The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-10-12
Plight Of the Annexationist.


regard for the best interests OF the
United States has placed this paper
in position autagouistic to that OF
the handful OF adventures who have
taken and now hold forcible pos.
session of the Government OF Ha-
waii, yet do we wish to assure these
gentlemen Of our fullest apprecia-
ton OF the difficulties OF the posi-
ton in which they find themselves.
The present situation in the ISL
ands is peculiar, and, which more
nearly concerns those in power, un-
tenabk. A score of foreigners,
whom greed made brave, seized the
Government Of Hawaii. The I'M
suspecting good nature, the gen.
erosity, the hospitality of the natives
as well as the significant presence
Of the United States troops, made
their task comparatively easy. The
filibusters had the islands. The
question now was how to keep
them. A rigid military oligarchy
was established, the natives were
DISTINGUISHED and a social and po-
litical boycott was pronounced
against all men, white, brown or
black, who should presume to differ
in opinion with the small ruling
minority.
1t is rather an un-American pro-
gram to which those staunch Amer
leans, the annexationists, are COM
mitted. Yet one is compelled to
admit that given INSCRIPTIONS greed
for wealth and power, the rest fol-
lows naturally. 1t is easy to realize
the filibuster's point of view. He
saw an opportunity for gain and
seized it. If he thought at all of
the future, it was with an optimistic
belief that time would aid him in
overcoming the natives absurd pre-
judice against being robbed and de-
prived OF liberty. So with all the
improvident trust in his own good
fortune that is characteristic OF the
adventurer, he rested upon his un-
stable scheme OF government as
though it had been founded upon a
reality-the consent OF the govern
ed; he marched unsuspectingly on,
blinded by his vanity and his sell
fishness, to the fact that the sides
OF his onward road converged in
stead of remaining parallel.
1t is for this almost childish sim
plicity that one, however, great may
be his condemnation of the method
of the dozen headed despot of Ha.
waii, pities him. 1t would be cruel
to doubt the annsxationist's unset.
fish devotion to his own interests.
Yet in his desperation, he is about to
jump from the frying-pan which has
become unbearably hot into the fire
which must be hotter. In the event
OF annexation the Acknowledgement
of the native Hawaiian naturally
follows. Give the native voice in
the Government and what is the
first use to which he will put his
novel wishing waud7 The ousting
OF the usurper, OF course; the usurper
whom he hates with hatred that is
like a slow, smoldering fire.
One cannot withhold his pity for
the gamblers in Governments, for
considering the weapons at their
command, what a failure they have
made of it ALL Four years have
passed, and with the exception OF
public debt which has grown at the
rate of a million a year, the "Men
Who Would Be Kings" have accom-
plished nothing. The natives are
Interchangeable, converts are few, it is
even whispered that there is dis
affection among the elect. Day by
day their horizon becomes more and
more limited; their hope of escape
escape with dignity from an uA.
dignifed position-escape from the
consequences of their own short