The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-11
THE ANOMALOUS POSITION OF 4
PROTECTING" POWER.
Islands Might be Flooded With Anti
American Influences and the Unit
ed States Could Not Interfere.

views upon the annexation question
which will be appreciated by every
patriotic American. The writer, well
versed in affairs here and in Washing
ton, says:
"The Mugwump hermit nation doc
trine preached by Carl Schurz and
Godl<in, is the policy of cowardice, the
craven fear of being great as John
II. Proctor calls it. Underlying their
Mugwumpery is disbelief in Repub
licaniSm, a contempt and diStruSt of
the American people.
Carl Schurz says that they cannot
govern colonies. Why, Uncle Sam has
raised thirtytwo colonies and grad
uated them as States.
For five years the small minority
of Americans here has given the
world an example of clean, honest,
economical and efficient government,
better than that of any British crown
colony. What we have done as an in
dependent republic, we can continue
to do under the aegis of the Stars and
Stripes. Americans are noted for
their administrative ability, and we
can afford to smile at Mr.. Bryce's pat
ronizing, condescending admonitions
to us in the Forum of this month.
''It is true that we of Hawaii have
had difficult problems to solve, but our
leaders have faced them like men, and
are solving them successfully. We ask
no help from Carl Schurz. He is terri
bly, exercised over our population
question, and seems to take for grant
ed that the proportions of the last
nln, Il
if the Starry Flag would draw no in
crease of American settlers to this
PARADISE of the Pacific, and as if it
would have no effect in checking
Asiatic immigration. Both he and
Bryce proceed on the utterly false as
sumption that white men cannot la
Dor in this climate! The contract la
Dor system will cease with anneNu-
ton to the United States. Even il it
were true (Which it is not), that it is
not forbidden by the constitution of
the United States, it will never he
sanctioned by an Act of Congress. If
our sugar planters and coffee growers
are willing to pay higher wages 10
free laborers or to try cooperation (as
is being done in some places), for the
sake of stable government and Sc
curity from invasion, it is their risk
and not that of the United States.
THE opponents of annexation DO
not condescend to explain what fate
they would consign us to. but it is
certain that their policy would leave
this country open to Asiatic colonial
tion, and liable to become the football
of the powers of the Old World.
hot hoc
talking protectorate, which | am sur
prised at, for such an arrangement
would be quite unsatisfactory to both
parties. 1t would impose upon the
United States the responsibilities and
risks of ownership without the cor
responding power of control. Our
controversy with Japan shows how
under protectorate Hawaii would
still remain an incubator of interna-
tional friction If the United States
retain only Pearl Harbor that will
! pre-suppose and require the existence
of a navy in the Pacific.
"A protectorate cannot be brought
about except by a treaty, which shall
define the obligations to be assumed
| by the United States, and the extent
of their right to intervene in Hawa-
ian affairs. 1t takes two to make a
bargain. 1t may be proposed that the
control of our foreign relations De
ceded to the United States, placing
this country in the situation of Tunis
or of the Transvaal Republic, as il
was under a former treaty. That
would be an anomalous semi-annexa-
! tion. We would not be American cit
izens, nor yet citizens of free indie
| pendent republic. The United States
constitution does not contemplate
such vassaI foreign states.
Meanwhile the United States would
be powerless to prevent internal
changes, which might he i'm the high
est degree detrimental to American
! interests. \ combination of factions
might put British dynasty in power,
or if the pending arbitration between
Japan and Hawaii goes against MS,
Japan might flood the Islands with
! her subjects and accomplish IA peace
! ful conquest: but these would be in
! ternal, domestic changes. with which
! the United States would have no right
as foreign power to interfere. The
| only logical, consistent courses open
/ to our country are therefore these
two; either to annex the Islands as a
part of the Union, or to abandon them
to any fate that may befall them.
"'rhe idea that the United States is
under any obligation to the American
colony which has settled here under
the encouragement of the mother
country. and has made this country
what il is. suppose will be regarded
rs mere sentiment. and il may be said
/ that they deserve to be abandoned ia
its fate. 'Blood,n in the view of
some people, is not thicker than wa
ter Nor do they (Godkin & Coz
care whether Eastern or Western civ
li2ation gains control of this key, Of
the Pacific"