Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-17

| CUunucltly DClleNeu tiiHt ln tnlS nlalleE
| the administration would give heed to
tile conservative sentiment of the cOua-
| try and be governed by the traditional
policy of the government. While 1t has
been known that representatives of the
government at Honoulu-a government
that is not supported by Il majority OF
the Hawaiian people-wcre industri-
ouSly and insidiUusly laboring ut
Washington in the interest of AN
nexation, there was no thought
that the president and secretary
of state were giving any countenance 10
their efforts, because there was a justi-
fable Impression that Mr. Mckinley
and Mr. Sherman were not friendly to
the annexation scheme. The former had,
indeed endorsed tile declaration of the
republican national uiaUiurn that "the
Hawaiian islands should b. controlled
by the United States and no foreign
power should be permitted 10 Interfere
with them" but this does h0t necessarily
mean annexation. As to Secretary Shcr-
man he has declared in explicit terms
against the acquisition of outlying ter
ritory. urging that the domain of the
United States is already extensive
enough The announcement of the nego-
tuition Of an Hawaiian annexation
treaty therefore caused general surprise
and was received At first with incredu-
litv. Tnc grave fact OF such Il treaty is,
however before the American people
and public sentiment regarding it should
he fully and clearly expressed.
This paper has always urged and still
believes that it would be Il grave mis-
take to annex the Hawaiian islands.
Our opposition is not merely for the
reason that the annexation of this re-
mote territory would be n radical de
parture from the policy of the republic
since its foundation. but because we are
unable to see what advantages or ben
Gifts the United States would derive
from possessing these islands, while
there are Obvious possibilities of much
trouble and large expense III governing
them, to say nothing of the danger of
international friction. These islands are
2.OGO miles distant. They contain a
mixed population largely composed of
AsinticS and three fourths of which is
dcnscly ignorant, wholly incapable of
self government or of understanding our
institutions. Carr there be Il reasonable
doubt that under our system of govern
ment which Of course we should have
to establish there. this population of ig-
norant and indolent natives, Chinese,
Japanese and Portuguese would be
found troublesome to govern? 1t is true
they have not shown themselves to be
particularly aggressive in asserting any
rights since the present Hawaiian gov
ernment was organized, but this is not
to be accepted as an assurance that
they would remain docile under Il change
of political conditions. Very few of them
now participate in political affairs. We
should have to give the right of suffrage
at least to the natives. The others
would not long be content with eXclu-
sion from this right. Political adv@n-
turers would stir them up to demand
equal political privileges, causing con-
slant agitation and disturbance. Ger
tainly we do not want to assume the
care of n population with which such
state of affairs is possible. The danger
of international friction may be very re-
mote, but it is still possible and should
not be left out of consideration.
Hawaiian annexation would be n men
ace to the sugar industry of the United
States the development of which is of
the highest Importance. We imported
from the islands last year over 100000
600 pounds Of sugar. There has been a
steady increase in the production Of
sugar there under the reciprocity treaty,
which allows Hawaiian sugar to come
into the United States free, the annual
bounty to the sugar growers of the
islands amounting to more than $4,000
900. With annexation Hawaiian sugar
production would undoubtedly increase
more rapidly than it has done, with
necessarily damaging effect upon sugar
beet culture in the United States. Thus
annexation would be great boon to
the sugar producers of Hawaii, but a
serious blow to those who are engaged
or who contemplate engaging in the
cultivation of the sugar beet in this
country. Thousands of American farm
ers would be injured by it.
The eXpediency of the United States
not permitting any foreign power to in
terfere with the Hawaiian islands will
not be questioned, but the scheme of
annexation cannot be justified by the AS
sumption that there is danger of such in
reference Much has been said about
Japan having designs upon the islands.
but recent refutation of this has been
furnished in the amicnble settlement of
the controversy regarding immigrants
between the Japanese ana Hawaiian
governments. i'll which the former
rcceded from its original posi-
ton. Japan has protested against
the annexation treaty, but only
with Il view TO securing recognition of
treaty stipulations. The fact Is that
foreign nations understand fully that the
United States would not tolerate any
interference with Hawaii, that the Mon
roe doctrine applies to those islands as
Il. I. Il