The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-14
!AfAN'S SLY POLICY.
NeR GRASP REACHES OUT STEADILY
TO ENCOMPASS HAWAII.
The Little Island OF the North Pacific De.
hes Uncle sam-wri Fight the Annexa-
ton Of Hawaii With All Her Strength.
Possible Cooperation Of England.

The situation in Hawaii Is one to
cause serious apprehension.
IL the men in the United States sen.
ate who cry lingo" on the one hand
and the men who fear the term lingo
ON the other were in Honolulu today,
they would face a few cold facts that
would give them change of heart in
less than "a hours.
That the island republic could live
through the Hawaiian policy" of the
last administration entitled it to respect,
but 1t is at close range that ones re-
spect and admiration grow more and
more for the government of Hawaii. 1t
Is clean government and progressive
In the best sense of the word. There is
no higher civilization or finer culture
in any state of the Union than right
on the Hawaiian Islands
If the Hawaiian republic could sus-
tain itself. it would be far better that
1t should go on an independent nation.
But it cannot stand against the tre-
mendous odds not the royalist ele-
ment, for the monarchy is thing of
the past, but the steady, firm. outreach.
ing grasp of Japan.
1t is all very well from the political
point of view in Washington. 5000
miles away, to scout at the japanese
question as scheme to accomplish an.
nexation. The scheme is not in Hawaii
to accomplish annexation, but in Japan
to prevent annexation.
1t is not the question of annexation
pure and simple, but back of all the
diplomacy and sifted to the bottom it is
the question of Anglo-Saxon or Asiatic
sovereignty for the Hawaiian Islands,
and this will be plain enough to the
senate Of the United States when it
deals with the treaty of annexation next
December.
The war with China developed the
aggressive nature of Japan. but the in.
action and apparent indifference of the
United States made the Japanese ag.
gressive in Hawaii If the japanese
question precipitates crisis in Hawaii.
the government of the United States
will have much to answer for.
The United States has two gunboats
in the harbor of Honolulu, and indi-
rectly assumes protectorate over Ha-
wall. The time has come when there is
but one consistent course. The United
States should act with decision and
promptness now, or recall her gunboats,
cease forever the cry Of Hands off" to
the other nations and never say another
word about the annexation of the Ha-
waiian Islands
The present attitude Of the United
States leaves Japan firm and unwaver.
ing in her protest against annexation,
no matter how her contention with Ha-
waii over the immigration question
may be settled
This is the ground held by the gov.
eminent of Japan. the press and people
of Japan and the Japanese in Hawaii.
From the japanese point of view, the
settlement of the immigration question.
even to the advantage of Japan. would
in no manner dispose of the protest
against annexation. This is the position
taken by the minister of Japan, Mr.
Shimamura, though he expresses him.
self most guardedly on the subject be-
cause of instructions from his govern
ment
But the immigration question is far
from settlement On the contrary, it is
more complicated than ever, and not
bit simplified by Japan's agreement to
arbitrate as proposed by Hawaii
The Japanese say the settlement of
the immigration dispute would remove
suspicious as to designs ON the islands,
but it would not change Japan's atti-
tude toward annexation. They say Eng
land is opposed to annexation, and there
are many reasons why England and ia
pan would sympathize on this question.
In the first place, the friendly rela-
tions between the two nations were new.
er SO apparent and were made stronger
by the emperor Of Japan sending his
nephew. Prince Arisugawa, to the jubi.
lee, accompanied by the distinguished
Marquis Ito, and their cordial reception
by the Marquis of Salisbury.
In substantial favors England has
enabled Japan to import foreign capital
by purchasing Japan's bonds; on the
retrocession of Liaotung peninsula Eng.
land observed a friendly neutrality; in
the matter of the sinking of the Chinese
ship Kowshing England took an impair.
tial and favorable course to Japan: Eng.
land has declared against Russian ag-
gression in Korea.
On the other hand, Japan has shown
her great friendship and admiration for
England in many ways-fully appre
ciating England invariable neutrality
in her favor-and special preference
to England in orders for warships
Japan is disposed to take England for
her model From the nature of her
geography and position Japan's policy
is to maintain isolation She admires
England's splendid isolation, but at
1.-THE supreme moment England can defy
the combined fleets of the continent.
Japan is building up great navy. and
some time. like England, she, too, may
defy the combined fleets not only of
the continent, but of the world includ
ing the United States. At any rate the
island empire has made good start in
gunboats and in the harbor of Homo.