The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-11-09
An Appeal to Justice.

science OF the civilized world.
Whether we wish it so or not, il puts
the United States on trial in the
high tribunal of national morals.
Its statement Of the case OF peo.
pie who love their birthright rises
in dignity and pathos to the plane
heretofore occupied alone by our
Declaration of Independence. 1t
pierces the pretense and exposes the
hypocrisy of the Dole oligarchy as
pitilessly and as truthfully as the
pen OF Jefferson did the colonial
policy of George III.
Adopting the noble rhetoric of
understatement, it needs no invec-
tive, and uses none, to make the
blood Jingle in the veins of every
lover OF fair play and justice.
Ii presents annexation as at pres
emit proposed as acquisition by con-
quest and not the agreeable assimila-
tion Of two peoples by peaceful
submission Of sovereignty. Having
been the victims OF conquest de-
prived of all civil and political
rights, in effect made prisoners OF
state on their own soil, it is proposed
now to hold them in such subjec-
tion by force while the sovereignty
of their country and their birth
rights therein are traded off by con-
spirators,
For seven hundred years, since
the days OF Strongbow, Ireland has
impressed the world by her protest
against domination she regards as
foreign and the imposition OF a
sovereignty without her assent. She
has raised up enemies for England
in every modern nation, and is now
able to seriously threaten the integ-
rity OF the British empire. Yet
England appeared in Ireland as an
invited military assistant in fac
tion fight, and from that foothold
took final sovereignty. The Irish
are a virile race, resentful and
patriotic. The Hawaiians are tropi-
cal, amiable, physically non-resist-
ant. These qualities we call weak
nos, and aoainet thau, nooa IN
put our power and enterprise. But
when we do it we inseminate the
world with inoredulity OF our pro-
fessions in favor of the rights Of
man and estop ourselves from pro-
test against the invasion anywhere
Of those rights.
We have arranged Spain in her
Cuban policy, have demanded that
she submit to the will OF the major
ity in that island and by withdrawal
of her military forces leaye that
majority to select the form OF domes-
tic government best suited to them.
Yet no appeal by the Cuban junta,
nor expression Of Cuban purpose
and patriotism by Ethan Allen, or
even Senator Morgan, has equaled
in power OF statement, in impression
upon the conscience OF men, that
voice uttered by Hawaiians in sup
port OF their birthright. The United
States will present fine spectacle
parading through Europe as a
champion of the majority in Cuba,
and at the same time deaf to the
voice of the majority in Hawaii.
The natives in this memorial pres
emit an alternative which the Amer
lean people connot safely ignore
When they offer to submit annex
alton to the whole body OF electors,
including all who had the suffrage
under the constitution OF 1887, and
agree to abide in good faith by the
result, they put us in the position
where we cannot proceed with the
matter along the lines laid down by
Senator Morgan. Ii we do, we walk
into infamy and carry upon US the
stencil OF an outrage unequaled in
history.-S. 4. Call.
- . -
Webster on the Hawsiians