Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-07
The Unao,np Of Hawaii.


Even in Hawaii, now Territory Of the
United States, our policy Of. colonial ex-
pansion has not proved blessing TO the
people affected thereby.
"Hawan was an exceptionally pros
porous little country just before Ameri-
can absorption" writes Henry Cooper,
who, as prominent participation in the
revolution that led to annexation, acting
governor and attorney-general, and a
leader in the affairs of the islands, should
be accepted as competent authority. ats
people were happy and contented; there
were ideal trade relations with the United
States, which resulted in our spending
with American merchants from S25,0O0,-
600 TO S30OOO0O0 annually, and we had
an abundance Of cheap and efficient labor.
This was the state Of affairs in 1896 =
Today, while we have no scarcity Of capi-
tai in Hawaii, nobody wants to borrow
money, for the uncertainty and insta-
bility Of our conditions has paralyzed all
business enterprise. Honolulu has lost
700 inhabitants within recent period
and q numberof people have abandoned
their homes Nobody will invest a dollar
in any new business, and curtailment is
the watchword. Unless there is a radical
change in the near future, we shall see
grass growing in the street, Of Honolulu
and the people Of means will, at no distant
day, be ubsisting on fish and poi"
Such is the picture drawn by an ex-
perienced resident and an American, Of
tho evil results of our occupation Of
Hawaii.
It need not be surprising that such re-
suits have attended our colonial expert
ment in the mid-Pacifc, for never was an
enterprise stamped more plainly, from the
outset, with the mark Of outrage and
fraud. Hawaii was fairly stolen from her
rightful rulers, who we're secure in their
possessions by the win of the people Of the
islands, and placed under the control Of
scheming revolutionists by the power and
authority Of the government Of the United
States. "The policy Of infhmy," was the
sonorous condemnation applied by one
newspaper to President Cleveland for his
firm determination to right this wrong
but it more justly applies to the act itself,
and 10 the subsequent course of this coun-
try in relation 10 Hawaii.
The revolution in Hawaii--or rather
the intrigues which were entered into fol
the sole purpose OF overthrowing the reign
ing administration never have
had a standing but for the open and unlaw-
full assistance Of the United States authori-
ties. Marines and guns from the United
States cruiser Boston, placed at the com.
mand and direction of the American min.
ister TO the islands-who had no more
right 10 do what he did than he had Il
engage in piracy on the high seas-over
awed the established authorities Of the
island and placed the revolutionary con
spirators in control. When President
Cleveland, stirred by the injustice Of thi
proceeding, insisted upon restoring thu
status quo and placing Hawaii again Il
the charge Of her nghtful rulers, he wa
denounced as an apostle Of wrong and Al
enemy Of free government; and soon afte
his retirement from Office the revolution
lists, backed by the moral support of thu
administration at Washington, regaine,
a foothold in Hawaii, and then began tn
negotiations which speedily resulted il
American control
No wonder that such an unrighteou
experiment has proved disastrous, AM
that Hawaii today finds herself worse Of
under American rule than she was unde
the rule Of her own people. Il is the sam
in Porto Rico, in Guam, in the Philip
pines. Our rule has proved an inHictio
upon the people, instead Of blessing
What miserable failure the whole busi
ness has provd to be-