The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-08-13
ILTON MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON, FRIDAY AUGUST s 1897
Japan And Hawaii.

Japan's relative Importance upon
the Pacific ocean and her aspirations
toward the control of the commerce
between two continents will not, of
course be favored by the annexation
OF Hawaii to the United States. 1t
would suit her far better that such an
important halfway station should
continue in the hands OF weak, in
dependent government. There would
then remain chance that in any
great emergency she might seize upon
the islands and utilize them, as we
ourselves propose doing, as mid
ocean rendezvous and stronghold If
her cunning scheme of gradually fill
ing up the islands with Japanese i'm
migrants could be carried out such a
seizure would be particularly easy.
Hence the vigor and the persistence
with which her government protests
against annexation is entirely natural.
Having dreamed of retaining the
whole breadth of the Pacific as her
front yard" no wonder she is dis
gruntled when she sees the towering
structure of the United States govern
ment about to be set up in the middle
OF it to the. serious obstruction of the
view.
But American feeling end American
craftsmanship have always considered
that in such questions the wishes of
the people most Immediately concern
ed should govern. The people so con-
cerned IN this instance are the people
OF Hawaii. If they desire annexation
by the United States, by what right
can Japan object? What business is
that of hers? By every means through
which q nation can voice it's wishes,
Hawaii has repeatedly and ardently
expressed it's longing for union with
America. That recent Japanese i'm
migrants and few malcontents at
tached to the nondescript so-called
''native dynasty" overthrown some
five years ago, object, cuts no greater
figure in the case than would the pro-
test of some adherents of Japan's for
mer tycoon against a treaty entered
into by the mikado's government.
The adherent's to Japan's ancient
regime. IN her own dominions, are
proportionately far more numerous
than those of Lilliuokalani in Hawaii.
What would the mikado's government
say if ours should, suggest that the
consent of the ancient opposition
party i'll Japan should be procured to
any arrangement between the two
countries?
It must be remembered, too, that
annexation to the United States is not
an idea of recent growth in Hawaii, or
the proffer only of the Americans who
have recently been prominent in the
affairs of the islands. More than forty
years ago the government, then wholly
in the hands of the natives, sought an
nexation and the present successors of
that native administration are simply
pushing to realization the never for
gotten desire.
Did the United States appear in the
attitude Of strong nation assailing
the integrity of weak one, and ruth
lessly taking possession of the latter's
dominions, regardless of right-as for
instance, France has done in NADIA
gascar, as Russia, Australia and Prus-
sia did in the case of Poland, and as
England has done in scores of cases
Japan's protest would be more worthy
of consideration. Indeed, her astute
minister of foreign affairs finds it nee
essarv to assume such to be our posi-
ton, to get any basis for his argument.
Were such the fact, Japan would not
be alone in protesting. European gov
ernments would side with her, no
matter how many precedents their
own history might afford for such
grabbing of Hawaii's territory by us.
But American sovereignty is not being
forced upon Hawaii. 1t is sought by
the latter as a refuge-from what,
none know better than the Japanese
ministry. Hence, while we shall con-
tinue to listen with courtesy to the
protests of our Asiatic protege, and to
view even with sort of admiration
the forwardness of the sprightly little
empire which we coaxed out of seclu-
sion and introduced to the polite So
ciety of nations, nothing she may say
or do can be permitted to have any
effect upon our course toward Hawaii.
Annexation will be consummated as
soon as congress gets together again;
and if it is desirable that American
sovereignty should be proclaimed ere
then, and the stars and stripes run up
at Honolulu, President Mckinley has
the nerve to do it.-St. Paul Pioneer
Press.
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