The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-07-09

der the rule of the Japanese or Chi
nese, or even under the rule Of the
European powers that are wishing
to adopt them il only the United
States will keep hands off.
The Kanakas may be simple
enough to allow themselves to be
used by the interests that oppose
annexation, but nobody in the
United States should be deceived by
the device OF a "native" petition.
The INDEPENDENT could easily re-
fute the false statements Of the
Bulletin writer's. We could easily
20 over the old grounds and state
what we, and every fair minded man,
believe to be the position" of the
ksnaka in his own country, We
could not, however, use more terse
and stronger language than did tho
American newspaper, the -Argonaut
when recently writing about "the
moral phase OF annexation" The
Aanakas thank the writer of the
Argonaut for the following publish
ed words:
There is another phase OF this an
nexation matter which we have not
seen touched upon. The arguments
which we have already mentioned
are familiar. They are based purely
upon political aud military consider
ations. There are other arguments
which are continually presented
purely commercial and material
ones-and most of them, we are
sorry to say, come from California.
Those are the arguments of traders
The policy of the United States in
regard 10 colonization and the CON
fining of its territory to the limits
Of the American continent is now a
century old. This policy is inextric-
ably bound up with the Monroe
doctrine. We cannot believe that a
country with the lofty traditions of
the United States can allow those
traditions to be overridden for
purely commercial considerations.
But the phase OF the matter to
which we refer as being as yet un-
touched upon is the moral phase.
We have read much and heard much
during the last few months concern
ing Hawaiian annexation. Wa have
heard the matter discussed in all it's
phases-political, social, financial,
and naval-but we have yet to hear
from the lips of any public man, we
have yet to see in any public journal,
reference to the moral side OF the
question of annexation. Have we a
right to annex these islandsi Have
the Hawaiian people asked US to an.
mex them? II so, how have they
asked us9 Are the present political
adventurers who have Matched the
monstrosity which they call the
Hawaiian Republic" the genuine
Representatives of the Hawaiian
people? How have they made them
selves soi If any man believes the
present oligarchy represents the
Hawaiian people, let him see how
the workings Of that government are
effected. Let him go to Honolulu
There he will find at every entrance
to the Government House the
frowning muzzles of Gatling guns
Around every government building
at the entrance OF every government
bureau, there PAGES night and day
an armed sentry, his rifle loaded
with ball cartridge. The exploiters
of the Hawaiian "republic" are
sleeping on avolcano, and they know
it. There are 40 thousand Ksnaka'
ia the islands and there are not tc
exceed two thousand whites who up
hold the present government a
revolution is likely to break out al
any day. Were it not for the fac
that the present government over
awed the native population by seiz
ing all the artillery and firearms ir
the country-with the aid, we ar,
>. sorry to say, Of the United State'
uavy--the revolution would have
come before. 1t would come now
but that the natives believe the ere
public" is backed up by the United
States navy.
But these men kuowihat day o
reckoning is close at hand. The
,,,I, fatu for ibaDo ;S In annaya