The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-24
ANNEXATION.


States 1.-THE question of annexation is
argued and reargued, fact which
gives the complete lie to the state
ments so frequently given currency
here that annexation is dead issue.
1t is by no means dead issue. 1t is
about as live as they make them Ar
gument after argument is brought up
for and against annexation and the
question is banded from north to
south and from east to west with an
immense preponderance of opinion to-
wards annexation. In fact, as one
paper states, the overwhelming senti-
ment of the people is in favor of an
neXation."
The more careful thinking papers
put the matter somewhat in this light
Either the United States Government
must take possession of the islands,
or it must leave them alone for good
and all. An Eastern papers says: SIT
is manifest that in fairness we should
either take the islands or abandon
altogether our claim to have voice
in the affairs of their people. :.
If we decline their offer, there will
be no justice in arrogating to our
selves the right to forbid them to
place themselves under the protection
of England, or of any European power
they may incline towards"
With the United States and Hawaii
it is case of the impossibilty of
eating your cake and having ii at the
same time. There are certain class
of politicians in the United States
who, while unwilling to assume the
responsibility of governing the ISL
ands. still wish to keep American in
fluence preponderant here. When
there was talk of letting Great Britain
have Necker island, as telegraph
station, such a proposition was not
regarded as proper one to entertain
by a number of United States states
men, and the Hawaiian Government
did not entertain it. Whether Necker
was suitable or not, does not enter in
to the argument. 1t is the view which
would be taken of such an act by the
United States Government that has to
be considered.
A ridiculous argument is advanced
with regard to Asiatic voters It is
claimed that if the islands are an
neXed the Chinese and Japanese will
in, OF 1 IL.
and Japanese voters in the State of
California, or the City of San Fran
cisco. They certainly are not voters
here. Not Chinaman nor a Japan
csc can become voter in this coun-
try, as long as the present Consttu-
ton lasts Under the Monarchy it was
possible, and there were a few Chinese
and one or two japanese voters, but
with the fall of the Monarchy this
class of voters was swept out of ex-
istence.
The Hawaiian vote. on the other
hand, is an intelligent one. Every
Hawaiian, except the very aged, can
read, and large proportion of them
can read English. This proportion is
continually growing, for there is no
II waiian child in the country now
which is not instructed in the Eng
fish language. The Hawaiian, once
satisfied that annexation to the Unit
ed States is assured, will prove a good
and intelligent voter.
Another ohiactio,, ro;coJ Al.
Portuguese. And this objection comes
chiefly from Californians With us the
portuguese are an exceptionally
thrifty and Woodworking class. One
has only to go round and look at the
small Portuguese homes in this city,
or the homesteads this race has taken
up, to be satisfied how thrifty and
hard working it is Statistics
shew that in proportion to their num-
beers the Portuguese are more indus
trious than any other race upon the
islands. The old people, it is true,
were ignorant when they came here,
but the bulk of the Portuguese are
now Hawaiian born, and all of these
can read and write English.
1t is needless to advance arguments
with regard to race, or, in fact. any
arguments The question has been
so repeatedly gone over. But in all
fairness the United States should
come to final decision and not leave
MS, as the seafaring men say, chang
ing in the brails."