The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-12-24
Hawaiian Annexation.

lne c0ncenSuS or calm, cool, and careful
opinion relative to the annexation of the
Sandwich Islands is eliminating against
such denoument
If there is anything that Americans as
nation excel In, it is ''gush." We are
too fresh altogether and do things in haste
to repent of at leisure. Just now it is the
annexation of Hawaii with its contingent
islands, seven In number, which has for
some time been with the majority of people
perhaps, a foregone conclusion, but latterly
there have been few voices of warning
raised-in the midst of the general clam0r in
its favor-against such procedure, notably
among whom is Judge Agnew. of the su-
preme bench of Pennsylvania from '7S to
'78. He contends that such move is not
only impolitic, but that it is demonstrations
al, and further states that IL there Is any
precedent in its favor. that such a thing does
not make annexation of this kind constitu-
tiOnal. That In order to amend the consti-
tuition, it requires two-thirds of the votes in
congress, ratified by three. fourths of the
states. That in tamperirg with this docu.
ment we are undermining the very life and
existence of the government, which history
proves are all short lived comparatively
speaking. He contends that it is ruinous
and dangerous to meddle In this matter, and
1t certainly seems as tho we had about all
we want to attend to as a nation now, with
out putting any more load on the govern
mental shoulders. But we Jump at conclu-
sions, and congress now can hardly wait the
opportunity to pick up this "gem of the
ocean," when the fact is, 1t will begin to
burn the moment we get it in hand.
Just think of it! There are 100, 900 popu-
lation there, only One-thrd of which is
native and only 6,70O of the entire mass is
sufficiently educated for self government.
And we want to give them two senators and
an indefinite number of representatives to
black up the house of representatives, and
further agree to protect and foster them and
keep the turbulent elements in subjection,
and for what? We have land enough with
out seeking homes on those rocks and lava
beds of which those islands are principally
composed, and no white man can do field
labor under the burning sun of that tropical
cline. And then on the island of Molokai,
one of the group, set apart for the purpose,
there are over 1000 lepers which together
with their nurses and attendants, cost the
government $3.50, 600 yearly to support, feed,
and maintain. We want that contingent,
do we?
No, but we want Hawaii for a strategic
point In case of war, and for coaling sta
tion. Hon. James Brice M. p, author of
"The American Commonwealth" speaking
from an American stand point, concludes,
very wisely too, that instead of being a
source of strength, 1t would be for a govern
ment like ours-which boasts of no standing
army, or navy of any great Importance,
comparatively speaking-an element of ex-
pensve weakness. We would REQUIRE a
navy to patrol the Pacific In order for its
protection, which would cost more than the
whole thing is worth, and then 1t would
only be ours so long as circumstances
favored the contract. 1t would be repeti-
tion of England's folly in Jamaica thirty
years ago when the home government had
to back out and let the ''nagurs" have their
owu way.
This condition applies to Cuba also, only
with greater force, even IL that was offered
to us-say nothing about going to war over
a set of half civilized mongrels who. are as
incompetent as the Haitians for self govern
ment. We don't want it and we can't use 1t
In our business. We have enough to do to
attend to our own home matters, and keep
the foreign element within bounds while we
squander few millions annually in the
hopeless task of evangelizing few Budd-
hists and Mohammedans whose religious
tenets are Incorporated into their very vices,
so that it is easier for the leopard to
change Its spots than for one of them to be
any other than what he was bred to, save
for revenue only.
Speaker Reed is charged with holding
views on the Hawaiian question,
but 1t is safe to say that he Is very liable to
be level headed and correct on every ques-
ion OF national character, WARD.
Dec. 90, '97.
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