New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-19
THE HAWAIIAN TREATY.
FREDERICK W. SEWARD SAYS SOME OTHER
POWER WILL TAKE THE ISLANDS If
THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT.

THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: At last we are brought face TO face with
the question whether will take the Hawaiian
Islands into the United States or will let them
drift into the embrace OF some other Power.
Hitherto we have been content to say that we
preferred to let the Hawaiians govern them
selves Independently But they no longer wish
to do So and IN ali probability they might soon
find It impossible even II they did wish 1t.
There are certainly three. and probably four.
great Powers any one OF whom would gladly
accept tn, responsibilities that we seem to be
afraid Of England, France. Germany and
Japan. any one Of these would cheerfully take
the islands IL we don't want them.
We may inveigh. II We choose. against their
thirst for dominion +" or their greed for terri
tory" But the truth Is that each Of these four
nations is a great and growing Power. Now,
every great and growing Power needs space to
grow and be great in 1t seems to them entirely
natural and reasonable to go on extending their
commerce. increasing their revenues. strengthen
Ing their offences and finding foothold for
their emigrants by planting their flag in new
fields Of enterprise.
|. All Of these Powers cur friends. No one OF
them is our enemy or ever wants to be. They
the islands are geographically nearer to us and
are linked to us by ties commercial. political and
religious more closely than To any Of them. So
the annexation Of the islands to the United states
would be acpuiesced IN. and when once accom-
plshed no one would dream OF contesting our
rights there any more than in the Aleutian ISL
ands or In Key West or Nantucket. or Block
Island. During past year, We have taken pains
n
unfriendly act for them 20 interfere with Ha-
wait They have respected our protest beca use
they were friendly and because they recognized
our prior claim. But If we formally renounce
that prior claim by refusing to take the Islands
ourselves we cannot 60 on forever In saying that
nobody else shall have them. II Is recorded OF
the original dog In the malger" that he kept
the cattle at bay for quite a while but ultimately
he found his position untenablc. SO would ours
be.
The Hawaiians themselves would probably
take this view Of IT, They want 10 be annexed
to the United States, but II forbid and re-
fuse them they will be reduced to the alter
native Of deciding whether to maintain feeble
little State exposed to aggression from abroad
and revolution within. or to become an integral
part OF some great empire which can protect
their shores develop their resources. maintain
their peace and increase their wealth. Which
horn Of the dilemma would they be likely to
choose?
Whenever 1t Is proposed to add anything to
the United States there rises cloud OF VS.
ionary dangers, coniure1 up by the Imagination
of timid writer's and statesmen. Like Siboering
phantoms with upfted finger and shaking
head they warn 10 beware Of the expense,
to beware OF the distance, 10 beware OK the
climate and soil. 10 beware OF incongruous Gle
ments Of population, 20 beware OF war and pes
thence Of cyclones, icebergs and volcanoes.
These direful threats are mouthed at us so
long ms the annexation Is under discussion. AZ
soon az II Is actually made tie hooking phan-
toms enc and all sink back into their graves
and are never heard OF r.ore.
Then Il turns out that every addition II our
territory instead of entalnE expense. has
brought wealth; instead CT source Of weakness
has proved q buwark Of strength instead OF
bringing war has established peace. 1t was 80
with the Louisiana Territory. II was 50 with
Florida 1t was with Oregon II was so with
California. 1t was with Alaska. And 30 IL
will be with Hawaii.
FREDERICK w. SEWARD.
Montrose-on- the Hudson, June II. 1871