The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-08
ANNEXATION PROSPECTS.

The annexation question is a very
live one in Washington. Both Hama
and Davies, chairman of the Senate
Committee of Foreign Relations, and
a number of other Senators, talk
earnestly upon the necessity of annex
ing Hawaii, and the question will be
taken up now that the Dingley bill
has passed. President Mckinley has
accorded an interview to Minister
Hatch and Attorney General Smith
and they were closeted with him for
considerable time, the topic of con-
versation being the annexation of the
Islands, the President listening most
carefully to the arguments advanced.
The fact that President Mckinley
readily granted an interview to the
Hawaiian representatives is most en-
couraging to the cause. Gen. Hart
well was also to be accorded an inter-
view in few days. Another encourag-
ing fact is that Secretary Long of the
Navy is decidedly in favor of Annex
alton. DR.. Wayland, Dean of the Yale
Law School, is also taking vivid in
terest in the question. From the stand
point of a close student and dis
tinguished jurist his statements to
the President are likely to be very
serviceable.
Oppose to all this the fact that the
ex-Queen has, through Captain" Jul
ius Palmer and others, been striv-
ing to obtain an interview with Presi-
dent Mckinley and has signally failed,
and one can judge for oneself how the
question of annexation at Washington
stands. The entire change of pro-
gram in the American administration
can be no better shown than by the
readiness with which eX-President
Cleveland received the eX-Queen, and
the manner in which President McKin-
ley coldly puts aside her advances.
The Cleveland policy and the Cleve-
land traditions, the plans of Gresham,
and his methods for carrying them
out, the hopes of the Royalists and the
hopes of the eX-Queen are all buried
in one grave.
The cause of annexation will tri-
umph and it will be the happiest day
for Hawaii when the Stars and Stripes
float over the executive building. Then
all this senseless pickering will cease,
Hawaii will no longer be prey to out
side Powers, but will calmly and stead
lily advance to the agricultural and
commercial prosperity which is before
her. The Royalist will no longer
strive to clog the wheels of Govern
ment and attempt to disseminate false
information about the Government,
the prosperity and the social features
of the islands, "OthelIo's occupation
being gone" he will settle down as a
good Republican and try to do some
good in the world. The men who have
mislead, for selfish ends, the misguid-
ed Royalist are much to blame. In
some cases there can be allowed the
element of mistaken zeal, but in the
majority of cases it has been pure
selfishness, and the hope of place if
there came a turn in affairs.
That Hawaii will be advantaged by
its annexation to the United States is
very true. But t..ere are great adj
vantages in it to the United States,
especially in holding the outlying post
in the Pacific Both trade and the mil
itary and Aaval forces will reap the
benefit of the annexation of the IIa-
waiian islands, while they in their
turn gain a stable Government which
no power on earth can NEEDLE with.
In annexing Hawaii the United
States only follow out policy to
logical conclusion. That policy has
been, as has been ably put by one of
its friends in Washington, that no for
eign power should gain any vantage
ground which might be used to the
disadvantage of the United, States or
for any hostile purpose against that
Government. In point of fact the Mon
roe doctrine applies with peculiar
force to the Hawaiian Islands, and the
plank in the Republican Platform of
1896 which said "The Hawaiian Islands
should be controlled by the United
States, and no foreign power should
be permitted to interfere with Them"
only more strongly emphasizes the po-
sition. The cause of annexation is in
deed well to the fore and gaining
ground through sheer good argument
facts.