The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-12-01
NATIVES WILL NOT BE INJURED
BY the Annexation of Hawaii to
United States

Honolulu, Sept. 4, The cry that
is made as to the cruelty of taking
this country from the natives by the
present Government, does not, as a
whole, seem to be we'll founded. In
individual cases there will undoubt.
eddy be many causes of complaint,
and probably justly so. The ex-
queen, many of her relatives of the
former royal family and many in
fluential native men aud women, will
feel that under monarchical rule,
could such be restored to Kaiulani,
the princess, they would hold bet
ter position and have more opportu-
mites for their own advancement;
but leaving out the comparatively
few of these, the mass Of the natives,
the banaka-born populace, full
bloodsd and half-castes, have been
set down again and again as not
really knowing their own minds and
ready to follow the last leader.
From all that can see this judg-
ment is correct,
The natives are a most kindly
people, caring only for the day
wherein they live, looking forward
not at all and swayed by the i'm
pulses of the hour. Their flowers,
their music, their poi and fish, and
they are satisfied. Bright, intelli-
gent and we'll read in ordinary mat
tiers Of every day life, it is nevertbe-
less better that they should have a
guiding star, and a white mans
laws may be depended on to protect
and foster their interests much bet
ter than if they had all of that re-
sponsibility.
AS to the proposed mass meeting
of the natives, | asked the views OF
several who have lived here all their
lives as to the effect it would have
on the natives and as to the senti-
ments they would express. A "oom-
posite"of these interviews may be
set down in the words of man who
is in the service of the Government,
though not at his own request, and
who has lived here many years,
numbering many royalists among
his warmest friends. Why, it is a
sure thing that they will come out
against annexation, but that is be-
cause their entertainers want them
to do so. Let them know what it is
you want, set good luau before
them and square" of gin, and
they will give you the result you
ask for. The luau, with fish, poi,
roast pig and gin is the sane as
your Southern out door feast, the
barbecue, and produces the same
effect, only more so; that is, they
will all shout for the one that sup
plies it; SO, if they are advised OF
what is wanted, they will act and
vote accordingly. l speak of this
meeting as to it's probable results, at
length, because a great deal has
been said to readers of anti annex
alton journals about the necessity
OF a plebiscite before anything is
contaminated; popular vote, and
the fact that the will OF 31,019 Ha-
waiians was being made subservient
to that OF 7,S47 whites. l take the
figures from the census just issued,
with considerable system, by Mr..
Atkinson, as supervisor.
More than that l am told by
man who is a Hawaiian born, that
in the old days of Kalakaua's reign, it
was predicted as matter of course
that that family could never COM
plete their reign. When Lunalilo'
cousin OF the fifth Kamehameha,
was elected king, Kalakaua was de-
feated by large majority; and
when Kalakaua was elected king,
thirteen months later, February,
1874, it was through white influence
that he received thirty-nine votes,
against six for Queen Emma, the
latter being favorite Of the natives,
hecanse they felt that aha WAS of the