New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
ALL ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT HAVE ONE By ONE
BEEN PROVED FUTILE. AND IT NOW
ONLY REMAINS FOR CON-
GREsS TO AC'


GREss TO ACT.
To The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: One Ct the most impressive features Of the
marriage service is that when the clergyman
makes solemn pause af;e- saying. IF any man
show just cause why they may not lawfully be
joined together. let him now speak. or else here
after forever hold his peace"
That IL just what the Administration and Con-
gress have wisely done in regard TO Hawaii They
have made and published the treaty OF annexation,
and then, before taking final action. have paused
TO hear any objections that may be made. by any
body in the United States or any ration in the
world
And now the lors pause draws toward close;
Congress assemblies IN a few weeks. and will have
20 soy definitely whether accept or reject Ha-
wall
The nations European ard American. have not
nterposed objections. Some look upon it with
favor. n tending 10 promote commerce and peace
Some acquicsce In /; as an inevitable and natural
gravitation Of republic TO republic II was hoped
at ono time by the opponents OF annexation that
good friends. the Japanese might assume
a bullying attitude toward on account OF H.
Bat the japanese. with their customary urbani;y
and good sense. declined TO be made cats-plws to
pull queen Liliuokalani's or anybody elscs chest
nuts out OF the fire. While properly insisting upon
protection OF the rights OF their emgrants, they
say they prefer 10 adhere to their traditional
So there are no objections from abroad At home
there some. but hardly many might have
been expected Several having been made. and
after discussion dropped from consideration, only
still seems TO be seriously urged That is. that
II we annex Hawaii shall be having "a State
with an allen population OF diverse nationaties,
sending Senators and Representatives. TO Washing
ton"
This might be argument having weight. II the
question TO the admission OF Hawaii as a
State. But 1t is not proposed TO admit the Islands
a State-only to annex them territory. 10
undergo a period OF development and probation
Ike other Terrtorles-a period which with some
has lasted five or ten and with others thirty or
forty years.
1t is not a valid argument against their annexa-
ton; for il it proved anything. il would prove
too much IL would prove that no nation should
annex outlying territory unless already populated
OF IT, This objection. however. has always been
ssed when Of errory has yaG
we should still be only thirteen States along the
and the Rocky Mountains contained IAN alien pop
ulation" OF French. Spanish and Indians II was
and then the population would be only 'Semino4es
and alligators" SO in Ike manner California was
Indians and Grea sers" and Alaska denounced
being only the habtation of 'icebergs and polar
bears.
Is there such thing as the spread Of American
population and American enterprise? Have they
lowed 1t NJ the Mississippi and the Missouri ana
over the Rocky Mountains. and across the Plains
and down the Pacific Slope? Are they not fol-
ing II to-day over the ChilkOot Pass and up
the distant Yukon Why Will they not follow 1t
into Hawaii?
Furthermore. the population of Hawaii is not
composed OF Americans and those in accord with
American ideas that they have a government mod
eled after our The population Of Hawaii to-
day IL less incongruous with our own tnan that
OF Louisiana. Florida Texas. California. Nevada;
Utah New-Mexico and Arizona at the time or
their respective anneXatons. The influx OF emigra-
ton. trade and enterprise will make Hawaii equally
Will knock at the door Of the Union for admission
as a State When that event happens we shal
still have tho ga me power that we have to-day OF
saying Yes" or No" Can we not safely trust
ourselves to decide that question rightly when II
may present itself or shall reject valuable
addition domain because We are afraid oil
our own shadows? FREDERICK w. SEWARD.
Montrose on the Hudson. Oct :. 1897.