The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-11
Annexation 0F HAWAII.
NEW YORK INDEPENDENT MEETS
TWO OBJECTIONS.
Looked Upon as Great Question Af-
fecting National Policy and History
Position of Hawaii i'm Case of War

ticle is reproduced from the New York
independents:
The one great question before the
United States Senate is that of the
approval of the treaty for the anneNa-
ton of Hawaii. This is question
which has a large outlook: it affects
national policy and history.
There are two objections made TO
annexation; one that the native Ha-
waians do not want it; the other that
! il would be a difficult position to pro-
tect in case of war.
Taking the latter first it would not
| be so difficult to protect as Alaska, and
no one now doubts the wisdom of an
| neXing Alaska. At the time it was
| laughed at as "A ridiculous and useless
| purchase: now every one sees it value.
| That has been the case with every
annexation by which our country has
| enlarged its boundaries. Further, II
| in case of war it would be difficult TO
protect it. would it not be even still
more dangerous and difficult for us TO
| attack il in case of war? In a war in
which our Pacific Coast should be ac-
| lively engaged. Hawaii would be the
point which the enemy would first
secure. if it did not already hold it,
from which TO attack MS. If it would
cost us half dozen cruisers to pro-
tect it against an enemy. it would cost
MS five times as many to capture II
from an enemy entrenched behind its
forts.
But this assumes the likelihood of
war. War is not the chief factor to
4. W AZ
no war: we shall seek no war. The
stronger the United States is. the less
likely any other power is to declare
war upon us. We are approaching SO
far as our relations with other gov
ernments are concerned. the era of ar
bitration. 1t is not true that we shall
have to make large expenditures to de
fend Hawaii, any more than the seals
or gold of Alaiska. We are strong
enough to do what is best without re-
gard to the likelihood of war, because
war is not likely, and less likely the
stronger we are.
The other objection made is that
the natives of Hawaii do not want an
neXation, but prefer to be independ-
ent. This is the strangest argument
of all. Here we have the Hawaiian
government, chosen by the people.
confessedly the best government they
have ever had. chosen by universal
suffrage in one house, and by the most
generous property, or income. suffrage
in the other house. vastly more popu-
lar in the manner of its election than
the British Parliament. quite as popu-
lar as that of Rhode Island or South
Carolina. the official voice of the Ha-
waiian people, the only one which can
speak authoritatively for the people.
which SAYS that the Hawaiians 10
want anneXation; and we are
bound to believe them. "Ees but the
natives" we are told. Are not Dole
and Judd and all the rest of them ma
tives? Are not these missionary chill
dren' we hear so much abused. ma
tives? Are there no natives but IA
nakas? Are there no natives in this
country but Indians? Have white
people no rights in Dakota, which has
been occupied by them but a third
as long as white people have been IN
Hawaii? Are the Sioux the only peo-
plo who should have been consulted
when the two Dakotas asked admission
to the Union? We know very well
kanakas, do not want annexation, and
that their pride in Kanaka dynasty
has been successfully appealed to TO
induce many of them to sign petitions
against annexation. But we also know
that the bulk of the Hawaiians, ma
tive and naturalized, white and brown,
desire annexation, and have asked it
in the only legitimate way.
But, say the DIRECTORS again, what
shall we do with it if we take it? Shall
we make it a state or govern it as a
territory. OF course, this is not a Sc.
rious question. 1t is simply to con.
fuse the matter. Hawaii is being gov.
erned very decently now, and there is
10 reason to fear that there is not wit
enough among us to continue good
self government there under the con
! stitution of the United States. The
difficulty is less than in Alaska. for q
good government already exists, and
, it can be continued.
Here is no case of ,Jingoism. We dc
not seek Hawaii; Hawaii seeks us. We
have for many years expected it tc
come, and have been ready TO take it
but we have not FASTENED the event
= but have rather delayed it, 1t is oul
part now to consider seriously the op
. portunites offered us, and to govern
= our action by our own interests and
those of Hawaii. Every previous an
: nexation has been opposed, but has
| been to our advantage. All have con
tributed to the greatness and prosper
ity of the country. We believe Ha
wall would add further strength IL
!, us. She is not so far off, not so mac
cessibe as was California or Alaska
when they were annexed. Geograph
i, ically she belongs to u.s. and not to ia
pan or Great Britain. We know tina
one-third of the Senate can defeat tn,
treaty. but we look to Congress to ac
i complish what is wise.
HIS HANDS WERE TIED.