The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-01-28
Continued from LIST page.)

we Oull itolubuJ VI lHo DdWdlldu
Islands, who is OF that opinion.
During Minister Blounts stay in
the Islands in 1898, he received
several petitions against the intend
ed object OF the Provisional Govern
ment-the aunexing OF these islands
to the United States. They we're
worded as follows:
"The undersigned residents and
property holders OF the Hawaiian
Islands, beg respectfully to place
before your Excellency their views
respecting the present important
question of annexation now pending
before this community.
FirSt:-We beg to call your atten-
ton to the fact that the industry of
these islands is the raising and
manufacturing Of sugar, and which
business, to be conducted success
fully, and in manner to compete
with other cane-sugar producing
countries of the world, must have a
labor system such as is now main
tanned here, but which we under
stand is prohibited by the existing
laws Of the Uuited States, and would
have to be abolished should the isl
ands become an integral part of
that country.
Second:-As friends Of the Hawai-
ian race, in whose country we have
made our homes, and under whose
Government we have heretofore en-.
joyed prosperity and protection, we
must protest against any measure
which would deprive them of their
civil rights as race. Feeling,
therefore, that the terms Of tho
treaty of annexation as submitted
to the United States Government
would cripple the greatest industry
of the islands, and that no provision
has been made for securing the
rights OF the Hawaiians, we respect
fully subscribe our names as OPP
posed to same"
Three otker petitions read as fol-
lows: SIN the view OF the fact that
the Provisional Government Of the
Hawaiian Islands, is now attempting
to bring about the annexation OF
these islands to the United States of
America, we, the undersigned, resi-
dents, taxpayers, and voters Of the
Hawaiian Islands, of foreign birth
or parentage, do subscribe our names
as signifying our opposition to such
annexation"
The Hawaiian Patriotic League
a political association composed Of
Hawaiians, representing. large
majority of the native born Hawai-
len qualified voters throughout these
islands-haEded Minister Blount a
Memorial on the Hawaiian crisis"
being a statement of political events
from lS49 up to 1898. The writer
quotes from that document:
at will suffice to say that we, Ha-
waiians, do not and cannot content
eddy acknowledge the right Of a
faction OF turbulent foreigners to
dictate in our country for the salts
faction Of their greedy selishness
and best OF power; but we are ever
ready to bow and submit to the rule
OF the majority, whenever legally
expressed, and we would willingly
abide by the decision OF plebiscite,
honorably and fairly carried out, if
such was the will of America.
'But all coercive measures are of
no avail, for the Hawaiians remain
Hawaiian, true to our race. y
"We do not believe that the times
and circumstances warrant the pres
ent movement OF annexation; our
people are not yet ripe for it, and
we prefer remaining under the pa
ternal rule of our own monarchy
that understands our wants and
wishes, and under which we claim
to be quite capable OF self-govern-
ment.
"If annexation is to be ACCOM-
plished with any justice, it must be