New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-19
"THIVGS AS THEY ARE" ~ HAWAII

"THINGS AS THEY ARE" IN HAWAI-
Worshippers OF the "God Of Things as They
Are must be blind to facts which are obvious
10 all the rest of the world. Or perhaps 1t Is
n mart of their worship to pretend such blind
ness. Thus they are opposing the annexation
of Hawaii They want the islands to be let
olone Their present status is good enough for
them. The islands are already within the
American Sphere OF influence AS long as
the United States continues to play the part or
dog in the manger all other Powers Will keep
their hands of. Why disturb 30 excellent m
arrangement? Why not let things be as they
ME? And then, as II thus TO reinforce their
anti-annexaton arguments they tearfully re-
hearse the tale of the woes CT Hawaii, and or
the woes the Hawaiian connection might. could.
would or should entail upon the United States
Since the first missionaries landed there, they
cav. the native Kanaka population mas peeh
diminished to one-fifth its former numbers. The
islands have been filed with Chinese and Jap
onese coolies Mosquitoes have been intro
duced Controversies with other nations nave
arisen. There has been distinct tendency 10
relapse into barbarsm. The people nave shown
no fitness for citizenship in state or ths
Union. And so forth. Wherefore. oh. sancta
simplicitas. the islands should not be an
rexed but should be kept in their present state
of dependent independence.
Now what is evident to all the world. save
the esoteric cotcric Of those who worship the
God of Things as They Are" is this: That all
these evils have bcfallen Hawaii under, and
most of them, indeed. because OF. this very
system which the anti-annexaionsts want TO
perpetuate. 1t is while they have been in
the American sphere of influence that the
Kanakas have been half-decimated. 1t is I'M
der the American protectOra'e that the islands
have been filled with coolies. 1t was while the
United States was playing the part OF dog III
the mangcr that mosquitoes were introduced.
1t was during. and indeed because Of this
anomalous IelatiOns p that the disputes with
foreign countries arose, and that the United
States had almost TO use force TO compel King
David Kalakaua TO remain In proper state
of dependent independence. And 1t is equally
evident TO all. with the exception noted, that
under annexation these evils would he largely
abated That the mosquitoes would be expelled
IS perhaps not TO be hoped. But at least the
United States does not permit its territory to
be overrun by coolies. Neither Is 1t much
troubled with controversies with foreign ma
items about It's control Of its own domain. 1t
does not arbitrarily revoke constitutions. nor
set up housekeeping machines. The notion
that under United States rule the Islands would
be in any single respect worse off than at pres
ent. or that they would not in most respects be
far better off. or yet that by assuming such
rulo the United States would be subjected to
additional embarra ssmcnts, or would not be
freed from most of those its anomalous pro-
tectorate over the islands has caused it-such
notions are too fantastic to be enterta med for
a moment by any one whose mind Is not intoxi-
Gated with fumes Of incense to the GOO OF
Things as They Are
1t is time to have done with pretences. Let
the concrete facts be recognized The dog in
the manger policy is played out. 1t has served
some good purposes. but 1t has also brought
some evils upon both countries. And It's good
has of late been rapidly waning while its evils
have been increasing at an alarming pace, until
the latter threaten to outweigh far the former
Talk about aggression and oppression and con
quest and piracy. Why those are exactly what
the anti-annexatlonists themselves want this
country to be guilty Of. They want the United
States to say to Hawaii: "IOu must remain In
dependent and look out for your own affairs
"but you must not make any treaties with other
countries that we do not approve. You must
"allow us to boss you all we please, and must
"show us all the special favors we want, even
IF in SO doing you get into all sorts of trouble
with other nations; but we will not assume
"the slightest responsibility for yOu nor help
you out of any Of the scrapes you get into on
"our account" A rfrore unjust proposition could
scarcely be conceived. Its permanent execution
would be intolerable alike to Hawaii and TO
the United States. Either in accordance with
the expressed will Of both countries, the islands
must be annexed outright to the United States
or this protectorate foolery must be abanc )ned
and the islands be permitted 10 90 their own
way, whether that be to become a part OF some
European colonial empire or to be submerged
beneath the Asiatic food that threatens them,
IN either Of which latter cases the United
States might as we'll withdraw all its commerce
from Pacific waters The parting Of the ways
has been reached 1t is no place for an altar
to the God Of Things as They Are"