New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-07-20
Was 1t q Mistake?

mains to be seen what good can come
therefrom to the people of this free gov
ernment-what advantages are to be
gained that could not have been realized
just as effectively with Hawaii as it was,
an independent state friendly in all of
its relations towards us.
The plea has been put forward by the
anncxationists that the people of Hawaii
wanted to forfeit their independence and
insisted on becoming part of the United
States. Let us see. In speech in the
house while the debate was in progress
Congressman Champ Clark made this
statement, not word of which has been
disproved:
'This annexation scheme is in fragrant
violation of basic principle of our
republic, for many thousand Hawaiians
more than the entire male adult popu-
lation-have solemnly protested against
the sale and delivery of their country to
us by little gang of adventures who,
claiming to be the whole thing, are Of
fering to us a property of which they
ROBBED the rightful owners. And now
America, which has been solemnly de-
clared by the supreme court to be a
Christian land, is to be made the receiv.
er of these stolen Hawaiian goods
The annexation howlers of course de-
MED this statement and boldly asserted
that the Hawaiians we're falling over
each other in their eagerness for annex
alton. But if this we're true, Mr.. Clark
asks, why not submit the proposition to
a popular vote in Hawaii as was done IN
the case of Texas.
IF fair election cannot be had on
that proposition" continued the con-
gresham, ''what assurance have we that
fair elections can be had hereafter if we
annex the islands? If the Hawaiians are
not fit to vote on a proposition of vital
interest to themselves, who will have the
cfrontery to say that they are tit to vote
for all coming time on propositions of
vital interest to us and to our prosper
ity."
The trouble is that the vast majority
Of the Hawaiian people are not only op-
posed to annexation, but they are also bit
terly opposed to President Dole, the
chief of the annexationists, and all of
bis works. Dole knows this, and realiz-
es that popular vote would be disas-
trous to his favorite scheme. He realiz-
es too that he is holding the office by u
surpation and that the people of his is
lands do not vote down his annexation
project simply because they cannot.
The constitution which was adopted
by the Dole regime, after they had sue
ceeded in wrestling the government from
It's rlghtful rulers, provides for annexa-
ton. It also limits the election franch-
Use to such only as are willing to swear
to stand by the constitution.
Thus 1t is that the vote of Haw ali has
been cut down from $4,000 under the
monarchy to only 1880 under the oil
garchy of Dole.
Of these 1880 the majority have been
imported from the United States since
Dole assumed the rel gns of the govern
ment. "What a misleading misnomer
1t IS therefore," says Clark, ''to dignity
this little handful of close corporation
oligarchlsts with the name of republic
What burlesque upon truth, what a
travesty upon justice, what an affront
to intelligence to assert that Dole and
his gang have any claims upon us or
upon any other friends of representative
government and human freedom ~
The constitution which provides for
annexation was never adopted by and
with the consent of the people it was
intended to govern. Under it less than
three thousand people were able to vote
without swearing away their nationality
and that is the sum total out of $4,000
who have availed themselves of the cleo
tiv e franchise. i"=$ ...a.. ~ s-.'- E"E
That number too covers the force Of
the annexationists. Such being the case
can any good come from the fact tina
the islands have been made part of thu
United States? Can we hope for sue
cessful assimilation Of a people who hav,
thus been swindled out Of their natura
rights? Can you imagine such thing
as successful government without con
sent Of the governed? For the sake 8
satisfying a few adventures, all Of whom
are moved by selfish purposes, for tn,
sake Of acquiring a little more real es
tate, can we afford to take step fraugh
y \ \