New-York tribune., 1897-07-30
QUESTIONS ABOUT HAWAII.
ANSWERS TO SOME THAT CARL sCHURz
ASKS
THE REASONS lie ADVANCES WHY HAWAII
SHOULD NOT Re ANNEXED SHOWN TO BE
EAsEIEss- REASONING FROM FALSE
PREMISES AND BAD HISTORY.

TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Carl Schurz In the columns of "Harpers
weekly" has recently propounded certain "Ques-
,,ons concerning Hlwaii." in which he builds UP
,rbat he evidently regards unanswerablc
argument In opposition 10 the political annexation
~ the Hawaiian archipelago to the United States.
In concluding his paper in the issue OF July 10 he
says:
Nobody will deny that these questions are peril
renf and that the American people are entitled 70
the fullest light on the points Involved
In concluding his paper published in The
Weekly" Of July l. Mr. Schurz says:
The advocates of the Hawaii annexation scheme
ere respectfully asked 10 answer
How can the American people receive "the fullest
ush, on the points involved" and how can his
,,sries be answered in accordance with his cha-
lcnge while the columns of the journal III whch he
writes are uoi open to a discussion of the Hawaiian
question save only from Mr.. Schurz's point OF
view9 rte Editor OF "IIarpcr's Weekly. having
stated tc inc. in effect that the challenge ABOVE
ouoted is not 20 be taken seriously. and that the
renly called for in his columns would not be in
serted in them. seek TO reach Mr.. schurzs audi
snce through another channel.
A, the outset of Mr. SchurZs discourse he as
.ures il 10 he undisputed that the annexation OF
pawaH will be "A radical departure from the tra-
d,ional policy of this Republic" | must take Issue
with this position and assert that il will be in strict
.ocordance with the policy Of our Government. fol-
lived almost from It's establishment, Annexation
Of new territory 10 the area OF the United states Is
-, only not d new and untred policy. but one of
Am establishment We annexed the vast region OF
Ioy,siana by purchase from France: Florida by
,,r,hase from Span Texas by consent and re-
,os, Of the government of that republic: New
Nexico and the California region by conquest from
Mexico and subsequent purchase; the Gadsden strip
nv purchase from Mexico: Alaska by purchase from
Russia.
7, is argued that all Of these sections were con,
os, ,l,.r,, anil a
a.,.xa.onists make this absurd claim. But in so
claiming they ignore Alaska. which Is non-con-
.irpoas and also largely nsular. MT. sehurz calls
o,,entjon 20 the fact that Hawaii Is two thou
eand miles off our coast but does he not know that
The vesternmost OF the Aleutan islands. belonging
N the Alaskan cession. lies fully one thousand
miles west Of Hawaii. penetrating even into the
orient?
Next Mr. Schurz asks whether the opinions and
u,ishes OF the natives have been consulted IN re-
gard 10 the annexation OF their ISLANDS 10 INNS
Rcpuhlic II he is so anxious 10 preserve precedent
why does not he remember TO tell us that neither
the French. Spanish nor Indian residents OF the
1ouisiana region neither the Spanish nor Seminoles
10 Florida the Mexican nor Pueblo residents OF
New-Nexco and California; the white settlers nor
the Indians OF the oregon region: nor the Alaskan
aboreines were in the least degree consulted when
,he arranrements were made which brought them
under the control Of this Government Neither was a
plebiscite taken in the English colonies or North
America prior 10 the events OF li16 Is there any
record that any OF these peoples have at any time
protested against the annexation of the regions IN
which they have resided. or that In any case the
circumstances in life have met with detrimen'' OF
their property been Jeopardlzed oy 'he eN'e"''o" 0
our boundaries?
THE REVOLUTION OF 1885,
~ox, Mr. Scburz considers at considerable length
TIE Hawaiian revolution OF 1898 which he desis-
mates as a 'usurpaticn," and declares that IL was
.notoriously accomplished with the lawless aid OF
officers and forces OF this Republic Does MT
schurz then. deny the right Of revolution? Then
he has read American history to little advantage
II he has read the documents in this case-as' or
course he has o. he would not venture to DISCUSS
tits questionable knows that the Hawaiian reVoiu-
ZION of January, 1885, had its roots In exactly the
same soil as did the American revolution OF l'o
Iliuokalani sought 10 promulgate constructor
which was not 10 be submitted 10 the governed FOR
adon,jon which should disfranchise every white
man in the islands who was not married 10 an
Hawaiian wife When 1t is remembered ,ha'
So 100000 Of invested funds. the property OF "hi'e
men was at stake and that by far the greater pro-
portion OF the landed property In the city Oh HOMO
'iulu is owned by white men. will Mr. Sehurz sun
80, ,ha, the revolution of 1893 an unjust-
fable usurpation? ,,o
The Hawaiian government buildings ana dic"'e'
had already fallen into the hands or the reVoiu-
tionsts and the revolution had been ac'uaHy con-
American war vessel which had been Temporarily
absent with Minister Stevens on board. arrived III
the harbor OF Honolulu. Night was fast appio
ing and the fire department or the cl'! was D"0"'
occupied in oxtingushing ncendiary hreS' set y!
,ba Ouean's adherents There was urgent need 'hd'
the property of Americans in the cfy sh'''' "
protected from destruction by a strong mana.
Wv, Mr. schurz denomnates the annexation OF
,be Hawaiian Islands land grabbing. 1t Is 'ahu-
grabbing" in just the same sense that 'he """0
alton of Texas was "land-grabbing when We an
ncx,d that region at the request ana VIII" ','o w.,
sent Of the government ana OF inc p'opi ror.at,
owned the land. The native population oi h'".''
long ago sold It's lands at excellent prices 10 VIII VIII
neT Who have developed them and brought rSrr Srs
on, of ne once fallow ground Does Mr. SchutIII ScII
wjsb 70 jneist that the native iIawaiians shaH
have their cake and eat H. 100 -, ,,,s o,raxa-
Now Mr. SchurZ asks: How VIII ln'9 mnric1n
aon be Of substantial beneh, TO @ Ihe ensbe us
people II IS readily answered. m ~ VII coree and
Ica as & Te copsUme Within our territory in,
stead Of supporting i from aCcgisnt barbors on
the PacIdc under the American flag. ieatu,e IN
which Pacific coast Is nG,S Of msrchandise
deficient. il Will force every pouio marican norts
conveyed between Hawaiian sma am Aae'c" ~ AN ad
fniSab,e situation for naval and coaling M stanoa
IN the md-Pacihc The advaffb sva baen nnanswerably
considered bv Captain Mahan the emte"t mht or;nost
auihorjfv with a cable connectins u.io oUmeerce
ir ,he r,a,,er ~ ship news alone woud ne ii'e, ti
mabe our meteorological depat ,Henn i,d W. n learn
70 discern sieat ce nd progress OF storms IN ne
Pscidc once under the American abesa nag ch Islands
Xii he tbrown open 70 agricultural setteme lem comirv
advantage the husban nniion MaT acres Of rich
government land which may be purchasnTq' nn'ure re Of
an acre admirably adapted 10 ,h me enterprising
American manufacturer score OF GppV hp}p energies.
for the employment OF MS csiHH, iH,ng failow
rHF cu.pAcrER OF THE POPULATION
o,s,iars the subject of the cos
- s.-"' ,.,nr of the population OF the
Islands is mixcd IT is true; but is psaeeseie
The japanese imbroglio now attracting ,s ou, have
ton is the sole instance which the lsa,,oS nus, anv
ever experienced OF trouble einaHda,h, ,h,s the oppo
Tae % :" ,io, w. Hpsten 10 assure us. nee1 No. @