The record-union., 1897-11-14
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
DISCUSSED AT A DINNER OF A
BOSTON CLUB.
The Last Speaker Says That the
Salvation Of the Natives Lies
in Annexation.

BOSTON, Nov. 13. - The Hawaiian
question was dicussed at the dinner of
the Massachusetts Reform Club at
Youngs. There We're about 100 MEM
bers present and Edward Atkinson pre-
sided. Captain Julius Palmer, formerly
Secretary to Queen LAliuokalani, and
Hon. Morfield Story, both spoke in op-
position to annexation, and Professor
Ira n. Hollis of Harvard University
and Gorham D. Gilman, ConSul-General
of Hawaii in favor of it.
Captain Palmer, who spoke first
said: I'VE do not need Pearl Harbor
They have ceded Pearl Harbor to us.
But it is Of no use to us. I would like
my naval friends to explain what they
call strategic importance. | cannot see
if We were at war with Spain, how the
Azores would be an advantage to us.
"The Hawaiian Islands should be
neutral ground They are neutral
ground at this moment by the
guarantee of four great nations. By
our treaty of reciprocity the islands
agreed to allow no other Power to as
sumo a protectorate. Now, if we pro-
pose to assume control in Hawaii we
should invite all the great Powers. We
want not to teach land getting, but TO
teach the principles of Christian re-
ligion.''
Morfield Story said: The question
of Hawaiian annexation is perhaps as
important a question as the country
has been called upon to pass on for a
long time
The speaker said the present Govern
ment in Hawaii is in power simply
through revolutionary act, which de-
pended for success on the support Of
fered by American bayonets. $50 far no
vote has been cast in the matter. We
have no right to steal it, 1t is said we
need the islands in case of war The
statesmen who now threaten our peace
are not of foreign Governments The
preachers of war are all to be found
under the dome of our own Capitol.
.If we take these islands we shall
have to begin by spending enormous
sums for Notifications. l think the
opinion of a naval officer on the sub
ject expresses the situation He said
to me. If we do not have the Sand
wich Islands, and we have big feet.
we can take them; if we have them and
no fleet, we cannot keep them.
THE citizens of Hawaii are not fit to
be admitted to citizenship of the United
States. Annexation means the intro
duction into our body polite of COR
rupting elements; it means enormous
expense. 1t is crime for us to con-
slider it,
Professor Hollis said: Il do not be-
lieve either that the Sandwich Islands
are governed by lot of unmitigated
liars, nor do I believe that the United
States are governed by a set of scoun
drelS.'
The speaker drew a picture of the in
habitants of the islands, and said their
discovery was made by Captain Cook
! only in the last century. ssThe Sand
witch Islands have already come to be
almost part of the United States, and
I believe it is for the best interest Of
the islands that they should be an
nexed. The only salvation of the ma
tsves depends upon us and on us alone
The islands are right in the way of Pa
cific commerce, and are sure to become
very important, and believe that when
it becomes necessary for this nation to
take control Of them no international
guarantee should stand In the way"
The discussion was closed by Mr.. Gill
man, who took the ground that there
twas but one solution of the Hawaiian
question, and that was the annexation
Of the islands.