The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-01-07
CONTINUED from 1st page.)

country, ana It's people earnestly
desired to become a part Of our
Union, 1t was no trouble to assimi-
late the people inhabiting the ac-
QUESTIONS Of Louisiana, Florida and
Texas, because they were surround
ed on all sides by our people, and
we're themselves anxious and quail
fed tn become citizens OF our re-
public.
"The conditions surrounding Ha-
wall are totally different. These
islands are 20S6 miles from our
coast by the shortest line. They
have had their own form Of govern.
ment for years. They have not Of
Tended in any way against the
United States. We have had no
quarrel with them, much less a war.
They have not asked to sell their
country to us, nor to become part
of our system of government. They
have invited foreigners to come
among them and make their homes
there. Foreigners accepted the in
vitation, were kindly, generously
treated. Their government was a
very liberal, constitutional mon
archy. Under it, for years before
the overthrow, the Supreme Court
was composed OF foreigners. The
ministry was almost If not always
controlled by foreigners, mostly
Americans. At the time of the over
throw, NJ. S. B. Dole was associate
justice, appointed for life. He left
that to become president of the So
called republic, established by the
revolutionists. Americans practic-
ally directed political affairs and
administered the laws. Foreigners
had been allowed to acquire large
property rights and were not mo-
Tested or interfered with in their en-
joyment.
"The United States boasts that it
is the cradle of liberty. 1t has stood
as the friend and guide OF weak
countries and has always insisted
that Govern ments derive their Just
powers from the consent OF the
governed As nation we stand be-
tween Europe and Asia, whose civil
izations differ radically. We pro-
Tess to set an example to both OF
them worthy of their emulation. We
assert that the individual should he
consulted in all matters affecting his
political rights and status. 1t is a
high mark we have set for ourselves
and most worthy one. We invite
people from all lands, who are seek
ing liberty Of thought and action, to
become part Of our system of gov
eminent. We give them the ballot
and an equal voice in the admins
tration OF our political affairs. We
invoke the Monroe doctrine, and
have for seventy years, If any for
eign power attempts to coerce
weaker country against their will.
We have not yet invoked it in vain.
These people OF the Hawaiian ISL
ands have not been consulted at all.
Their country is being taken away
from them against their will and
they are being forced to become a
part of political system and civil
ization which they know nothing OF,
and do not want, and will not have
and by whoms II any other nation
should attempt to perpetrate this
outrage we would put stop to it at
once. These islanders are a gentle.
kind, indolent people aud have re-
NAMED passive because they believe
the United States will be fair and
just to them and will not destroy
their national life and force them
into this most distasteful union
without their consent. How are we
to govern them under these condi-
tions If we disregard their dearest
wishes and annex them regardless Of
their protestsi We should, OF
course, treat them as equal to other
citizens and give them the ballot.
II We do thin they will take posses-