The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-02-24
BRYAN
ON HAWAII
Continued from page nine.)

Jne congress OF America enact SuCn
laws and secure such treaties guar
anteeing Hawaii as a neutral port, as
will throw the great fortified harbors
of Hawaii, owned and protected by
America, open to the trade and com
merce of the nations of the world
on equal terms to all and with special
privilege to none. In short, devote
our energies to the internationaliza-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands, rather
than to the thankless and all but i'm
possible ask of Americanizing them,
with assisted Russian, Spanish, Porto
Rican and Philippine pauper, emigrant
laborers.
In short, is it not possible by recog-
nizing that the laws and regulations
that have served in the developing
of mainland territories into states are
not practicable, if desirable, in Hawaii
and by so doing develop at the cross
roads of the Pacific a port where the
men and the goods of all nations may
meet on common ground-the great
commercial, sociological, religious and
industrial clearinghouse for the whole
vast Pacific arena? Let it be deter
mined to refrain henceforth from a
| policy intended to ciTcumscribe and
! limit Hawaii in its development, and
in its stead seek to develop the group
| in every way along the largest posi-
BILE lines of usefulness to the whole
world Instead of seeking to manage
Hawaii from Washington by the same
laws and ideals employed in the dew
elopment of Arizona or New Mexico,
let this nation recognize once for all
the fundamental differences that we
know exist, and treat the midPacific
territory accordingly, just as England
or Germany or France might treat
an isolated territory.
Much that might be said in pre-
senting this subject that would be
pertinent, must be omitted. l wish,
however, to emphasize certain phases
of this proposed policy that must es
pecially appeal to those who are de-
voted to the cause of humanity and
! justice, the advancement of education
the promotion of peace and the spread
of the best religion among all tribes
and people. Let us look for a moment
at the unique position that the Ha
waiian Islands occupy on map o.
the globe. There they are Graded OF
the broad bosom of the most wonder
full ocean of all-more than two thou
sand miles distant from the neares
port No other place of Importance Il
so thoroughly isolated, so sharply
defined, or so definitely circumscribed
Think of their wonderful climate, thu
most inviting and soothing in all thu
world Consider their varied topo
graphy, their lofty mountains, thei
tropical jungles, their volcanoes, thei
fruitful wales, their fertile plains. Gu
flag does not shelter a territory will
greater variety of soils, climates
and conditions. Consider the char
acter of the people of the islands
that is, of the native people. Thinl
of them as a highly developed tribe
of an island race with a history anC
development of it's own that differs
in every essential characteristic from
any other race. Then add to the fore
going sources of individuality possess
ed by Hawaii, the manifold and com
pick materials that come to hel
through the long, varied and astonish
ing political social and industrial
evolution Of the group, and it becomes
apparent that Hawaii has very little
indeed that is strictly in common witt
any otter portion of the civilized globe
Situated half way between two hemi
spheres, the group is not to be con
sidered as belonging to either. BY
reason of its geographical position
and its history, it must ever remain
acter and peculiar in its relation anC
conditions.
What Hawaii is today in this re
gard, she was a dozen years ago, i. e.
before annexation, precipitated by 81
remote an event as the blowing up o
battleship in Cuban waters by &C
cident or design, brought her into tn
Federation of States as a fuIl-fedget
Territory, Notwithstanding a dozel
years of energy has been expended il
an all but vain attempt to Americana
the group.
Annexation to America was withou
doubt a great step. By the singl
move Hawaii, let us hope, settled one
for all the question as to who wa
ever afterward to be her protector
guide and friend. Up to that tim