The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-03-14
TOM SHARP, The Painter
Elite Building
Phone 397

occasions. Among them was the
Queen of the Sandwich islands. She
demanded the FULLEST recognition OF
her rank as the equal of the rulers of
the great Kingdoms of the earth. NO
better testimony could be given of
the feeling in the British Foreign Oh
flee of the value of the Hawaiian
Islands to Great Britain than the fact
that the Queen was accorded every
thing she asked-her place in the
procession, an ascort of the guards,
and guest at Windsor There was
current a story as the time that at
the dinner the Hawaiian Queen said
to Queen Victoria, Your Majesty,
am a blood relative" To the astonisn-
ed inquiry, How so?" the Hawaiian
Queen answered, my grandfather ate
Captain Cook" Oaughter.)
HOW ANNEXATION CAME.
Foreign historians and encyclope-
dists claim that our government pro-
NOTED the revolution in Hawaii for
the purpose of annexation, and that
the annexation was a violation of an
unwritten but friendly understanding
between commercial nations of the
world-that the independence of Ha-
wall should be respected. But the
government was so feeble and the po-
pulation so small that it was mipossi-
BILE for them long to continue their in
dependence. In fact the islands had
been repeatedly seized and Honolulu
occupied, and overtures had been
made to the United States at differ
ent times under the monarchy for a
union for the purpose of protection.
In 1920, Laplace, commander of a
French frigate, seized Honolulu and
held it until he had forced upon the
government a treaty. In 1S43, Lord
Paulet, commanding a British frigate,
seized the isalnds in the name Of
Great Britain, but the Government
subsequently released them in the le-
monstrances of the other powers. The
French again seized the islands in
1S49 and held them for a comfortable
time, but finally gave them up be-
cause of the opposition of the United
States and Great Britain. In 1851,
the King, to escape MS difficulties
with France and England, gave to our
representative a deed of cession OF
the islands to the United States, to
be held until an adjustment could De
made with these countries, and fail
ing i'll that, to be held permanently.
I In 1854 Secretary of State, Mr.. Marcy,
authorized negotiations for an annex
alton treaty. The King made draft
of treaty which was accepted by Mr..
Marcy, but before it was ratified the
king died. In 1898 treaty was ne
gOtiated between our government and
that of the Hawaiian islands for the
annexation of the islands to the Unit
ed States. This treaty was with
drawn by the President from the Sc
nate. Again, June 16, 1887, treaty
of annexation, similar N its pro II
sions to the joint resolutions viii oh
were adopted in 1898, was agreed &c
by the government of Hawaii and
duly ratified by their Senate. In
1900 the union was effected by the
action of the United States of Ameri
ca. This recapitulation shows that
the islands came to us in the natural
course of events and not by illegal
methods or undue pressure.
THE STRATEGIC POSITION.
Mr.. Depew then described the geo
graphical position OF the islands &c
demonstrate why there was such
universal anxiety either to control ol
to capture them" Pearl Harbor he
said was of incalculable value.
He showed the increase of popula
ton since annexation, spoke of tho
climate as particularly healthy and
after an account of the school system
related the following items of pro
gress:
Since annexation the Territory ha;
.,
public buildings, school buildings, wa
terworks, sewers, bridges, wharves
landings, and dredging, $S,4OO,OOO
The customs receipts for the yea
1901 were $1,22O,OOO; in 1900, s1,4OO,
900.
The tonnage of the vessels enter
ing and departing from the islands
in 1901 were $4,000; in 1909, 1,16O,