeans.
The subject of annexation has not
| been sufficiently aired before the people
of this country. 1t should be more
thoroughly discussed before the treaty
now pending in the senate is acted on.
| 1t is question of the greatest gravity,
and sympathy with the few Americans
on the islands should not overcome sober
Judgment The step of. annexation,
when once taken, cannot be retraced.
~
| AM opENTNG FOR AMERTCAN EN-