El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-05-03
Annexation of Hawaii.

The address of the annexation of
Hawaii delivered before the National
Geographical society at Washington,
d. c., March &c, 1897, by ex-Secretary
of State John w. Foster, should be
read by everyone interested in this
question of annexation, presenting the
subject as it does in clear and forceful
manner. Mr.. Foster reviews the his
| tory of the islands from the time of
Capt Cook down to the present, and
then goes Ton to present a picture
of existing conditions. Considerable
space is devoted to early Hawaiian voy-
ages, area and physical characters
tics, the two great volcanoes. climate,
products, early government, work of
missionaries, decline of the Hawaiian
race, reign of the Kamehamehas, first
constitution, overthrow of the constitu-
ton, election of a king, etc. Under
the subhead, "America's claim on
Hawaii" Mr.. Foster says:
But, in addition to the fact that the
regularly constituted government of
Hawaii is seeking annexation to the
United States, we have a strong equit-
able claim to the island. The people
of the United States contributed mill
lions of dollars to bring the inhabi-
tantS out of a wretched state of bar
barism and servitude and to secure
them place among the civilized people
of the earth. Americans gave them a
written language, organized their
ciples of government, for more than
half a century were the real admins
traitors of public affairs, and until the
rulers demonstrated their utter inca
pacity, were the firm supporters of the
native government. The United States
has, by means of the reciprocity treaty,
brought life and prosperity to the Is
q M n
planters to grow rich at our expense.
Hawaiisis today virtually an Amer
lean colony. The paramount influence
is American. In no part of the United
States.is there. umore intense loyalty
shown to our country or its institu-
tions. During our civil war Hawaii
contributed much more than it's quota
Every year the Fourth of July is cele-
brated with much enthusiasm by pub
lie meeting in Honolulu On Decora
ton day the post of the grand army of
the republic repairs to the cemetery to
keep green the memory of the soldiers
who lie buried there. Thanksgiving
day is annually observed with even
more solemnity than in the native
land. The Americans of Hawai- are
loyal and patriotic sons of the father
land, and it would be a cruel and
undeserved fate to abandon them to
the rule of some foreign power.
Four times in its past history for
eign flag other than that of the United
States has foated over the islands
first the Russian, then the French,
afterward the British and again the
French. Any one of these powers
would gladly assume sovereignty again,
and to them is to be added as a menace
the rising power of Japan.
To my mind annexation presents no
political or administrative difficulties.
During the discussion four years ago it
was suggested by certain writer's of
standing in the legal profession that
there was no authority given in the |
of the United States to an
mex territory not contiguous. When the |
purchase of Louisiana was first sug- |
gested, Mr.. Jefferson, strict construc- |
zionist, thought it could not be accom- |
plished except by an amendment to the |
constitution, but when the OppOrtune |
arrived he heartily approved |
the treaty, and nothing further was |
heard of the constitutional amendment. |
The objection now advanced does not |
seem to have had any weight with the |
executive or with congress when Alas
ka was acquired, nor will it with en-
lightened statesmen today. Mexi-
can.