The evening times., 1898-07-11
~ -7's7I''7 y = 2
FIRST ANNEXATIONIST.
The Abssrl'tion"-of the Hawaiian n
Islands Proposed Fifty Years Ago.

The first Hawaiian annexationist ap-
pears to be Mr.. William o. Bourne the
editor of the Northern Journal. of Low
his paper contained leader. which said:
The commercial relations which must soon be
established on wide bases with the nations OF the
Pacific shores will inevitably demand an entrepot
or commercial station between the American and
Asiatic coasts. which. while il shall he governed
by the most enlightened and liberal policy, shall
afford the advantages Of harbors and the fcilifies
for fitting and repairs needed by the mariae o! the
whole world resorting TO the North Pacific.
The ''anuihilaton of time and space" or. in
other words. the placing Of the North American
coast in near proximity 10 the Asiatic. by the
OF steam vessels. as sWtff as the frequency with
which Intercourse must henceforth be maintained
with the Hawaiian Islands. present to our view
very important considerations in favor Of some
movement on the part Of our Government for the
peaceful annexation. by purchase and cession, of
the whole group. ss-.- -s--
Notwithstanding the fact that guarantees have
been given by Great Britain. France md the Unit
I'd States. securing the independence OF the Ha-
waiian Islands. owing TO the difficulties with La
Place in lSS. resulting from the intrusion of the
Roman Catholic missionaries. il is conceived that
there would he violation of the National faith
in the independent action of the Hawaiian govern
meBt ccding the group the United Stat $ The
purpose at the guarantees given bv these three
powers WAS to provide against the subjugston and
seizure Of the group by any one of those powers.
with the design OF placing them IN the position
Of colonial dependencies, as well as TO recognize
them among the family OF nations. This nde
pendence having been maintained, and the COM
pact having been scrupulousy observed far.
there be violation OF National | ioncr by
overtures which may result in 80 desirable an
accession-or, in embracing among the members
of national family a claster of islands which
occupies commanding position in the North
Pa6fc.
1t may be a cool and calculating policy on the
part of France and Great Britain. the two other
great maritime nations of the earth. 10 dupe
humor the American Government into non-inrer-
ference into the affairs of Oceanica. and to keep
the United States out of the various important
groups OF islands which diversity the vast bosom
of the Pacific. But while doing this they are
each seizing every group which they occupy
without the fear of being DESTROYED by cannibil
hordes. or which offers a sufficient inducemsnt t.
their rapacity and spirit Of conquest The appro-
priation Of the Marqucsas by the Ftnch. and th-ir
base oppression Of Queen Pomare and her Ia
htian subjects. the pitiful tramping of la Belle
France upon weak and hafcvilized people,
together with the Colonization of New Zealand
by the English. and the prospective appropriation
of other clusters, soon they shall have be.
come valuable. may be a part of their national
policy-and it may be a wise one But the game
played dsSte-ously by these two nations should
not be denied to the enterprise and the benefcent
operation Of the free institutions of the Amer
lean Union
Mr.. Bourne has lived to see his propo-
sition carried out. except that Hawaii
has not been annexed as n State, as he
had expected II to be-