The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-25
HOW THE PEOPLE FEEL.


An excellent letter, which we publish
elsewhere, from Mr.. C. L. James, not
only sets forth the objections to the
annexation of Hawaii in calm and I'M
answerable language, but it is valuable
also as showing how the people feel
about this matter. There is no more
demand among the masses of the peo-
pie of this country for this measure, no
more approval of this policy, than
there would be for a treaty anneXing
Patagonia The whole scheme is an
artificial one, and the wonder is that,
having had the support of the Harrison
administration, and being pushed as it
is by a great ring that hopes to profit
from the admission of another pocket
borough, it should not have been able
to make a stronger showing.
The challenge which the G b is
sued long ago to any man to produce
one single reason why Hawaii should
be annexed to the United States re-
mains unanswered. Every objection
that is advanced in the letter Of Mr..
area on the face of the globe, equally
peopled which we might not better
admit to fellowship with us than the
Sandwich islands. There is no popu-
latiOn less homogeneous with our own.
There is no community which, on the
face of it, is less equal to the duties
or fitted for the privileges of selfgov-
eminent The internal constitution of
the Hawaiian community is utterly
alien to ours, and there is not even
a possibility that it can be brought
into harmony with our ideas and insti-
tutiOns. The sole motive power behind
this movement is a selfish and merce-
nary one. The sole appeal that it
makes to the public in any direction
is one addressed to the lust for empire,
that was fitting enough for the mon
arches that have died or for those
that are now rending each other in
evil contest, but should be abhorrent
to the citizens of great republic,
whose foundation principle is liberty
and independence, rather than con-
quest.
1t is, after ALL the worst phase of
this Hawaiian question that it implies
and demands the surrender of ideas
and principles as old as our gov
nd
healthful existence and its perpetuity.
When the United States shall once have
gone off upon a career of colonial
enterprise, it will have lifted the safe
anchor of liberty so firmly implanted
hundred years ago, and will have
started to drift with every shifting
current of tickle public passion and
prejudice. The most convincing fact of
all is that there is no need of an
neXation, even were every argument
adduced by its supporters to be al
lowed. Were we to grant the impor-
lance of control of the Hawiian is
lands by the United States as they set
it forth, it would still be true that
every political and material advantage
connected with it could be obtained
with equal certainty and fullness by
the formal establishment of the protec-
tOrate which the United States govern
ment now exercises.
We have, therefore, in the project
to annex Hawaii, one of the most cor
rupt, debasing and dangerous propo-
sitions that ever was presented to the
American people. That people is dis
tinctly opposed to it. We have no
manner of doubt that, if the treaty
were to be submitted to a popular
vote tomorrow, more than three
fourths of the ballots would be against
it. Yet this unpopular, unnecessary
and undesirable measure is to be con-
firmed by congress as quickly as pos
sible, at the dictation of the same sort
of influences that inspired the Dingley
bill. To this end are the powers of
commercialism bringing our govern
ment, our institutions, our liberties
and out future. Is it not time that
the people put check upon this down.
ward progress at any cost?