The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-11-04
MR.. SEWARD AN ANNEXATIoNIsT.

Frederick w. Seward. son of the
great statesman William II. Seward,
writes to New York paper strong
article in behalf of the annexation of
Hawaii. 1t was William II. Seward,
who, some forty years ago. predicted
that the Pacific Ocean would in time
become the theater of the worlds
greatest enterprises.
Mr. f. w. Seward. in his commune
cation. SAYS that no foreign nation
now objects to the annexation of Ha-
waii, and all of the former objections
have been dropped except one. which
is being harped upon continually
And this one seems to be the forlorn
hope of opponents to annexation
that if Hawaii is annexed America will
have "a new state with an alien popu-
lation of diverse nationalities, sending
Senators and Representatives to Wash
ington." Mr.. Seward says that this
argument might have had some
weight if Hawaii were admitted as
State. But, he says, it is not propos-
ed to admit these Islands as a State,
but as Terrtory-the same as Ari-
IONA, New Mexico and Alaska, which
have been territories for some twenty
or thirty wears. He continues this is
not Il valid argument against anneNa-
ton, for if it proved anything, it
would prove too much. 1t would prove
that no nation should annex outlying
territory unless already populated
with its own ctizens-an absurdity on
the face of it. This objection, howev
err, has always been raised when an
neXation of territory has heretofore
ed as valid, we should still be only
thirteen States along the Atlantic
coast-for the valley of the MISSISSIPPI
pi and the Rocky Mountains contain
ed AN alien population of French,
Spanish and Indians. 1t was said of
Florida that the Spanish would go
away, and then the population would
be only 'Seminoles and alligators.' So
I
ed to as being inhabited only by wild
cattle, Indians and Greasers, and
Alaska was denounced as being only
the habitation of 'icebergs and polar
bears. Is there no such thing as the
spread of the American population
and American enterprise? Have they
not always followed the flag? Have
they not followed it up the MISSISSIPPI
pi and the Misso Il and over the
Rocky Mountains and across the
plains and down the Pacific slope?
Are they not following it today even
over the Chilcoot Pass and up the dis
tant Yukon? Why will they not fol-
low it into Hawaii?'
This is view of the question too Of
ten overlooked by those who do not
observe and study the condition of the
people of the United States. The
statement is unanswerable. The ne
groes, the Indians, the Spanish and
the French have all been successfully
amalgamated with the original inhab-
itants of the American Union, and all
live together peaceably. There are
today in the United States seven mil
lions of negroes, three hundred thou
sands of Indians, as many Spanish and
French, and probably as many Chi
nese and japanese. Yet no one ever
dreams of any harmful inDuence from
either nationality by itself or from
them all combined. So far as these
former aliens exercise any influence
it is to convert and strengthen the ma
ton. 1t will be the same with the
people of this group, comprising In
its population Hawaiian, Chinese, ia
panese and Portuguese. In time,
have become American cvitizens, en-
joying the same rights and privileges
as the native born, and all glorying
in the flag and freedom of America.
All will be permitted to acquire and
possess whatever property they may
choose, and more than this cannot be
asked. When Hawaii shall hereafter
become the fiftieth state of the Anne
rican Union, all her inhabitants, who
can read and write English, will
most unquestionably be entitled to
become voting citizens of the Great
Republic. And what more can be ask,
ed by them?