The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-03
HaVaiians Will Have Vote With
ont Much Delay.
CANCELLATIONS MUST Be MADE
The Young HaWaiianS Should Be
Taught What Flag Is to
Nation.

Sir:-I cannot complain of the spirit
in which my circular letter to the Ha
waiian people has been generally re-
ceived by the foreign press of Honolu
lu. l am told that there are writer's,
who, with characteristic grace, think
it not impertinent to criticise in this
connection my income and the mode
in which l spend it. Such writer's
their patriotism by the requirements
of what they sometimes, in their more
frank moments, would describe as
bread and BUTTER" and after all, the
demands to which they thus subordi-
nate their earlier canons of taste
should rather excite our sympathy than
our censure.
But, Sir, the political attitude re-
vealed by the courteous replies made
to my circular, is a very serious one,
and it is clear that whatever else may
be said, the time chosen for my pub
lication was not premature.
luton of the Hawaiian problem was
written in January, 1898, when l urged
that the Queen be asked to abdicate,
and that the Princess be declared
Queen, with Mr. Dole, Mr.. P. C. Jones,
Captain King, and Mr.. w. o. Smith as
Council of Regency. When | related
this, long afterwards, to Kate Field,
she said: "Oh! why was not this done?
but it is too late now." | think there
are many who would echo Miss Fields s
words today, as l do.
Neither rabid royalists nor rabid an
Inexationists approved of my suggestion
| then, any more than they will approve
of my address to the Hawaiian people
now. | did not write for popularity,
! but for peace. You say, Sir, that the
| Hawaiians will read my address and
| forget it. | answer that the foreign
ers will not forget it, however they
| may neglect the warning which it
ought to convey One point seems to
have been generally overlooked, that
| is that | have not said one word in my
| letter against annexation, or against
| the United States taking their own
| time to decide upon the proposal that
| has been made to them. [ accept a sit
uation which at the same time / do
not approve. But to reply that if we
civil strife, and that therefore we must
have anneXation-as one paper states
is simply hysterIcal screaming. AS a
| matter of fact, you have to face the
| certainty that, with or without annex
alton, the Hawaiians will have votes
without much if any, delay. If you
do not take steps in advance to concili-
| ate the HawaiianS, that vote will be
hostile vote, and will sound the knell
of Hawaiian harmony.
In addressing the Hawaiian people,
| | have endeavOred to dispose them to
listen to the voice of compromise and
peace There are rabid partizanS on
both sides who will resent my inter-
ference but surely there are moderate
men on both sides who can see the
crisis that is upon them whatever news
may come from Washington, and if
they cannot find utterance in the press,
or action in the Legislature, they will
deserve the results which they refuse
to take the trouble to avert.
One point more:-On Monday even
ing, at the reception at Kamehameha
School, was discussing with a friend
whom / may describe hope with
out offence-as a rabid annexationist
the creditabIe positions which are be-
ing filled by the fine young Hawai-
ians who are being trained at this in
stitution. l saw and heard some OF
them in their musical pieces, and
am otherwise familiar with the young
fellows, and with the grand results
that have come to them through the
noble work of Professor Richards and
his staff. The Rev. Mr.. Mackintosl
can bring forward similarly credit.
able band of young Hawaiians who arr
an honor to their nation, and to thu
teachers who never seem to lose theil
influence over their old pupils.
Next morning l read in your columns
with sorrow:
eve belong to that wing Of the an
nexation party that does not believe il
the high character, intelligence, ant
capacity Of the natives for good citi
zenship, which means good govern
ment."
Sir, if the trustees of Kamehameh;
School, if my rabid annexationis
friend, if you yourself, would faith
!, fully try to lead those young Hawai-
ians to a proper realization of what