Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-07
Acquisition of the Hawaiian Islands
an Absolute Necessity.
REPRESENTATIVE TAWNEY'S OPINION
The Nation Could Become Com
mercia|I In ,pendent
CAPITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT

reSota has just arrived in Washington
fresh from a trip to the Hawaiian Islands,
where he went during the recess of Con-
eress In company with Representatives Can
non of Illinois, Berry of Kentucky and sew
eral others, for the purpose of studying the
conditions there and deciding the merits
CT the proposition to annex the islands.
Mr. TaWney was an annexationist when he
left for Honolulu. but prior to the trip he
had been somewhat apathetic in the mat
ter. When he returned, however, he was
impressed that tie annexation of the is
lands was an absolute necessity, and is now
probably the most enthusiastic annexation
ist in Congress.
Mr.. Tawney makes the somewhat re-
markable statement that the only opposi-
ton to annexation which is being mani
Tested in the islands comes from the nativ.
omen. movement has been set on foot
among them to oppose the treaty pending
before the Senate. and Mrs. Campbell of
Honolulu is touring the islands and deliver
ing a series of lectures and stump speeches
to native men and women in antagonism
to the acquisition of Hawaii by the United
States. In explaining this opposition Mr.
Tawney said:
Motives of Native Women.
The Hawaiian women in opposing an
neSation have an eye 10 tkeir future social
ognized as the equals Of the white women
and cassed in the same social set.
There is "a disposition on the part of the
white women. however, to class the native
females as negroes, and the natives believe
that annexation will increase the number
of white women in the islands to such an
extent that eventually they will be rele-
gated to the negro class entirely. The ma
tive women are doing everything in their
power to arouse sentiment against annexa-
ton, but their efforts thus far have not
net with much success.
Il defy any of the opponents of anneXa
ton in this country" continued Mr.. Taw
ney, "who are susceptible to reason to go
to Hawaii. make a thorough inspection of
the islands and return with the conviction
hat annexation would not he n good thing
for the United States During my trip made
i, point to observe closely and to secure
every possible bit of information which
might influence me in fully settling my
mind on the subject of annexation. 1 came
home thoroughly convinced that the ac
QUESTION of the islands by the United States
would be one of the wsest strokes of for
eign policy which has been made in years.
The sentiment on the subject in my state
is all one-sided. | think that if / submitted
the question to popular vote in my dis
trict my constituency would be to a unit
in favor of the proposed treaty.
"A great many people of this country
have been led to believe that the Hawaiians
are a race of people who live in a sphere
entirely unlike that of the United States.
On the contrary, there is no country on the
globe whose manners, customs, business
methods and general character resemble
those of our country more than the Ha-
waiian. When an American lands in Homo
lulu he Is Immediately impressed with the
general resemblance of the city and the
people to those in the United States. Their
language IS the same, vast majority of
the Inhabitants speaking ENGLISH, and their
general demeanor Is that of the American.
The only things which Is at odds with the
United States is the climate. Hawaii is of
course, a tropical country, and no climate
in our country compares with theirs. but
aside from that the islands, in general
characteristics. are almost counterpart
of our country.
Would Obtain Actual Independence.
'If the United States acquired Hawaii 1t
could be truly boasted by Americans that
we could live Independently of every other
natIon in the world About the only things
used in daily life here which are not pro-
duced or raised in this country the
tropical commodities. For supplies of these
we are dependent upon other countries. but
with Hawaii we could secure an abundant
supply Of all such products. Take coffee
and tea. for instance. Hawaii is capable
Of growing a quality of tea which is as
good as If not better than, that raised in
China and Japan. The coffee is the best
in the world not being. excelled even
Java The soil of Hawaii is pecu-
liarly adapted to the cultivation of cof
fee. 1t is a lava country, and the opinion
of experts is that the best coffee can be
raised on such soil. There are many other
products of the tropics which can be de-
veloped and grown to great advantage there
by the United States. Even as it now is
however with the islands in their crude
state of development, Hawaii exports more
produce per capita than any other country
en- earth. Tie island ranks with the rich
est agricultural territory in the world.
Invasion From the East.
zone of the stock arguments Of the oppo-
nents Of annexation has been that if the
islands are made part of the United States
vast number of undesirable foreigners,
including Chinese and japanese, would be
admitted to this country and would come
in direct competition in their various lines
of trade with Americans l was discussing
this phase of the question with prominent
member of the House the other day and he
pointed out this alleged disadvantage which
would surely follow annexation. l demon
strated, however, that many times during
the past few years armies of foreignersex-
ceeding in number the entire population of
Hawaii had landed at Castle Garden in
New York. within single month. He ar
gued, however, that the country was able
to absorb the immigrants arriving at New
York and that they Immediately scattered
to different sections of the country. That
was exactly the point wished to elucidate
admitted that the country had absorbed
the Castle Square immigrants and likewise
pointed out that they had entered upon
their ..fferent Ines Of work in competition
with American laborers and workingmeu
throughout the country, but I impressed
upon him the fact that If Hawaii were an
nexed there would be absolutely no ad-
mission of the people of the islands to this
country and that the American workman
would not suffer one whit from the much
exploited competition. There would be no
actual entrance to this country made by
the people there. The residents of hawaii
would remain where they are. They have
no desire to leave the islands. but, on the
contrary, are anxious to stay there. It is
true that Hawaii contains a great many
Chinese and Japanese, but soon as the
islands are annexed to the United States
our Chinese exclusion act, which the Su-
preme Court has held applies to Japanese
as well, would be Immediately enforced and
the immigration would cease. The remain-
der of the population is desirable In every
respect. 1t is to some extent a conelom-
crate population. but is made up of law
abiding. thrifty and Industrious people
mot the least important use to which
the islands could be put would be that of q
Pacific coaling station for American ships