The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-16

The memorial drafted BY Thomas
Prosch and submitted az the meeting 81
the board OF trustees OF the CHAMBER ~
Commerce Wednesday afternoon was a
comprehensive document bearing upoo
the subject Of Hawaiian annexation. Mr..
Prosch has given the matter a great dea,
Of careful study. and his figures are com-
piled from the most authentic sources.
The subject. when II came before the
committee on state and national affairs.
was referred back TO the chamber as he
ing Of political nature rather thsn a
commercial proposition When presented
at the meeting Of the board 1t vas ac-
companied by Mr.. Prosch's memorial.
which was adopted. The paper was as
follows:
ITO the Honorable the Senate and House
of Representa- lives in Congress Assem-
bled:
.'The Chamber Of Commerce Of the city
OF Seattle presents this petition for the
islands of Hawaii The relations of our
republic with that country have always
been OF the most intimate and interesting
character. and the feelings Of the two
peoples have been more near and more
friendly than have been those of any 9TH
er people with our own. In consequence
OF this good feeling and of these near re-
iations, and of our mutual reciprocal
wants, the commercial intercourse be-
tween the peoples of the two countries
has increased year by year until it has
become enormous in proportions. exceed
ing IN value anything of the kind to be
found in any other part of the world,
amounting 70 $50 per. annum for every
inha bitant of the islands Were our trade
with Canada in like proportion it would
exceed $50, 900 per annum, instead OF
about So, 60 90 az at present. Did we
trade with Mexico, our other next-door
neighbor, I'm like ratio, our purchases
from and sales TO our friends on the South
would amount to 81, 500 90. coo in a single
year. instead of one-sixtiefh of that figure.
or $50, Co., 900, as they actually are in value,
and would equal the entire foreign COM
merce of the United States. Were We so
intimately connected with Great Britain
and Ireland. our relations with the
shrewd, clever traders of that kingd dom
would amount in dollars to nearly six
thousand millions per annum-a figure
Loco per cent above the real money value
OF the trade IN question. Did the United
States deal with all foreign people upon
the same basis as the Hawaians do with
US our exports and imports would exceed
the enormous figure of ten thousand mil
Hon dollars, and would be six times
greater than they are at present But not
only Is tie American Hawaiian trade so
volume, amounting TO fifteen million dol
lars per annum. and its destruction would
be serious and severe blow to even so
numerous and strong a people as those Of
the United States. And not only that. but
the great bulk of the trade of these friend
ly Hawaiians is given to the United
otdlcSs upWdTuS Oh ~ per cent. OF the
whole Further. this trade is and always
has been chiefly in the hands of American
citizens. who. in the islands, have vast
interests, and who either there or at home
control the shipping and all the other ele-
mentS that go 10 constitute this enor-
nous. unequaled and lucrative trade.
There they have nearer home and nearer
to the old flag than they could have been
In any other spot outside of our own ma
tional limits. They have taken with them
their schools, their churches. their frater-
nal societies and they have long contem-
plated the day when their national en-
blem will wave over them undisputed and
aione. The people OF washington are
vastly interested In this island group. On
the Sd of May, 1897, single ship bound
for Honolulu took out of the port of Seat
tie ZOO tons of American coal, lumber.
lime, -four and other native products She
will return in a few weeks with fruit and
other produce OF the islands. Hundreds
have in the past gone into that friendly
country and the trade of our people Is
now larger than ever before. The first
legislature that met 10 the territory or
erai government to take the steps neces-
sary to secure the annexation of these ISL
ands to the United States. The importance
of the matter was recognized then ana mas
been since by succeeding legislatures ana
lesser bodies of a commercial and public
character. We cannot do better than rett-
crate their statements and requests.
which we now do formally, earnestly and
hopefully. The acquisition OF this group
so islands--so considerable In extent. so
rich in resources. so vast IN trade, so
promising for the future. 50 situated OPP
posite our coast-would be, 1t is believed.
a tower of strength to the United states,
which our government should not LONGER
and benefit of our own country and peo-
pie."