The San Francisco call., 1898-02-08
IS ANNEXATION REPUBLICAN IN
 PRINCIPLE?

TT HERE is something more than the alliance
 with German to put Republicans to think
 ing on the relation of annexation to the prin- ciples of their party Under the Government which was overthrown for Dole's benefit, by the United States in I8o3 there were about 10000 qualified voters n Hawaii They were by its constitution the makers of the Government They elected its Legislative body and its judiciary. We had recognized them in their capacity as electors by entering into treaties ratlhed by the Senate which they elected, and by diplomatic relations with the Government which the1r votes ln- stituted and maintained. Under the Government ot the oligarchy which made possible, these electors are disfranchised. Their places have been taken by about 25oo men, considerable number of them be- ing adventurers new to the islands who went there since 8o3 attracted by the opportunities tor plum der and piracy always to be found where government is subject to revolutionary changes Connivng with this limited number of electors, and with Govern ment upon the form and functions of which even they have not been permitted to vote, propose by annexation to force people resistant and unwilling into system in spite of their protests Members of the Republican party are told that this is party l measure and their allegiance binds them therefore to its support.
 Now no measure can be party measure that IS not justified by party principles. Every political party has certain fixed principles. These are its req sons for being The Republican platform came into l existence platform Of principles every one of which is antagonized by Hawaiian annexation.
 After the admission of California to the Union as a free State there was a struggle to maintain the sectional balance in the Senate by dragging Kansas in as slave State War broke out in that territory. Federal power the side of the shareholders, but majority of the people of Kansas were for a free State. In this situation it became necessary to suppress the expression of the majority and force the State into the Union in defiance of the popular will This was attempted by the Lecompton constitution and then the Republican party, loosely organized in I856 suddenly advanced to a first position as de- fender of human rights.
 No better statement of the issue made than that by James G. Blaine in his speech in Pennington, Me- in IS6o Alter describing the issue made in 1856 he concentrated the entire contention in this sentence:
 "The contest goes on and has been deepened by the atrocious effort to compel Kansas to enter the Union under the fraudulent constitution made at Lecompton against the will and wish of her people"
 Has the old spirit died out? Remembering the early principles of his party, what Republican can reconcile with them the forcing of Hawaii into the Union against the will and wish of her people?
 When considered violation of national policy and of party principles and with train of evils fol- lowing it. it is no overstatement of the case to de- clare that annexation is the most repulsive proposi ton ever made to the people of this country