The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-07-07
THE HAWAIIAN AND AN
NEXATION.

Tha question of annexation is a
vital one to the Hawaiian. With
him It's annexation or humiliation.
The alternative is before him wheth-
er he shall be driven to the wall
completely or whether he shall have
the protecting influence of a great
power.
The Anglo Saxon in Hawaii has
ever shown the tenderest regard for
the aboriginal race. Wherever
else he has gone, he has swept the
aboriginal aside and replaced him.
Take the case of new Zealand. 1t
is not regarded as a Maori's land,
but as an Engiishman's land. In
calculating the resources of the col
ony, the Maori is never taken into
consideration. Even in taking the
census, the Maori is considered
apart. The population of seven
hundred odd thousand takes no no
tice of the Maori, or of such of mix
ed blood as live with the Maori.
Here, the Hawaiian has been
built up. He has been carefully
educated and has had every oppor-
tunity given him by the Anglo Sax
on to advance himself. His mon
archy was supported by the Anglo
Saxon power and brains. His men
of family were placed in positions
which they nominally filled, though
the real work was done by the An
glo-Saxon who filled the subordin-
ate positions. That this state Of af-
fairs came to an end was due to the
memorable march of events. Wise
councils in and about the throne
might have retarded the event; they
never could have altered the ulti-
mate result.
Now, however, the Hawaiian
stands at the cross roads. Is it
Western or Eastern methods that
shall prevail here for a time? If
annexation comes, the Hawaiian
will become part and parcel Of one
of the greatest nations upon earth,
an entity among seventy millions
of freemen. The man who talks
about the Hawaiian losing his birth
right by annexation, talks nonsense.
Rather will he enter upon the lar
ger portion of his birthright, upon
broader and greater inheritance
than was afforded him by these
small islands. With annexation to
the United States comes the sole
chance Of continued prosperity to
the Hawaiian.
But if the car of fate carries the
Hawaiian down the other path?
Suppose no annexation comes.
Suppose the barriers to immigration
from Japan to be broken down and
the tide of Asiatics to come flowing
resistlessly in. Where will the
Hawaiian be then? The kindly
care with which the Anglo-Saxon
has fenced around his Hawaiian
brother will be gone, and he will
be swamped by the peaceful flood
of Asiatic immigration 1t needs
no Naniwa, no Hotchkiss guns and
no Gatlings to sweep from the path
of the coming Asiatic so slight an
obstruction as the Hawaiian.
Of course, under such circum-
stances, the Anglo-Saxon resident
would leave. He would seek other
climes, which, though not SO pleas
ant, would afford a living and in
many cases, fortune. But there
would be no such outlet for the
Hawaiian. He,would have to stay
and he would be overwhelmed.
Thus, to the Hawaiian, annexa-
ton to the United States is more vi
tai than it is to any other person on
the Islands. 1t means saving him
from swift extinction, it means kind
ly care, it means birthright of free
institutions. To that end the
Hawaiian should strive with might
and main. 1t is path which leads
to life, while the other tends to
death