The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-08-26
MR.. HITS VIEWS.
Veteran Congressman Speaks Of
Commission Work

COMMISSION WOrk
George Grantham Balm, the well
known Washington syndicate CORE
spondent, has sent out an article Of a
page on the Hawaiian Commissioner
Congressman Hit. Mr.. Balm has been
kind enough to send to the Advertiser
copy of this matter, from which the
appended extracts are made:
Mr.. Hit has anticipated the annexa-
ton of Hawaii for more than eighteen
years. He told me that he had dis
cussed it with James G. Blaine. when
he was first Secretary of State. and
that he had said at that time to men,
bers of the House of Representatives
that they would better be thinking of
some form Of government for the new
territory. because 1t was sure to be
American some day.
Mr.. Hit told me that aside from the
political and strategic value OF the ISL
ands on account Of their position. he
though a fuss entirely out of proper
ton to their importance had been made
about them. why think" he said
they are no bigger than many a con-
gressional district, and they do not
contain a population more than hall
that OF an average congressional dis.
trict. or course their prosperity will
increase as soon as the American flae
Is planted over them, giving absolute
assurance Of stability, without possibil.
ity OF any attempt to restore the ridi-
culous. queer little monarchy, or OF
foreign occupation. In that respect
they are going to offer better oppor-
tunity for investment under stable cer-
tain government and the property of
the men who now live there will in
crease in value.
] once tried to get Congress to make
an appropriation for dredging Pearl
Harbor channel, so as to make the har-
Dor available, and had the hope mat
then we could build Notifications to
protect 1t and that the American flag
should float over it. That undoubtedly
will be done now.
James q. Blaine gave notice to the
world that II Hawaii was threatened
it would be Americanized. But we have
never undertaken, while 1t remained
distinct sovereignty, to preserve II
from claims for damages arising from
its acts.
asked him If he believed that there
was any danger Of the introduction of
leprosy into this country from Hawaii
Not at ALL" he said. I'VE have a
lepcr colony in Louisiana, and there is
another in Canada. ] never heard OF
anyone catching leprosy like small
poX. or yellow fever or measles, by
merely being in the place where
lepers were. or coming into passing
contact with them"
asked Mr.. Hit II the Hawaiian peo-
pie had acquired citizenship in the
United States by the act of passing re.
solutions OF annexation, and IL we
were herafter responsible for the acts
OF the Hawaiian Government He said
he did not understand this condition
would fully exist until we had taken
possession OF the Islands formally and
raised our flag over them. Even after
that, it is expressly provided in the
annexation resolution that the laws o
the islands should remain in force until
new laws are made by Congress. HI
said 1t was a recognized principle II
all countries that existing laws contin
ued in force until actually superseded
by others. Merely because We had vot
ed to annex the islands they could no
be without law until Congress shoul'
make laws to govern them.