The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-05-27
ANNEXATION.

The annexation of the Islands seems
United States, no matter how soon
the war closes, must hold Manila for
a time, and Honolulu must be used as
n coaling station for transports pass
ing to and fro. There has been a
good deal of discussion among the
quid-nuncs here as to the probability
of vessels going direct from San Fran
cisco to Manila, and the amount of
time which would be gained by such
direct route, but the naval and mill
tary authorities of the United States,
who may be supposed to know better
than the quid-nuncs, have decided that
the vessels must stop here to obtain
coal.
The position of Hawaii during this
crisis has been a very peculiar one.
Receiving, as we do such immense
benefits from the United States, it was
impossible for us to proclaim neutral
ity, and to refuse assistance to that
country when it really needed it. Ac-
cording to the rules of neutrality the
principle seems now clearly establish
ed that coal is contraband of war, and
no neutral nation can allow the YES
sells of a belligerent power to take on
coal except for the purpose of pro-
ceeding to a home port or to another
neutral port. Had we taken such an
attitude, and there were those who
advocated such a policy strongly, we
should have for selfish purposes put
ourselves distinctly in an attitude in
imical to our great neighbor, through
whom we have reached the condition
of prosperity we now enjoy.
1t is very plain that vessels calling
here for coal will not be going to
neutral port, they will be and are
destined for hostile expedition
against the Spanish colonies, and had
we shielded ourselves under the neu-
trality proclamation, we would have
placed the United States in very
embarrassing position. AS it is our
government, in spite of much adverse
criticism, did the right thing at the
right time. The lion may be the king
of beasts, but the fable tells us that
the mouse can give him assistance
sometimes. In this case the Hawaiian
Islands are playing the part of the
mouse to some purpose.
But the United States cannot use
these Islands as coaling station
without giving us the compensation
we so earnestly desire, and that COM
pensation is annexation. The major
ity in both the House of Representa-
tives and in the Senate agree that this
should be so. Nothing can be strong
er than the views of the majority
who have reported for the annexation
of the Islands, and even the minority,
though reporting against annexation,
advocate protectorate.' But pro-
tectorate is not what we want. 1t
leaves us neither fish, flesh, fowl nor
good red herring, and our friends rec
ognize this fact. The number of
people who are in favor of anneXa-
ton is constantly increasing. The
longer the war lasts, the. more thor
oughly will the entire nation realize
the necessity of holding these Islands.
There seems a likelihood of the war
continuing. Spain will not give in
until she receives a crushing defeat,
and even in spite of revolution at
home, and should the present govern
ment be overthrown, she will continue
to struggle on for a time. Every day
that the war lasts will teach the peo-
pie of the United States the value of
coaling stations for their ships, and
the necessity of holding them. And
every such realization works directly
to one result, and that is the annex
alton of these Islands to the United
States. The traditional policy of the
United States is changed. So large
a nation cannot build Chinese wall
around itself. 1t must expand, and it
must command. To command in the
Pacific is its manifest destiny, and to
hold command it must hold the Ha-
waiian Islands.
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