Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-01-11
COMPLIMENTS TO THE STAR.

loh hNlNu
Under its present editorial con
troll the Hawaiian Star has been
one of the foremost advocates of
annexation on the islands. 1t has
not contented itself with answer
ing the arguments which the
opponents of annexation have
from time to time advanced, but,
in many instances, it has antici-
pated them, spiking their biggest
guns with an incoLtestible array
of facts and figures. The Star
has argued the question of an
nexation in its various social and
political aspects most tbor oughly,
never, until quite recently, trans
cending the bounds of parliamen-
tary discussion. The Stars edi.
torials on the question have not
only been quoted in some of the
great newspapers of the United
States, but some enterprising
publishers have even stereotyped
them. Only recently the writer
saw one of the Stars editorials
on the patent side of newspaper
issued in a little crossroads
village in Mississippi. We thus
see that its influence has gone be
yond the confines of the islands.
The Stars good work has en-
couraged those sincere advocates
of annexation here who are in
spired by the highest considers
tious of patriotism; it has beld in
line those wsvering milk and
CIDER advocates of the cause, who,
having no opinion Of their own,
desire to he counted with the ap-
parent aud clamorous majority; it
has brought to our side from the
ranks of the royalists many in
hueDtial persons who have been
convinced that this country can
only attain the highest degree of
prosperity after the islands shall
have been annexed to the United
States.
Nevertheless, the fact stares us
in the face that there is an emf
nently respectable minority here
who do not believe that annexa-
ton will promote the public good,
and they are quite as sincere and
as earnest In their con as we are
in our pro. Being intelligent,
honest mep, good citizens and use
full members of society, they are
entitled to our respect although
their opinions may not be in ac-
cord with the opinions which we
entertain. At the least, they are
entitled to their opinions; to speak
them; to write them, and to advo
cate them by all legitimate means
at their command. They are en-
titled to do all Of that without be-
ing regarded either as public enc
mics or social outlaws. No chival-
rous or fair-minded man in this
community will tamely stand by
and see his fellow citizens glib.
beted to public scorn and hatred,
because they chance to differ with
him upon a live question Of public
policy, even tho he incur the risk
of offending so aggressive and in
huential an organ as the Star.
The Star lately has not contented
itself with abusing anti-annexa
tionists, but has not spared the
rod for those annexationists who
differ with it as to the policy to
be pursued to secure the result de.
sired, as witness the following ex-
cerpt from an editorial in the issue
of the 6th lust, under the caption,
"Aloha President Dole" to wit:
"ln certain quarters it is the
policy of people, who like to sit on
the fence and watch where there
may be a soft place to fall upon on
either side, to rather look coldly
upon the visit of President Dole
to the United States"
There are very many of the most
enthusiastic advocates of annexa-
tion here who cannot view Presi
dent Dole's departure for the
United States without a consider
able loss Of caloric. They do indeed
look "rather coldy upon his visit"
They care absolutely nothing
about the expense of the trip, for
which the snug sum of ten thous-
and dollars-a tax upon one mil
lion dollars worth of property at
the present rate of taxatlon-has
been appropriated, despite the
fact that there ia M monav with