The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-12-17
IT LOOKS BRIGHT.

If one win only pause to think, how
very absurd it is to consider as in any
way decisive the annexation news
brought by the Mariposa. Congress
met on the 18th, the news received
was up to the Sth. The President was
away at Canton attending the death
bed of his mother. A count of those
Senators in favor of annexation was
reported to have been made, and fifty
four Senators were pledged to ratif-
cation, nineteen were pledged against,
and sixteen had not made up their
minds. Under such circumstances it
is doubtful if any decided step would
be taken on the Sth. The question of
turning uncertainty into absolute
certainty by dropping ratification, and
taking the Islands by joint resolution
may have been and undoubtedly was
being considered. Senator Morgan's bill
at the close of the extra session pro-
vided for this, but as Vice President
Vesper wrote, from reliable telegraph
ic information, there was nothing de-
finite, and the stories were rumors.
Our population lived up to its rep
utation for being mercurial yester-
day, and on the one side was very ju-
bilant. and on the other depressed.
The annexationists are in for hard
struggle, their cause is in the hands
r -, l.,
United States, there are astute men
on the other side. The battle is not
going to be either won or lost on the
first skirmish. Believing in the cause,
and believing in the men whose inter
est is pledged in carrying it through,
its ultimate success does not remain
doubtful for a moment to any one who
fairly looks the question in the face.
But one thing may be regarded as
certain, and that is that the Hawaiian
deputation to Washington will not ac-
complish much. The view taken of
this deputation, which is to ask pre-
sumably for a continuation of the sta
tus quo, will not, as some of the writ
ers over there say, be accepted at its
face value. 1t will be interpreted eth
er as ga play to restore monarchy" or
for the surrender of the Islands to the
Japanese. That the Hawaiian com
mittee see things in this light, no
one here believes, but none the less
that is the way the committee is re-
garded by the majority of thinkers in
the United States.
The thinkers in the United States
have long seen that the status quo is
impossible. To allow Hawaiian mat
tiers to drift, whittier the Hawaiians
themselves know not, is the height of
absurdity. The only three courses are
Annexation, advocated by the intelli-
gent and property holding classes
here, both native and foreign, and
ed States Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives; Restoration, advocated by
a few foreigners, and by no means
majority of the natives-a cause for
"hiNh lIoNCNti NoluDiy solie may udlk,
they refuse to dig very deep into their
jeans to support, and which cannot by
sentiment among small, unthinking
section of people in the United States
form and party for it there. Fin
ally there is ''Laissez faire,'' leave
things as they are and don't worry.
That is supported by class of peo-
pie who become mugwumps in the
United States, who are too good for
practical politics, and who like to sit
shivering on the edge of the political
pond and pass criticisms upon the
strokes of the strong swimmers, who
are bearing themselves like men. Two
of the above courses are impossible.
either will bring ruin and loss upon
one of the fairest spots of earth. There
is only one course possible, for the
continued prosperity of the Islands
Annexation And here Hawaii sits
waiting for that verdict which it feels
sure will come, but which, as the hour
draws near for its accomplishment,
seems to lengthen the minutes into
days. The last waiting, when there
is nothing to be done but wait, is the
most trying of all.