The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-11
THRUST At OUR
AMERICANISM
Congressman Higgins Says
Some of the Things
He Thinks.

Hawaii = a thousand years from
statehood al the present rate OF prog
ress."
This and much more not fattering
TO the complacent dissatisfaction with
the state of Americanization in these
islands with which we are sometimes
regaled by visitors-congressio and
otherwise-was said by Congressman
Higgins at the dinner at Haleiwa on
Monday evening. He said in effect
that he had been unable during his
progress through these islands to see
that We had either made much progress
toward Americanization, or that We
were acceIerating the process.
Most of those who heard the speech
have been talking about it ever since,
and most of them heard it with salts
faction, even if they did not wholly
agree with ali. OF it, because Il was a
departure from the customary jolly.
and set some things in a new light.
That Congressman Higgins speech
touched vulnerable spots is shown by
the warmth and personality Of ". O.
Smiths reply, as all accounts agree.
Congressman Higgins speech was in
reply 10 one of the informal toasts that
had been proposed, and TO which he
was called on TO respond. In good natur-
ed pleasantly, but with the cutting
edge of seriousness, he told Of the
things he had seen on his tour Of the
islands, but among them little or moth
ing that was American. He had heard
all kinds of Hawaiian music, but never
the Star Spangled Banner. He had
spent a Fourth of July at Hilo which
had been celebrated with a luau and
horse racing. He had heard a great
deal Of what Congress ought to do for
Hawaii, but never any recognition Of
duty and loyalty on the part of Hawaii
10 the Union What had been his OBJ
servation and his experience on the
other islands had been his observation
and experience on this.
". o. Smith replied with some acer-
bity, both of manner and of matter.
Apparently believing that himself and
the planters had been singled out for
attack. he warmly defended both him
self and the planters, declaring that
they had Iab0red for annexation ac-
tuated by American principles. and that
they needed no Congressman from
Connecticut TO tell them what Amer
icanism is
we were several days on Hawaii"
said Congressman Higgins, and We
spent the Fourth of July in Hilo. We
were serenaded with Hawaiian music.
We were diverted with Hawaiian dane
ing. We were entertained at a luau.
We saw Chinese play baseball and we
saw japanese race horses. But we did
not hear the Star SpangIed Banner, nor
America We did not hear any patri-
otic addresses seeking TO instn either
a love Of country or a better knowledge
or. appreciation Of its history and prin-
ciple.
we were shown sugar plantations
operated by American machinery, but
we saw very few Americans employed
on them. Wherever We have gone, il
is much the same. There is much talk
Of the f0rtifications that America ought
10 construct here, Of the guns she ought
TO mount, 70 protect this American
but we hear very little Of
a determination TO make this really
American soil.
Il have heard a good deal. since 7
have been here. that Hawaii ought soon
TO be given statehood. Never in the
history of the United States has a
been made a state until its /
people have made It American. The /
same rule viii be applied TO Hawaii. /
But Hawaii is a thousand years from 4
statehood at the present rate Of prog /
ress."
There was applause for the Con- |
yressman when he sat down, but W. 0. I
Smith did not join in II He declared 4
n effect that it was a SANDER on the /
planters who had spent thousands Of /
dollars TO bring white laborers here to 1
'ay that there was little American
sentiment in Hawaii. The planters had
been the backbone Of the movement 10 4
secure annexation and a free market
or their crop. and that they were as
thoroughly American as the people Of
my state"
The incident created a very marked
most Of those who were
here feeling that Congressman Hig-
,ins' remarks were directed at the
people Of the islands generally, and
lot at the planters at all, and that /.
he rush 20 defend them and the man +
Ter in which the defense came, had f.
lot been Of advantage TO the planters.
u