The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-20
Strong FOR ANNEXATION


Inc dIBulltlti On IldNdildh dhll'N-
alton which has been prepared and
was to be issued as an address from the
Chamber of Commerce was as follows:
The Chamber of Commerce of San
Francisco, deeply solicitious for the
honor and national prestige of our
country, as well as the prosperity of
our Pacific Coast, respectfully presents
to your consideration the following
suggestions in regard to Hawaiian an
neXation:
TO our fellow-citizens: The Pacific
Coast and San Francisco are so vitality
interested in Hawaiian annexation
that the question deserves careful and
unprecedented inquiry. The objections
thereto are based on racial grounds
and on the general policy of declining
the acquisition of more territory, es-
pecially that separated from our coun-
try by water. 1t is argued with
show of reason that, inasmuch as we
now have difficulty in governing what
country we do control. it is poor policy
| to acquire more. We propose to an
swer these objections to the best of
our ability, promising that these were
tenable opinions until recent years
have convinced us that our country
cannot. with the conditions CONTROL
! ing it's interests and welfare, permit
] i'll TO l,n pr,,innta1
or owned by any other nation. First
let us consider the racial objections.
The last Hawaiian census shows a to-
tai population of about 100000. Of
which 81 900 were Chinese and $4,000
japanese. The remainder are natives,
Americans and Europeans. The treaty
provides against the Chinese entering
our mainland and, with our Exclusion
act applicable Immediately on annex
alton. the number of Chinese will grad
ually decrease. The remainder of the
population is no more mixed than that
of other territory already annexed, and
we may depend upon the increase of
American citizens to offset this OBJ
iectionable feature while the islands
remain under territorial government,
probably ten, possibly twenty years.
Were the racia | objections tenable
New Mexico and California would not
now be United States territory.
The political objections demand re-
spectful consideration. Could we keep
the Hawaiian republic under our COM
mercial control permanently it might
possibly be best TO do so. But events
are proving that we must no longer
: depend upon the forbearance of for
eign powers. Either the islands must
become American or pass into the
hands of our commercial and political
competitors. Statesmen as well as
merchants fully understand that the
power which owns the Hawaiian ISL
ands will dominate the North Pacific
ocean commercially as well as politi-
cally. We need not remind you how
eagerly other Pacific islands have been
parceled out among the same powers
that are also dividing Africa between
themselves and-quarreling about fair
allotment Shall we then reject this
great possession so freely offered us,
more important than Alaska. which
cost us $7,500,000, while Hawaii costs
nothing, the Government property
ceded being more than the amount of
its public debt? There are some who
assert that if we annex we must de-
fend. Well that applied to the Cali
fornia coast. to Florida. Louisiana and
Texas; it applies to all national terri
tory. But Hawaii, connected with our
coast by cable, with an American pop
ulation and her coal depots fortified,
will be impregnable to any maritime
, attack, becoming stronghold pf
American commerce in midpacific-- II
shelter to our naval forces and com
mercial marine. As to distance, the
western prton of Alaska is more dis
tant by sea, and we already exercise
dominion there.
We also desire to present another
consideration to our fellow citizens
l During the four years war between
our States Bermuda was thorn in the
Continued on pape siX)