The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-03-16
What President Dole Admits.

OF the arguments upon which our
annexationists have been laying
great stress. He emphatically con-
tradicts the story that he hurried
off to this country because OF a
japanese scare. He does not fear
that Japan will seize the islands
or think that Japanese soldiers have
been poured in upon the islands
since the Chinese war with hostile
intent.
President Dole goes further. I'll
can see no immediate danger" he
says, "of Hawaii being seized by
some other country if the annexa-
ton treaty fails to pass" Thus it
appears that he is not greatly OPP
pressed with fear that Great Britain
or some other power will grab the
islands il we do not. He thinks the
present government or form Of gov
eminent will continue if the annex
alton scheme fails.
He seems to have no doubt that
the notice which was served on
European countries many years ago
that the United States would regard
any attempt on the part Of any Of
them to occupy the islands as an
unfriendly act will be as effective
for the protection OF their autonomy
as would annexation.
Thus President Dole disposes of
an annexation argument of which
we have heard a great deal. And
with it he disposes Of another to
which he makes no direct allusion.
That is the argument that we need
the islands for strategic and CON-
mercial reasons. Under the virtual
American protectorate which has
existed for many years the islands
will be as valuable to us for COM
mercial and defensive purposes as
they would be if annexed. With
Pearl Harbor occupied and fortified
we would enjoy the advantages with
out excessive responsibilities and
expenditures and.without what ex-
President Cleveland correctly calls
"a radical departure from our tradi-
tional national policy"
The question as to the danger of
the islands from without is largely
one OF opinion, OF course, and as to
that President Dole may be mistaken
But as to another point the case is
different. In answer to an inter
viewer he is reported as saying:
"The royalists would tell you, some
OF them, that all Hawaiians are OPP
posed to annexation, which is not
true. But how many are opposed
to it and how many are in favor OF
it nobody knows When asked
specifically in regard to the native
population he said: 81 cannot say,
1 have no means OF knowing" And
as to the position Of Portuguese,
Germans, Englishmen and others
he had only an opinion to offer-no
definite knowledge.
President Dole seems not to enter
tain a doubt about the innocence
of his ignorance on this subject. He
may be assured that a great many
Americans think he has no right to
be in ignorance as to the wishes of
the Hawaiian people in regard to
annexation. They think it is his
duty to be informed. They think
that the people of a country have a
right to be consulted before the
sovereignty is wrosted from them
and handed over to another people
more than 1000 miles away.
More than five years have passed
since Dole aud his associates de-
throned the Queen and set up a
government Of their own. They
have had plenty OF time to consult
the people of the country and find
out to certainty whether they wish
to have their country annexed to
the United States. President Dole
admits that they have not done any
thing Of the kind.
Some of us in this country who
still believe in the doctrine of self
government enunciated in the de-
elaration of independence would
like to know why. Some of us