Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-11

the public schools, and speak English
The criminal statistics show a smaller
percentage of offenses committed by Por-
tuguese than by any other nationality
,ihey are a hard,working. Industrious,
and constitute the best laboring element
in Hawaii.
The Asatics are temporarily in the
country. AS soon as they accumulate a
few hundred dollars they return home
Shut off the source of supply and soon
there will be but few Asiatics left
Moreover. they are making more money
than they can in the United States, and
have no object in coming to this country.
Prior to the passage Of the Chinese exclu-
sion act, there were as many Chinese in
Hawaii as there now are but none came
to California. The Japanese are now free
to come to California from Honolulu, but
none come
Individually, the Chinese and Japanese
In Hawaii are Industrious. and peaceable.
and as long as they do not vote what
danger can the comparatively small num-
Der there be to this country? Annexation
will give them no rights which they do
not now possess, either in Hawaii or the
United States.
The remaining inhabitants are 1000
Americans, English and Germans strong
virile men who have controlled the gov
eminent and acquired the ownership of
more than three-fourths of the property.
If they were able to do this against the
hostility of an unfavorable monarchy,
why will they be any less strong under
the United States?
No territory with so strong a leaven of
Americanism in it. as exists today in Ha-
waii, was ever annexed by the United
States.
AS to the future prospects. Within a
hundred years Hawaii possessed a popu-
lation of 100000 people. Hawaii can sup
port population of a million as easily as
1t now does 100000 With stability of gov
eminent will come immigration, develop
ment and growth. as certainly as it has
in the territories heretofore annexed by
the United States.
FIFTH AND SIXTH OBJECTIONS.
AVE do not want Hawaii as a state
with two more senator's
The treaty does not provide for state
mood. 1T provides that Hawaii shall be a
territory and leaves the form of govern
ment in the hands of Congress. State
hood Is not an issue. 1t will be for our
successors to settle. They will be dealing
with their own fortunes and fates, and
not with ours Can we not perform the
duty or the hour and leave the future to
them In the faith that they will be as wise
ana as patriotic as we are?
Hawaii is an outlying territory and in
time of war it will be source OF
weakness to the United States.
Whether outlying territory is a source
OF weakness depends upon circumstances.
1t was source of weakness Her own
ership of Gibraltar is a source of
strength.
Generals Schofield and Alexander: Ad-
mlrals Porter, Walker, Belknap, and Cap
tain Mahan declare that Hawaii would
be source of strength to the linked
states IN case of war. They base thu II
opinion upon plain demonstration Of
facts, viz:
The navies of today are all steamers
with limited coal-carrying capacity. and
cannot cross the Pacific without renewing
their coal supply. Hawaii is only four
days steaming from San Francisco and
IN possession of any foreign power would
coast and its commerce. Shut ont from
Hawaii all of them are forced back tha
entire width of the Pacific-a distance
| practically prohibitive CT naval opera
tions against the Pacific coast. With for
e!gn countries barred out of Hawaii the
Pacific coast and its commerce is almost
| absolutely safe from naval attack.
SEVENTH OBJECTION.
It will necessitate heavy expenditures
and navy in order to protect Hawaii
| in time of war.
whether Hawaii is to be fortified and
defended or not, does not depend upon an
nexation; but upon whether the United
states Is 10 continue its policy of barring
out other nations. Annexation is only in.
cidental to the policy of exclusion.
having decided to keep other countries
out, the question now to be decided is.
can that policy best be subserved bv own
ing Hawaii, or by leaving it an indenen.
dent country?
II the United States owns Hawaii II can
fortffy and establish q, navy or not rs
may seem best. -