Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-09-30
SLY POLICY.
HER GRASP REACHES OUT STEADILY
TO ENCOMPASS HAWAII.

HER GRASP REACHES OUT STEADILY
TO ENCOMPASS HAWAII.
The Little Island of the North Pacific De-
fes Uncle sam-wnl Fight the Annexa-
tion Of Hawaii with All Her Strength.
Possible Cooperation of England.
The situation in Hawaii is one to
cause serious apprehension.
If the men in the United States SEN
ate who cry .'jingo' on the one hand
and the men who fear the term 'jingo'
on the other We're in Honolulu today,
they would face few cold facts that
would give them change of heart in
less than "A hours
That the island republic could live
through the Hawaiian policy of the
last administration entitled it to respect
but it is at close range that one's re-
spect and admiration grow more and
more for the government of Hawaii. 1t
is a clean government and progressive
in the best sense of the word. There is
no higher civilization or finer culture
in any state of the Union than right
on the Hawaiian Islands.
If the Hawaiian republic could sus-
tain itself, it would be far better that
it should go on an independent nation.
But it cannot stand against the ire
mendous odds-no the royalist ele-
ment, for the monarchy is thing of
the past but the steady, firm, outreach
ing grasp of Japan.
1t is all very well from the political
point of view in Washington, 5000
miles away. to scout at the Japanese
question as scheme to accomplish an
nexation The scheme is not in Hawaii
to accomplish annexation, but in Japan
to prevent annexation.
1t is not the question Of annexation
pure and simple but back of all the
diplomacy and sifted to the bottom it is
the question of Anglo-Saxon or Asiatic
sovereignty for the Hawaiian Islands,
and this will be plain enough to the
senate of the United States when it
deals with the treaty of annexation next
December.
The war with China developed the
aggressive nature of Japan, but the in
action and apparent Indifference of the
United States made the Japanese ag-
gressive in Hawaii If the Japanese
question precipitates a crisis in Hawaii,
the government Of the United States
will have much to answer for.
The United States has two gunboats
in the harbor of Honolulu, and indi-
rectly assumes protectorate over Ha-
waii. The time has come when there is
but one consistent course. The United
States should act with decision and
promptness now Or recall her gunboats,
cease forever the cry of Hands off" to
the other nations and never say another
word about the annexation of the Ha-
waiian Islands.
The present attitude of the United
States leaves Japan firm and unwaver-
ing in her protest against annexation,
no matter how her contention with Ha-
waii over the immigration question
may be settled
This is the ground held by the gov
ernment Of Japan, the press and people
of Japan aud the Japanese In Hawaii.
From the Japanese point of view, the
settlement of the immigration question,
even to the advantage Of Japan, would
in no manner dispose of the protest
against annexation. This is the position
taken by the minister of Japan, Mr..
Shimamura, though he expresses him
self most guardedly on the subject be-
cause of instructions from his govern
ment.
But the immigration question is far
from settlement. On the contrary, it is
more complicated than ever, and not a
bit sirnplifed by Japans agreement to
aEbitrate, as proposed by Hawaii
The Japanese say the settlement of
the immigration dispute would remove
suspicious as to designs on the islands,
but it would not change Japan s atti-
tude toward annexation. They say Eng
land is opposed to annexation, and there
are many reasons why England and Ja-
pan would sympathize on this question.
In the first place, the friendly rela-
lions between the two nations were new
er SO apparent and were made stronger
by the emperor of Japan sending his
nephew, Prince Arisugawa, to the jubi-
lee, accompanied by the distinguished
Marquis Ito, and their cordial reception
by the Marquis of Salisbury.
In substantial favors England has
enabled Japan to import foreign capital
by purchasing Japan's bonds; on the
retrocession Of Liaotung peninsula Eng
land observed friendly neutrality; in
the matter of the sinking of the Chinese
ship Kowshing England took an impair
tial and favorable course to Japan; Eng
land has declared against Russian ag
gression in Korea.
On the other hand, Japan has shown
her great friendship and admiration for
England in many ways-fully appre-
ciating England's S inyariable neutrality
in her favor-and a special preference
to England in orders for warships.
Japan is disposed to take England for
her model From the nature of her
geography and position Japan's policy
is to maintain isolation. She admires
England's S splendid isolation, but at
the supreme moment England can defy
the combined, fleets of the continent.
Japan is building up great navy. and
some time, like England, she, too may
defy the combined fleets not only of
the continent, but of the world, includ-
ing the United States. At any rate the
island empire has made good start in
gunboats. and in the harbor Of Homo
lulu the Japanese cruiser Mamma beats
the American man war all hollow. "
Every Japanese on the islands knows it,
and every man on the Philadelphia adj
mits it with a feeling of regret that an
American can understand.
The Japanese cruiser is not the big
gest ship in the Japanese navy. but she
is the best equipped for the purpose.
Her guns are new and of the latest make
two big krupp guns, 26 ton, 10 inch;
six 10 ton. inch. quick firing Armstrong
guns of 1895 patent; any number of