New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-16

test and In which the Hawaiian Governments
whether royal or republican, has unhes'tatihsV
acquesced.
What then? Since throughout the whole ex-
tent of Hawaii's relationship with the ciViiiz'u
world this country has effectively malntaiheu
the independence of those islands against QUIET
aggression, and has also maintained us own
paramount interests in them. what Is the halu
raj seouence? That II ever change In the
sovereignty Of the islands occurs 1T must ne III
the direction OF n transfer thereof to the tniteh
States Nor Is that a recent conclusion. 1t was
foreshadowed by Mr. Webster in his earliest
utterances. in 1912 1t was explicitly set forth
bv Mr. Marcy in 1853. when he said: ut seems
ito be inevitable that they must come under
the control of this Government; ana IN lo5f:
az any foreign connection is to be formed. the
geographical position Of these Islands ihdlca'eS
that It should be with US" 1t was seriously
considered by Mr. Seward and Mr.. Fish, ana
finally rehearsed with convincing force by MI
Blaine. when he said in 1881: "Ihe Hawa'ian
"Jslands cannot be Joined to the Asiatic sys-
TEN If they drift from their independent sta
"tlon il must be toward assimilation ana ldeh-
LITIGATION with the American system to which
"they belong by the operation OF natural laws
"and must belong by the operation or poiucai
necessity And II, through any cause
"the maintenance Of such position OF neutral
"ity should be found by Hawaii to be imprac
"ticahle. this Government would then unhes
"tatlngly meet the altered situation by seeking
IAN avowedly American solution for the grave
tissues presented" Such was the proclaimed
policy of this country from 1912 TO ISL
And now comes the crisis which Mr. Marcy
in 1853 deemed "lnevltable." Now come the
ALTERED situation and the grave issues 10
which Mr.. Blaine referred in 1881. and which
he declared this Government would meet with
ian avowedly American solution" AT least
once before. in 1853. the Hawaiian Nation. I'M
der native King. asked for annexation TO the
United States This Nation then declined TO ac-
cept the gift Now. under UNNECESSARILY more
strenuous circumstances. the request IS repeat
ed Annexation is formally asked not by n
mob nor by a town-meeting with which this
Government could have no dealings. but by the
legal. constitutional and only authoritative Gov
eminent of Hawaii-a Government whose title
Is recognized by all the world and is as unm-
poachable. in fact and in law. as any Govern
ment the islands ever had. To accept such an
offer would not be unjust aggression. 1t would
not be 1OrClDle conquest. II "Ouiu h'' "D Z"
violation Of the Decaoguc or OF the Golden
Rule 1t would be an act in harmony with the
consistent policy and the nobest traditions OF
this Republic. for which future generations
would never have cause to blush or to apollo
gize. 1t IS IN act which Is not to be opposed
on grounds Of policy, or reason, or National ana
international right. save by one who would pose
as a better Democrat than William l.. Marcy.
a better Republican than james &. Blaine or
better American than Daniel Webster. If none
but such oppose 1t, annexation will speedily
become an accomplished fact.