The San Francisco call., 1897-11-28
PETTIGREW SILENT,
But DUBOIS WRITES,
The Silver Statesman From Idaho
Is Earnestly Opposed to
Annexation


Annexation.
Senator r. F. Pettigrew of South
Dakota, a new and emphatic convert to
the justice of Hawaii's protest against
annexation, arrived here yesterday d.
rectly IRON Honolulu, accom- panied by
his friend ex-senator Fred t Dubois of
Black Foo-, Idaho, and took apartmen is
at the Palace Hote., where he will remain
until Tuesday. before resuming his home
ward journey.
lie refused absolutely to say anything
about Hawaii or the question OF annexa-
tion.
But Mr.. Dubois. acting for him, very
kindly furnished and signed an unan-
swerab!e argument against annexation.
Senator Pettigrew," he exp aimed. sis
in the Senate row and purposes to discuss
this subject when Congress convenes, so
he does not wish to make any state
ments beforehand through the news
papers; but l am 10 longer in the Sena te
ard / am free to express my opinion and
what know also to be his opinion, for we
both addressed a mass meeting of about
1000 native Hawaiians al Hilo during our
visit to the islands"
Following Is ex-senator Dubois state
ment, prepared exc usiye!y for THE CALL:
Senator'S Pettigrew. Cannon and myself
sal ed from Vancouver on August 2 last for
Japan, Caina and the Hawaiian ISLANDS so
that We have been absent about four months.
We scarcely heard OF United States affairs
during that time, and as yet have had no op-
pcrIunity 10 catch up with current events at
home. In conseq we do not care to dis
cuss them now
But the question OF annexing the Hawaiian
Islands will soon be before Congress and we
have just come from Homo ulu.
We spent ten days on the islands during
winch time we were going from one place to
another and meeting all classes of people. We
had good opportunities 10 judge as to the ca
pabilties OF the islands. so far as production is
concerned, and also to The wishes of the
peopie,,so lar annexation is concerned
The agricultural area is limited and about
the only articles of commerce that can be pro-
duced 10 any extent are sugar and coffee
The tropical fruits OF acknowledgements.
oranges, figs, bananas and cocoanuts-can
never be OF much value for expectation TO the
United States, because of the competition not
only OF other countries, but also OF California
Florida and other sections of our own country.
Coffse production is yet in its infancy and
there is dou Dt as to how valuable the industry
VIII become. But granting that sugar and coffee
can both be ra sed with profit not a very great
amount OF either can be produced because of
the small area of suitable and on the islands.
few individuals who own the sugar and
coffee plantato1s VIII pros per If the ind u.s.
tries prosper. That is all.
might add that the very large proportion
OF sugar ana coffee planters are not Americans.
They are English, Scotch, G.rmlns ct al. /
might add SO that no Americans are en-
ployed as laborers on tie plantations
Chinese, japanese and Portuguese do the
manual work White men never have and
prob bly, never can-or at any rate never
will-do manual labor in tropical climates
There are 100 900 people on the islam Is
OF these only 1886 are Americans There are
46 ,O00 Japlnese and Chinese. about qually
divided. There are $1,000 Portuguese.
There are some 10000 Hawaiians and part
Hawaiians. TIE balance, some 5000. are
chiefly British German.
Nearly ali the Hawaiians are opposed TO
annexation. and earnestly almost bitterly
opposed. Nearly all have signed a remon-
strance against it, which they have sent to
Washington.
The Hawaiians will have several of their
own representatives III Washing ton to present
their strong objections when Congress con-
venes.
foreigners, not Am cans, are oppos TO an
nexation. OF the 1886 Americans very large
cumbersome claim half-are opposed
The advantages surely should be exceed
lngly great and plain if our Government forces