The San Francisco call., 1897-10-08

OF the cnanSe De1nS TO tIdnSiel the
Government from the representatives of
the native race to the representatives of
their commercial exploiters.
This is the Government that exists on
the islands to-day. To call it republic
is to libel the name. IL is simply an
ol;garchy, organized and devised for the
purpose OF enslaving the labor Of the
country. and maintained in that purpose
by the guns of United States warships.
The Hawaiian oligarchy now finds that
it is in danger Cor, at least, pretends that
it is) from the logical result of its own
plotting. The imported coolie labor is be-
coming q menace; it is beginning to show
fight against the impositions heaped upon
it. The Japs' ideas of republicanism, OBJ
tanned, no doubt, from American essay
lists, 90 not comprehend the subteties OF
superior and inferior" races under a
form OF government in which all men are
supposed to be equal. Therefore, there is
a danger that they may demand a say in
the running of things. OF course, if that
is permitted, the Japs would come pretty
near running the islands themselves. To
prevent this the United States is politely
"offered" the islands
That Is to say. we are offered the choice
between taking upon ourselves the re-
sponsbility of all the past acts of the
oligarchy and uphoIding it in future with
our own men and money, or leaving our
compatriots to deal with situation which
they themselves have created as best they
may. National honor, not to say justice,
would dictate the latter course.
There are not wanting those who be-
II
gotiation is a foregone conclusion. Those
people believe that the Government at
Washington will continue the course
which 1t has evidently outlined. The
treaty of annexation has been signed by
Secretary Sherman and Immediately rat
flied by the Hawaiian Senate after ma
ture deliberation" Of two hours. What
ever the United States Senate may or NAV
not do cuts no figure in the opinion of
many.
If the Senate refuses to ratify the treaty
what is easier than to create another
conspiracy" scare on the islands, land
seamen and annex the pot? Then the
Cabinet will go to Congress and say:
Gentlemen, what are you going to DO
about it?"
1t will then be case of devil take the
statesman who suggests that the islands
be turned back to the control of the sig
norant natives" and "coolie laborers." Old
Manifest Destiny will be paraded in full
dress and Congress will have to sing
small.
This is the programme according to
very general opinion. But it is not yet
too late to enter protest. The subject is
being very widely discussed and believe
that were the consensus of opinion taken
it would be overwhelmingly against the
project.
There are many reasons, both industrial
and political, for this opinion II is i'm
possible to amplify upon those reasons in
the srace of this letter, but may mention
briefly the fact that by far the greater part
OF the labor on the island is Asiatic, car
ried on under the contract system. 1t is,
IN fact, slave labor. There is absolutely
no ground for the contention that that
labor would be confined TO the islands in
the event of annexation. In that case the
coolies on the islands would be asfree TO
enter the United States as are the coolies
now in this country to go from one State
to another.
1t is futile to talk about displacing the
coolie labor with Caucasian. The history
OF territorial aggression snd of colonial
tion offers no instance of Caucasian la Dor
in a tropical cline. If we annex the
islands We must reconcile ourselves to the
permane mt adoption of slave State.
Politically the annexation of Hawail
means the advent of policy Of territorial
extension and the subversion of the Mon
roe doctrine, with the loss of whatever
safeguards the latter policy has provided.
Not only that. but il means the enlarge
ment ana maintenance of an army and
navy far in advance of commensurate
benefits. The idea of large standing
army and frst-rate navy may commend
itself to those who favor militarism as
basis of government, but it will not be
approved by that large body of citizens
who must pay the taxes for the support Of
men, killers, and who believe that a gov
ernment based upon simplicity and
industry is happiest in time of peace and
safest in time of war.
Waving the question of right as per-
haps too fine point 10 be considered in q
matter of practical politics, two things
must be settled in this connection. Is an
nexa ton necessary to the Hawaians2 is
~ ncSCSodAJ W tAC OulbSO DAdlcS mIns
out discussing the first question to any
extent, it is only necessary to point out
that the possible gain to the Hawaiians is
| largely exceeded by the certain risks
which the United States would incur. As
to the last question. 1t is admitted that
commercially the trade of the islands is
with the United States and must IN the
nature of things remain with u.s. As an
| outpost for purposes of fortification, 1 be-
lieve it Is sufficient objection TO say that
the islands are just tribe too far out.
Senator White in last Sundays CALL
contradicted this entire phase of the oues-
ton in his statement that I'VE cannot pro-
tect ourselves by taking a country that
needs protection"
Whatever personal or business interests
may be involved in the case, and however
these may affect the action of our repre-.
sentatives at Washington, am convinced
that were the will of the people to be
heard it would be preponderantly again st
making the United States fence for the
Hawaiian oligarchy.