The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-12
Only Natural Outpost for Defense Of the
Pacific Coast
In the Hands of a Foreign Power
Would Afford neanS of Incaicuia-
BILE Injury to the United States
Wise Advice of AdmiralS Walker
and Porter and General Schofieid =
The Present Attitude of Japan.

evening, March Goth, before the Ameri-
can Geographical Society, at its annual
meeting in Washington Mr.. Foster is
probably the best-informed American
to-day on the subject of Hawaiian af-
fairs, the history. politics, business sit
uation and present needs and prospects
of the islands. He spoke with the au-
thority and knowledge of the trained di-
plomat, and the light he shed on Ha-
waiian affairs was such as to illuminate
and put into their proper relations the
facts in regard to them. From the
very full report of the address in the
New York Tribune we quote the fol-
lowing:
THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT.
The present Republican Government,
which came into power on the over
throw of the monarchy, has been in ex-
istence for four years, and has been
marked by great ability, careful atten-
ton to the interests of the people, and
by thorough integrity. There seems to
be consensus of opinion on the islands
that the monarchy can never be restor-
ed The wretched history of it's rulers
and the incapacity of the native race to
govern. however we'll educated, their
instability of character and susceptible
ity to temptation, forbid such a step.
The families of the oldrchiefs have be-
come extinct, and there is nothing out
of which to found a dynasty Had
there existed a lingering hope of res
toration, the eX-Queen would not have
made her voluntary and absolute re-
nunciation of the crown and sworn al
1acrin TO, h. - o.
eminent of President Dole does not re-
gard itself as permanent, for by its
Constitution it declares its purpose to
go out of existence as soon as the Unit
ed States shall see fit to annex the ISL
ands
In the changed relations existing in
the Pacific Ocean, it is plain to the OBJ
servant statesman that Hawaii cannot
much longer maintain itself as an indie
pendent nation. Aside from the temp
tation which it offers to the nations
contending for supremacy in the Pa
clfic. 1t possesses within itself the ele-
ments which threaten the loss of it's
independence. The amiabIe and peace
full Hawaiians and thrifty Portuguese.
whose fatherland is so far away. cause
no fear to the present rulers. But the
Asiatics, whose countries are so near
are source of great anxiety. The
Chinese and Japanese now number
about 80 per cent of the population
and are already more than half of the
male inhabitants. and the japanese
have doubled their number in the last
six years, and they continue to come in
increasing numbers. The supporters
of the present Government would put
stop to this immigration but for the
powerful influence of the sugar plant
ers, and they look to annexation to the
nHed States as the only way TO ac-
complish this end. These Asiatic ele-
ments are already beginning to assert
themselves Minister Willis in 1894
transmitted to the Secretary of State a
report Of meeting in Honolulu of s.
tuo Chinese, to protest against some
pending legislation and in the resolu-
uons they declare: We shall be salts
lied with nothing that accords to our race
a lesser degree of consideration and Jus
tice than residents of other nationali-
ties enjoy" If during the pending of
the Geary bill in Congress a meeting of
10000 Chinese had been held in San
Francisco demanding the treatment of
the most favored nation. it would not
have been half so significant.
Admiral Walker, who was in COM
mand Of cur navy in those waters in
1894, in official reports, after referring
to the large and rapidly increasing
number of Japanese in the islands.
says: They are inclined to be turbu
lent-they stand together as a solid
body, and their leaders are said 10
to claim for their free men the right
to vote under the conditions with which
that right is granted to other foreign
ers. They are brave people, with
military instincts, and would fight If
aroused to violence; and he signif-
cantly adds that the United States ma
val force there is exceeded by the jap
anese. Admiral Ammen, who is thor
oughly familiar with the political con-
ditions of the Pacific, in a letter t. a
Congressional committee in 1896 wrote:
1T does not require a prophet TO fore
see that those islands in the near flu
ture will be either American or Jap
anese."- General Schofield, who was
sent by the President some years ago
to make a careful study of the islands
reported in 1875 that they have not
and never can have, the power to main
tain their own neutrality. and now
their own necessities force them to seek
alliance to some nation which can re-
lieve their embarrassment" Admiral
Porter who was intimately acquaint-
ed with the situation, expressed to
Congress in 1876 the following opin-
ion: In fifteen years from this time
there will be such preponderance OF
the foreign element (referring to the
labor immigration that the islands will
naturally fall into the hands of some
other Power. unless we put a clause
in the reciprocity treaty to prevent it
THE NEED OF ANNEXATION.
Upon this weighty advice the reci-
procity treaty was approved by Con
gress and a provision was inserted
granting to the United States the
use of Pearl Trarbor as a naval AND
coaling station. and stipulating thai
no similar privilege or franchise should
be granted to any other Power: but
this privilege and stipulation are only
co-existent with the treaty, which may
be terminated upon twelve months no
tice. The treaty with its attendant
prosperity is bringing about the very
condition of things which was feared
The necessity fer increased labor ha:
brought and continues to bring tn,
japanese in such numbers that they
are destined in a short time to consti
tute majority of the population, ant
supported as they viii be by their Gov
eminent in their claim to equal consid
GRAFTON, they would then become tn,
dominant political element in thu