The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-30

y
place and profit in the restoration OF
the monarchy, the natives care nothing
about so-called self-government. They new
er have been self-governed since they were
brought out of savagry and barbarism by
Americans. Their kings were always guild
ed and controlled by Americans who were
the advisers and officers of the govern
ment. This continued down to a few years
ago, when the ex-queen, by her determine
ton to do these things which threatened
the safety of life and property, and indieat-
ed relapse into the habits and supersd-
lions of the ancient barbarism of Hawai-,
forced the law-abiding Americans into
revolution as a mere matter of self-pro-
lection and defense. That they did not re-
sort to revolution as pocket patriots Tor
self-aggrandizement or profit, still less for
power, is demonstrated by their repeated
offers of their power and their country TO
America; that they did not assume pow
er for profit is proven by their honest, wise
and economical administration of all the
affairs of the republic, with revenues ex-
ceeding expenditures and not even whis-
per of corruption or improperly OF any
kind. But they, one and all, are anxious
to lay down their burdens of office; they
realize the feebleness and helplessness OF
their mite of a republic in the event of
complications sure to arise; they know
their danger from outside causes and from
powerful, ambitious nations by reason Oh
the strategic Importance of Hawaii to
dominating power their possessions would
give In the entire Pacific. They know too
the vast import of recent startling events,
and the probable consequence to them II
they are obliged to stand alone. They can
not stand alone they make no pretense TO
be able to do so; they must If we decline
to annex them and thereby turn our backs
on our own flesh and blood, our own people
who have made Hawaii what 1t is; then in
deed must they turn to some other power
to-, R.saf. ont
security to life and property. And If they
do! what can we do in such a case? rms
is the all-important condition which fronts
us.
have heard suggestions of protector
ate l pray God will keep this nation from
indulging in the hazardous business of pro-
tectorates from responsibility for the acts
of people we do not control, whose laws we
do not make, and whose conduct we cam
not regulate; from the extraordinary ex-
pense of their care and protection result
ing from every trivial cause of dispute
which powerful nations, at times find 1T
convenient to thrust upon pigmies compell-
ed by circumstances and conditions to mas
querade as nations.
A protectorate in time of war will not
be respected. Hawaii would be seized, for
titled and used; her strategic importance
would be the first consideration and her
natural uses be made available at once
by the nation concerned.
We would place the enemy, thereby. two
thousand miles from our coast We would
use Hawaii for our fleets for refuge, refit-
ting and supplies and the possession of
Hawaii would be an all-important power
for means of preventing war.
Pearl Harbor can be made manageable
at comparatively small cost. and thus quar-
elsome and ambitious nations now attain
ing permanent foot-hold on the Asatic
coast near our very doors, will be. by our
of Hos will No
of our strength and they will. because
thereof hesitate long before provoking US
to war
In addition there is a weighty considera-
ton in this matter that cannot be over
looked disregarded its stupendous
weight is in its literal and exact truth.
The statesman who presides over this
great country has told it. shortly and
briefly; it is that in view of the past, and
everything considered, our honor demands
the annexation of Hawaii, and this trans
cends all other considerations, whether of
comerce or military and naval need :
We have acquired in one way and another
a great deal of territory some we con-
quered, some we annexed, and some We
bought. Lives there one American who re-
grets any of these acquisitions or would
not spill his blood in defense of each and
every fraction of an inch of 1t all? Can
any one deny~the great need and value of
1t ALL and that to these acquisitions we
owe our present greatness, vastness and
colossal power? And yet there lived men
opposed to these various additions to our
country.
When Secretary Seward bought Alaska
for us newspaper statesmen ridiculed aim;
asserted that he was in his dotage and
raised the bugaboo. of non-contigdity.
Would any American surrender or sell
Alaska today? Has 1t not prevented the
spread of any other nation on this CONT
nent? Has it not repaid us more than
twenty times over? Are we not rich in its
fish lumber furs and gold, and has it
not opened up most important and proht-
able commerce? Has not its possession
limited, "cribbed cabined and confined
our great rival Great Britain on this con-
tinent, and demonstrated the wisdom and
craftsmanship of Seward, who will be re-
membered for this purchase for ages to
come with gratitude and profound respect?
He has them now; as time rolls on and
Alaska unfods her resources, that respect
and admiration will increase; and yet this
purchase of Alaska was but his prelimi-
nary step; $50 he has told u.s., for the ac-
uuisition of Hawaii when the fruitfulneSs
of time shall ripen the proposition and evil
dence our need, imperative need, of its pos
session. That need our far-seeing states
man president has seen and sees. And so,
undeterred by schemes, gigantic trusts or
interests of any kind other than those of
his country; from his high place, obedlent
to his oath of office, his keen sense of
honor his pure patriotism and profound
craftsmanship, he tells the American con-
gress and the American people why we
should have Hawaii and thus our honor de-
mands it.
Anticipating just this my son and other
young men have, as you know, become
a part of the advance guard of Americans
to populate Hawaii, to help build it up and
fill 1t with Americans, to develop its i'm
mense neglected and dormant resources;
and, as I firmly believe that coffee will,
in the near future far exceed in value the
output of sugar, I am equally sure that
Hawaii will soon have hundreds of thous-
ands of American population.
The question of the form of government
to be given Hawaii after annexation has
interested some. If its population con-
tinues as it is now l would suggest at
taching 1t to California as a county, If the
laws of California will permit that course.
I have no doubt whatever that the people
of California would gladly welcome Ha-
wall with its vast wealth and great re-
sources. But as there is no doubt at all
that Hawaii will be promptly settled and
filled with Americans, it would seem just
and wise to give it such form of terri