The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-11-19
Especial Correspondence.

H1lO, November IL.
By request of the native Hawaiians,
Senator r. F. Pettigrew, of S. Da- !
kota. and ex-senator Fred. T. Dubois,
of Idaho, attended the HALL native
church this morning, to listen to their
ideas on the annexation question.
The Rev. S. L. Desha, pastor OF the
Haili church, acted as Interpreter for
the natives, of whom there were about
four or five hundred present. Among
the Hawaiian speakers was one lady.
They all strongly protested against the
annexation of the Islands by the Unit
ed States. ''They had always looked
upon the United States as their Father;
it was the first power that gave them
independence, and they have always
looked upon it as a land of justice, and
they now look to the United States to
protect them father would MS
child"
Senator Pettigrew then spoke as fol-
lows:
1--WE came to your Islands for the
purpose of ascertaining what the peo-
pie who live in this country thought
about the question of annexation of
| the Islands, and also to see what we
thought about the desirability of an
neXing these Islands, if we found the
people wanted them annexed on the
part of the United States. / have tried
to talk with everyone who would talk
with us on both sides of this question,
and ascertain the views of your peO-
pie. Much Misrepresentation has been
made in the United States with regard
to how the native Hawaiian looked up
on this question. I had supposed
when | came that many Of your people
were in favor of annexation, because
it had been so represented, but l have
talked with everyone who would talk
with me. and I have failed to find a
native Hawaiian who was not opposed
to annexation to the United States, and
in favor of your own Government.
(Applause).
1T will do you no good for me to talk
with you. Of course l think it may do
you more good for you to talk to me.
That is what I came here for, therefore
it is unnecessary for me to make a
speech. l think you are all Of one
mind anyhow: and I think you should
have voice in the matter of the Gov
eminent of these Islands: that is a
matter of justice.
Il shall tell what I have seen and
what | have heard in the Senate of
the United States this winter when
this question comes up. I should do
that even if 1 were opposed to what
you want done, but 1 am not opposed to
it." Great applause).
Following are the remarks of Sena-
tor Dubois:
eve are very much pleased to meet
so many native people: and this de-
monstration so early in the morning
/ &C. EciO
mind as to the sentiment of these peo-
pie. I can readily understand how
Americans who are lovers of justice
and patriots can come to the Hawai-
ian Islands. spend month in Homo
lulu, entertained by white people. see
ing none except white people. can
understand why they being great men
and patriots can go off to their own
country and be in favor of annexing
these Islands to the United States ]
can understand how they can spend
one day in Honolulu, be entertained at
the club, to lunch. and driven around
through the city by the officials of this
Republic, this grand Republic of yours
and then go away in favor of annexine
these Islands.
Senator Pettlgrew, who by the way
is very modest, but who will be your
great champion in this fight. is a borr
investigator, and wanted to ascertain
through personal observation what the
: feelings OF your people were on this
subject. In my judgment no fair mar
who was not actuated by personal con.
/ siderations of some kind could ge
among the people of these Islands an6
then deliberately go back to the great
I American people and say to them: I'VE