The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-03-24
Continued from 1St page.)

to expand our population. We have
not yet reached the period, and will
not reach the period in a century of
time, when we shall require an over
flow Tor our development. 1t is true
that we have here 100000 souls,
but our country is a vast empire
and our population, comparatively
speaking, is still sparse and diffused.
Our people are not tresding on each
others heels as are the Inhabitants
OF many of the countries of the Old
World where population is dense.
We can put our 100000 people
inside of the confines OF The great
State of Texas alone without their
HAVING TO TOUCH ELBOWS
and without their interfering with
the freedom Of action.
There is nothing, then, in the ma
tional growth, either present or
prospective, which requires that this
sacrifice shall be made. Far better
will it be for US to devote our ener-
gies to the development of our own
resources, to inaugurating the great
reforms which are necessary to the
welfare Of our people and the per-
manency OF our institutions than for
us to reach out hundreds of miles
into the Pacific Ocean to take to
ourselves country which we do not
need and which is inferior in all it's
general aspects to the soil of which
we are already the happy possessors.
am opposed, sir, to this proposed
treaty upon another ground. The
acquisition of Hawaii means the
strengthening not of the centripetal
but OF the centrifugal force in this
nation. l am one of those, sir, who
believe in the Federalist theory OF
government, not that l would de-
prive the people OF their
INALIENABLE RIGHT TO LOCAL SELF
GOVERNMENT.
not that 1 would withdraw from the
States any OF that sovereignty which
is theirs under a just construction
of the Constitution, but that, con-
sistent with the employment of
these inestimable blessings, would
attract the minds and hearts of the
people to that great Federal Gov.
ernment which is over all.
l would inspire them with respect
and generation for that centralized
and unified power in the State which
is, after all, our surest refuge in time
of storm and danger, and in the alb
sence Of which, instead of being a
great and powerful nation, capable
OF inspiring respect abroad and con.
tidence at home, we will become
mere lot Of petty States with clash
ing interests, impotent to protect
ourselves either from dangers with
in or without.
Therefore, sir, because / favor the
centripetal and unifying power in
the State, hesitate not to antago-
nize here and now any proposition
for the acquisition of insular terri
torial possessions which is pursued
IN FLAaRANT VIOLATION
either OF lines OF latitude or longi-
tude, or which ignores those we'll
marked differences in disposition
and temperament which come from
difference in race, and which there
fore tends to create diversity rath-
or than community of interests,
and to weaken rather than to
strengthen the bonds which bind
us to common flag and common
destiny.
Every island, sir, that you plant
in the sea, every ignorant alien PEG,
pie that you take unto yourself, in
creases by just that much the I'M
derlying currents which form dis
memberment and flow to disintegra-
ton.
Mr.. Chairman, l am still further
opposed to this short-sighted pro-
position because it is inaugurated
in plain and fragrant violation Of the
traditions OF this country, because it
proposes to depart from all that is
safe and conservative in our history.