The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-07-21
(Continued from Ist page.)


not true that If he United States
accept from the hands of such a
government the sovereignty Of Ha-
waii, they virtually take advantage
OF wrong committed by their own
ofiicers9 Even If such acceptance
were correct in point Of form, would
it be morally right2 Would it not,
in fact be ACKNOWLEDGMENT by wrong
ful aggression which we should be
ashamed OF, especially as we are apt
to be very virtuous in denouncing
such things when done by "land.
grabbing Great Britain7 Will not
this state OF the case at least furnish
an additional reason-a reason
amounting to moral obligation
for making the annexation depend
ent upon the fairly ascertained as
sent of the people OF Hawaii
These are questions OF conscience
and answer to which a decent and
srlf-respecting people will demand.
But even if We were capable Of
throwing all moral considerations
aside aud of brutally taking the
ground that when wa can get a
good thing" Hawaiians have no
rights which Americans are bound
to respect, still there are questions
OF interest upon which the Ameri-
can people are clearly entitled to
some light before step of such
tremendous importance is taken.
Would the annexation of the Ha-
waiian islands really be "a good
tbingW
The Presidents message and the
report Of the Secretary OF State,
while giving US much on the diplo.
matte history Of the case, have not
word to say as to whether and
how this annexation will be of sub
stantial benefit to the American
people. The question is therefore
in order, will there be such benefits,
what will they specifically consist IN,
and to whom will they accrue? la
answering these questions the advo-
Gates OF the annexation scheme
should not be per nitted to get off
with vague generalities about ex-
panding our commerce and the like.
They should be held to point out
precisely what new channels OF COM
MERGE and what new fields OF pro-
duction will be opened, and especi-
ally whether, If there be such new
channels of commerce and new
fields of production, they could not
be opened to equal advantage with
out burdening the United States
with political responsibility for
group of islands two thousand
miles away, with such a population
laboring under such climatic influ-
ences.
We hear much in these days about
the lowering of our standard Of citi
zenship by undesirable immigration
from Russia and from southern and
southeastern Europe. How will it
affect the standard of American citi-
zsnship If we embody in it a terri
tory large majority of the inhabit-
ants OF which are Asiatics, and the
white population OF which is largely
Portuguese, coming from one OF
those corners of Europe immigra-
ton from which makes many of our
people so nervous2 Is it likely that
the character of the population OF
Hawaii will very materially change
after annexation9 Why has it not
30 changed since the overthrowing
OF the Hawaiian Government in
1893, immigration being free2 Have
not the climatic conditions OF Ha.
wall something to do with it? Gan
we ever expect people Of the Germ
anic race to become there dominant
not only in power but also in num-
bersa And is it not necessary that
they should be dominant in mum
bers to form not only government,
but also a democratic commonwealth