The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-10-12

advantages of reciprocal trade. We
have no assurances that, in the event
of annexation we will have the advan-
tages that have accrued under the
Reciprocity Treaty The United States
of America has instituted what it calls
reciprocal trade" Negotiations along
this line are now pending with France.
According to the Importance of our
trade will be the benefits granted us
by the United States. We will give and
they Will return. What have We seen
in these four short years? The Reel
procity Treaty, with its free sugar, I'M
der Mckinley: sugar at cent and a
fraction duty under the Wilson bill;
sugar at cents and over under the
Dingley bill | want TO say that / do
not believe that it is right for us to
borrow trouble in the matter. Annex
alton will change the whole fiscal re-
lations of the country. want you to
understand that increased taxation
must come in the event of annexation.
want TO speak with admiration of the
men who have stood for annexation
and who have stood a tax of thousands
of dollars to further annexation. l
want you to bear me out that from
Lanai TO Kauai the people are crying
out under the heavy taxation of the
best Government these Islands ever
saw
Il want TO say to you that annexa-
ton will revolutionize the whole labor
system of the Hawaiian Islands. 1t
will be said that l should be one of the
first to favor such a move. We must
have just and humane system of I'M
derstood contract labor l want TO say
10 you that annexation means the
sharpest kind of competition. Men
will come here and undertake the me-
chanical arts. l want you to under
stand that every clerk behind the
counter and every one working for
monthly wage, field laborers excepted,
will feel this competition keenly. l
want you to understand that the scale
of wages in San Francisco will be the
scale of wages in Hawaii. / want to
say one more thing: The fortunate
men in the labor market will be the
field la6orers. He will have protec-
ton, for we are given to understand
that in case of annexation no more
Will US dllONCd III the GULL
try. Just as surely as skilled labor is
lessened, just so sure will field labor be
increased. 1 am leading up TO this, be-
cause people looking for annexation
say it will be best for the sugar inter-
ests. Now, / believe in those interests,
but l am not ready to grant every
thing in the world to them. l have
wondered, and sometimes thought,
what annexation would do is not all
ventilated. We should think what will
| become of us when we have to shoulder
the burden of tariff, such as the Ding
ley tariff. The same tariff is denounced
alike by protectionists, fair traders
and free traders. Most of the articles
| from England, France, Germany, Chi
ma and Japan will be increased to you,
on account of that tariff. l very much
! fear the question of annexation has
not been considered as it ought to be,
! When the Senate of the Republic OF
1 Hawaii met last month it took very
short time to ratify the Treaty of An
nexation. Nothing was said of the ad-
vantages or disadvantages. | want to
say to you that as Hawaiian, l am
l indignant at the action which took
place here on the 18th of January, 1898.
As an offspring of American parents
am ashamed of that action. 1 believe
that all that has followed that fatal
/ day-all that has been laid upon us
during the last four years-was be-
cause of a false step taken on that
! day. 1t seems to me that all that has
been undertaken by the present Gov
eminent has been because the men in
power took counsel of their fears and
not their good judgment. If there is
one thing I admire more than another
in the Hawaiians, it is the patience
that has been shown by them under
wrong. l want to say now that Your
patience must surely be rewarded soon
er or later. l want to say that if JUS
tice and truth be not crushed to earth
and should rise again, a good time is
coming. If there are any weakened
annexationists here, l wish to say:
Let him speak now, or forever hold
his peace l would not excite passion
or temper. l would excite in the breast
OF all of you righteous Indignation.
What l have said, l have said because
l believe it, and for the purpose of
giving you some food for thought. In
closing, 1 want to say to you that you
should urge action in all lawful direc-
lions to preserve and perpetuate Ha-
waiian independence"
This said, F. ]. Tesla introduced
resolution to the effect that the mass
meeting approve of the memorial pre-
scented at the beginning and that cop
les be sent the President and Senate
of the United States, as well as the
Representatives of America, Great Brit
ain, Portugal, France and Japan resid
ing here.
Chairman Hookano made a few more
remarks, proposed three cheers for the
Hawaiian flag and declared the meet
ing adjourned.