The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-04-10

rulers have no valid title to the land
they propose to cede to us, and goes
into long citation OF presidents to
show that the United States have
heretofore accepted defective titles
to territory which has been annexed.
This is one of the most important
concessions which have ever been
made to the rights of the native
people OF Hawaii.
The lecturer showed his utter
ignorance personally OF the people
OF the islands, and ignored entirely
the claims OF the native race. In-
stead OF 10000, the number of Ha-
waians as given by the latest census
he further reduced the real owners
OF the soil to 10000, and he joined
with his other legal bretheren in as
suring his audience that Hawaii
would soon become New Japan.
This is the latest move in which
all annexationists unite even to the
reverend reviler OF the Hawaiians
whose name must not sully the
Wilderness Of my paper.
1t is hoped by harping upon this
string to incite the United States
into move out into the Pacific
Ocean that Mongolian aggression
may be repealed. 1t is really very
belittling, and would be humiliat-
ing il it were true, to consider that
q great Uation could thus for mo-
ment be scared into an alliance with
ring OF island adventures, who by
fraud and the reputation Of their
own agreement fud themselves in
vested with troublesome problem.
| append herewith the latest state.
ment from the columns OF the press:
HAWAII MAY ASK ANNEXATION - MR.,
HATCH AND ATTORNEY GENERAL
SMITH HAVE BRoAcHED IT TO THE
PRESIDENT.
1t is said to be probable that
formal application for annexation to
the United States will be made soon
by the government OF Hawaii,
through its Minister to the United
States. The application will be pre-
sented to the State Department,
and it is expected will be transmit
ted to Congress.
Ex- Minister Thurston, Attorney
General Smith, aud Gen. Hartwell,
of Hawaii, have been here over since
Inauguration in the interest OF an
nexation. Mr.. Hatch, the Hawaiian
Minister, and Mr.. Smith, saw the
President on Thursday, and Mr., Nc.
Kinley listened attentively to the
argument they had to present in
favor OF annexation.
Messrs. Hatch and Smith have
also seen Secretary Sherman in re-
gard to the question of annexation.
and presented to him arguments in
its favor, They decline to discuss
the attitude OF the President or his
premier on the subject, except to
say that the situation is encourag-
ing. Everything, said Minister
Hatch, is as yet in tentative shape
aud nothing formal has been done
Attorney Smith, who has
been in the city several weeks, will
start next week on his return to the
islands.
send you this intelligence for
whatever it may be worth; | must
add that il it is as untrue as the
White House gossip regarding our,
selves it amounts to nothing. We
came to the Cairo as Her Majesty
moved to Brookline for a quiet life
and the fact that politically we have
none of us anything to say causes
the reporters to draw on magma
tion and they are sadly at fault,
For example, | have not made the
least effort to meet either the Presi
dent or his secretary, and do no
know either gentleman by sight;
have never individually or as He
Majesty's representative asked t.
see either of them. But it would b,
a waste OF time to try to correct tn,
misstatements OF such papers as thu
Washington Star, or the Tribun,
and Sun of New York, which are il
the service of the annexationists,