The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-21
REPRESEN TATIYES
TURNED.

The President has approved of the
joint resolution annexing these Islands
TO the United States. He believes that
no action needs 10 be taken by our
Government with reference to an ap-
prevail or confirmation of the resoIu-
ton. therefore, the act of annexation
is now completed.
The raising of the flag viii be only
a visible symbol of possession, in no
way necessary to invest the title to
the Islands in the United States.
The first and natural thing for us
to do, is to show our gratitude to, and
appreciation Of, the long steady, intel
Iigent and persistent services of the
men here, who have for the last five
years contributed to bring about this
great result, so far as it could be affect
ed by those acting on behalf of Hawaii.
The record of the acts, and motives
of these men should be clearly and
in the shape of personal narrative,
which is the source of authentic his
tory. What they have done for good
government, and for annexation, which
is the foundation of good government,
is not fully known. Not for their cred
it and honor should there be now COM
plete personal records of actions and
opinions Of these men, but for the sake
of the people who live after them.
The return of Mr.. Hatch and Mr.
Tnurston, yesterday, makes the pres
ent the fitting occasion for extending
to them on behalf of those who have
followed their course in Washington,
the sincerest congratulations on the
success of the cause they have so adj
mirably and earnestly worked for.
We do not say, nor would they per-
NIT us to say, that the success of an
nexation at the present time, is due
mainly to their efforts. If it was, they
well might be crowned with wreaths
of gold.
Their work, and it's chief value has
been in slowly bringing the people of
the United States to a better knOwl-
edge of the needs of their own great
Nation, and the necessity that is not
chosen but chooses" of casting off the
swaddling bands of tradition fastened
upon it by the Fathers.
While Mr.. Hatch has been, owing
to the traditional decorum of diploma
tic etiquette, prevented from engaging
in any active campaign, we know be-
yond dispute, and on the authority of
persons occupying high positions in
the political and social world of Wash
ington, that he has been eXcelled by
no diplomat in his manner of giving
force and effect to the opinions he
represented. This is no small measure
of compliment to a man who studiously
avoided public life for many years, and
only entered it, when it became his
duty and responsibility to share the
dangers and the labor of reconstruct
ing the Government. SO we cOngra-
tuIate him on having been graduated
bv Washington Public Opinion with
full honOrs.
Mr.. Thurston's mission was, in the
beginning of reconstruction, to take
almost the leading part, and for this
he was we'll fitted by temperament,
and after he had been signally honored
by President Cleveland in causing his
recall from the post of Minister at
Washington, engaged in the greater
task, at times, almost hopeless, of edu-
eating the American people to reali-
cation of the idea that America needed
Hawaii. With interchangeable industry
he marshalled his standing army of
facts. and arguments, and equipped 1t
with every weapon the cause demand
ed. He did not know what it was to
be beaten, and more than once, his
enemies marvelled at the way he
fought his forces. We know the anger
and admiration displayed at his sim
pie but effective tactics
Although the bigotry and cruelty of
Spain has indirectly forced the United
States to accept and own Hawaii, the
act itself and the events that led up
to it, only prove the propositions that
Mr.. Thurston has proclaimed from the
Auanuc to the Pacific.
No man living has a better right
than he to say to the people of our
common country: Il told you So"
Communities have indeed short
memories. We hope, however, that
the services of these men, as well as
those of others whose names we have