Evening star., 1897-10-27

LAs AtS AOCS 01IkSs
Senate Of the United States, protesting
against annexation, for reasons given. and
asking that plebiscite Of the voters Of Ha-
wall might be taken. to be decisive upon the
question. This memorial is to go forward
today per Belgic. as a formal expression
OF the views and feelings Of the native
people OF Hawaii. claiming to be the Ha-
waiian nation. to take from whom their
independence and sovereignty without their
consent Is held to be robbery and a ma
tional outrage. In view Of this formal as
sertion Of rights it may be fitting here to
refute this claim for q plebiscite. more ex-
plicftly than has hitherto been done In this
correspondence. The San Francisco Call
has become the organ of the anti-annexa-
tion.sts. having been purchased for that
purpose by Mr.. John D. Spreckels. the
business partner OF his eminent father.
Claus Spreckels. who is so prominent in
the ranks of our great enemy, the sugar
trust. Late numbers of the Call are loud
ly beating the drum about the murderous
wrong done to the noble Hawaiian nation.
in robbing them of their independence and
country. by the recent ratification of the
treaty of annexation by the Hawaiian sem
ate without submitting it to a vote Of the
people.
In discussing the claims of the native
Hawafians in the decision OF the question
of alternating the sovereignty of the Is
lands, it should be promised that this weak
and still wasting race do possess the strong
est claims upon the United States for kind.
considerate and respectful treatment.
Toward all whites. and especially toward
Americans. the department of The Ha-
Waffans has always been exceedingly kind,
hospitable and winning. They have habitu-
ally leaned upon Americans as Instructors,
counsellors and protectors. American en-
terprise in commerce an agriculture has
been unobstructed. and has resulted in
great wealth for the whites, and in gen.
eral well-being for the natives. 1t is due
to these kind and compliant aborigines
that their highest interests should be
sacred In the eyes of the great nation Of
whom they are now to become a part. If
the highest interests of those concerned
make 1t necessary to transgress their wrong
ly conceived claims. it should be done with
respect and consideration.
Natives Not Competent to Judge.
Thus promising it may be said that the
very grave question at issue is one upon
which comparatively few of the natives
are fairly competent to form any adequate
judgment. The common natives possess
sufficient education and character to enable
them usefully to exercise the voting fran
chlse providing that the more shftleSs
and worthless are excluded by very mod
crate property or income qualification. But
on the question of independence or an
nexation too many factors are involved for
the ordinary natives simple mind to take
them in at the same time that he is SUBJ
Ject to a misleading sentiment of loyalty
to his own people and chiefs which has
long stimulated the impossible cry, "Ha-
wall for the Hawaiians!' To commit to
such ig lorance the decision of this weighty
and vital question is alike fatal to them
selves and to the public interests. 1t must
be settled for them by the wiser and far
seeing, as is being done. So far from it
being justice to let them decide the ques-
tion. 1t would be cruelty and end in their
destruction.
The interests Of the native people demand
the direct and intimate protection of the
United States for one great reason, that
II Hawaii continues independent, it will
be practically impossible to let them have
an active part in its government. The
civilization existing here, now so spleadid
and progressive. is a foreign one 1t must
and Will be con iucted by foreigners. The
native Hawaiian can only have a secon-
dary part in 1t, by reason of his present
lack or the necessary intelligence and
Iorce. the same that excludes him from q
snare In the higher walks of business. In
der the monarchy the government was al
ways conducted by able white men. rhe
natives participating were never anything
more than fgureheads. As long as the
natlve rulers had the moderation and good
sense to adopt the views of able white ad-
Visers, government quite satisfactory to
the necessities of civilized society and
commerce was secured. When Kalakaua
and his sister attempted themselves TO
rule, the whites were necessitated to make
revolutions. as in 1887 and 1893. The ma
uVHs never really governed after civiliza-
uon got into possession.
The whites have been in a small minor
lty, ard under the necessity of controlling
the government would be compelled to
hold the rest of the population in subjec-
ton with somewhat strong hand as
white men are in the habit OF doing amcpg
the less advanced races Thus inde-
pendence for Hawaii would mean the en-
tire subjugation of the natives by the
whites, and the ruling class would prob
ably mot long continue to be as disinter-
ested, benevolent ard upright a class of
men as those now holding the reins There
would probably be internal struggles in
which, whoever prevailed, the Hawaiians,
as the weaker among the different races
would inevitably be driven to the wall
Under the government of the United States
all such internal struggles would be pre-
vented. and the whites and natives would
dwell together in peace as fellow-citizens
with truly republican government I'm
aer no other political arrangement will it
be possible to secure equal political rights
to the Hawaiians. But this they cannot
now be made to see. 1t must be settled
for them.
Combating Japnnese Immigration.
But without strong and full American &C.
cupat1on, moreover, no method appears
whereby an overwhelming japanese immi-
grafton can be prevented In less than
ten years Hawaii would become predomi-
nantly Japanese. The intelligence and force
Japan. would inevitably scar them in pos
session of the government of Hawaii in
winch not only would the weak native have
no place. but under which he would be
driven completely to the wall by the busy
and thrifty Japanese. Thus, by reason Of
manifest and imminent peril from with
out. would independence speedily become
ruinous to the native Hawaiian
1t Is utter folly and blindest stupidity to
laik OF submitting the question of annex
atloh 70 plebscite of the Hawaiian peo-
ple II the United States believe it com
patlole with their own interests to absorb |
Hawaii, which is already SO splendidly
Americanized. they are also loudly called
upon to take under their shelter this feeble
but amiabe. Hawaiian people, who still
need that nursing care which Americans
have given them for three quarters of a
century. KAME;IIANfIH "
III you want anything. try an ad. in tn. |
star. II anybody has what you wish. Won
will get an answer. '~