The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-07-25
kopf, DR.. @. w. Ably and G.. p Wet
more; starter, w. G, Pomin; clerk
OF course, Herbert Hauser
The Annexa ton of Hawaii.

We have opposed the annexation
Of Hawaii, aud our reasons, as pub
lished in these columns, have never
been answered neither in the Senate
nor in the annexation press.
When annexation was attempted
by treaty, it failed. BY the method
provided by the constitution, and
the only method so provided, it was
impossible of accomplishment. Its
opponents, having beaten it on the
only field provided by the constitu-
ton, had right to expect that it's
proponents would submit to the
law of the land. Instead of such
submission they have chosen to over
ride that law and to win outside Of
it, by methods which have no sane
ton in the constitution and which
we're not even defended on constitu-
tional grounds by those who used
them.
Naturally proceeding so begun
and policy accomplished by such
means must go on in the line OF its
projection. Our taxpayers are at
once compelled to pay the debts OF
the Dole government and to put up
100000 to pay the salaries OF a com
mission which is to provide and
recommend to Congress such form
OF government as the Commissioners
think proper. The appointment
and payment of such commission
has no sanction in the constitution,
and that instrument provides the
only form of government and forms
of authority and jurisdiction which
the United States can exercise. AS
a report OF a commission is to
supersede the constitution, the form
of government it may provide is pro-
blematical at present.
What it is likely to be may be sur
missed by the action of the Senate.
Flushed by their successful breach
OF the fundamental law, the annexa-
ton Senators gave us a glimpse of
what is to be on their amendments
which were offered to safeguard the
rights OF the people of Hawaii and
protect white labor and its wages.
These Senators refused the ballot to
the native.born Hawaiians and to
naturalized aliens. They refused
also to repeal the contract labor
laws now in force in the islands.
Panoplied in these sinister shadows
our sovereignty was extended over
Hawaii, but not our constitution
and our system OF equal laws Gre
ated by it. Our flag was by law I'M
furled to the eyes of people, for
the first time in its glorious history,
to signify their Acknowledgement
and degradation and to take their
birthright. Its folds futter in the
tropic gales over contract labor
laws, which, with their penal
clauses, set upa system of slavery
more open to objection than that
which the Civil War destroyed.
But power without respect for the
contitution OF the country or regard
for the consistency Of it's policy has
taken autonomy away from Hawaii,
against the protest of so percent of
the people, while at the same mo-
ment Americans are dying of
wounds and fever to punish Spain
for denying to Cubans the rights we
have taken away from Hawaiians.
As we stood for those rights while
the constitution barred the way to
their destruction, we accept what is
in the expectation aud for the pur-
pose OF aiding in securing for the
people OF the islands as good form
of government as can be had, albeit
outside of the constitutions. r.