The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-09-07
TWO NATIVE HAWAIIANS SPEAK
Some Seven Hundred
People Hear Them.
Resolution With Cheers To be
Presented to President and
Foreign Representatives.

There were present at the mass-meet-
ing of native Hawaiian on Palace
Square late yesterday afternoon some
200 people, about one-tenth of whom
were women. The meeting was adver-
uised to take place at o'clock, but the
Chairman was kept waiting half an
hour for people who could not arrive on
time J. X. Kaunamano and the speak
ers then entered the lookout on the
old Gibson premises and soon the ma
tives were gathered thickly about the
place. There were noticed on the
stand: J. X. Kaulia, President of the
Aloha Alma Society; Kalauokalani,
President. Of the Kalai Alma Society;
Lilikalani and others.
President Kaunamano called the
meeting to order, and stated that the
business would be given out by the
speakers of the afternoon. He then in
troduced J. K. Kaulia, who responded
in substance, as follows:
Mr.. President and the Hawaiian
People:-We have come together here
this afternoon TO consider a question
that has been before us for the last
four years-the question of the annex
alton Of this, our land, to the United
States. Yes, you have heard about it
over and over again through the col
umns of the press and by word of
mouth. and you have all considered it
well; but, you who love your country
and your nation, you to whom by
rights all things here belong are you
going to allow your land to be given
TO the United States? (Cries of No,
MOI from the people) We have been
told over and over again by some peo-
pie what a good thing annexation will
be for these Islands, the land of our
birth; but / tell you, if we ever get
annexation TO the United States, we
may consider ourselves in the position
OF being buried alive. Foreigners will
pour in here, and then, my friends, to
what place viii We be scattered? CAN
swer from the people: TO the noun
tains.' } / see you are in sympathy
with me Then let us stand as a unit
ing considered. America has done us
no wrong, but it is this Government in
power today that has Invested us Of
our rights. our heritage They are try
ing to coax the United States to take
us We must not allow such a thing
as long as our protests will do any
good. If we are annexed today, the
morrow will bring us no good. Not so
with the rich people, the men in power
today. They will reap the harvest.
Our profit will be where? Our gain will
be from what source? We meet here
today as a peaceably-inclined and law
abiding lot of people, but our opin-
ions, freely expressed, we wish all to
hear. We come not with arms into a
bloody conflict, but with thought and
resolution into what we believe to be
our rights as the people Of this land.
Let us stand apart and against this
measure that is so obnoxious to us, for
IL the people with the white skins come
they will take everything. You know
that. II is the history of all times. If
we say No to annexation, ] do not
think the United States will annex u.s.
The people of that great land have al
ways been set down as just. They will
not, at this hour, seek to diverge from
that path. If annexation ever comes, it
will come from us, the rightful owners
of the land. We are against it and let
us stand together. The Government
here is trembling today because annex
alton does not seem to come with the
requisite speed. If we are ready to
give our land to America, all well and
I at 10 -,
that effect (Cries of No, noiO Then
it is our work to stand against 1t, so
that in December the United States will
see just how the Hawaiian people
stand. Let us one and all say: No
annexation (Three cheers)
Kaulia finished, Kalauokalani was
introduced as the next speaker His
remarks were more flowery and less
TO the point than those of the first
speaker, but the sentiment was the
same. Kalauokalani said in substance:
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentle
men:-We are here to consider the
great question that is before us today.
This is our land, we are the people
and this is where we belong. Are you
in favor of giving your country to an
other, to allow yourselves to be swal-
lowed up by another and lose your
identity, without protesting voice?
In other words do you want annex
alton? (Cries of No, nol) Shall we
remain independent? (Gries of Yes,
yesl) To tell you truly, it shall profit
us nothing to be annexed. We are I'M
der Republic now and we are getting
no good If we go under another Re
public, we may get worse. (Whispers
of The fate of the Indians.D When
we are thrown into the United States,
then the Deluge You are here to think
over the matter. In doing so, let us
be sensible and law-abiding. Fear not,