The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-04-28
FORMALLY ASK
FOR STATEHOOD
LEorsLATURE FIRES FIRST SHOT
FOR HAWAIIAN
STAR.
(rrom wcdncsday'a Advertiser

(from wednesday g AdYerttser.)
Statehood
The campaign to put q Hawaiian star
in the good old stars and stripes was
formally and with great pomp launched
yesterday, when the concurrent resolu-
tion to ask congress to consummate that
highly desirable action was adopted by
the senate, having been already adopted
in the house. few bouquets are
thrown at ourselves with modest but
exact precision, hitting us right over
the heart, which hereupon gives a few
extra throbs in honor Of the occasion
Not that anybody appeared to be alb
solutely certain that we would get it
In fact, the Judiciary committee of the
senate expressed itself in this way:
cit is, perhaps, peculiarly fitting
that this resolution be adopted now, in
view of the fact that so much is being
said about the desire of the depart
ment of the federal government that
Hawaii should come under federal con-
troll. sThe campaign will take years,
and the earlier we start and the harder
we work the sooner will come the real
ization of our hopes.''
The reading of these prophetic words
was followed by the adoption of the
resolution, the great pomp aforemen-
toned consisting of calling recess
that Senator Hewitt of Hawaii might
try a new kind of tobacco.
The resolution, in all its ambitious
infancy, is as follows:
Whereas, The citizens of Hawaii,
previous to annexation of the Islands
by the United States, had established
and maintained for more than fifty
years an independent national govern
ment, under and equal to the RESPONSE
bilities of sovereign State; and
Whereas, Annexation by one of the
great powers of the world was inevi-
table, owing to the mere numerical
weakness of such a small State, and its
inability to support armed defense on
land and sea; and
Whereas, Immediately following the
annexation of Hawaii by the United
States congress passed an organic law
giving Hawaii the status of Terri
tory, that has been the traditional
stepping stone to statehood; and
Whereas, Under this form the eiti-
zens of Hawaii have conducted their
government in conservative, patriotic
and able manner, providing literally in
all manner for the development of the
highest standards of American citizen
ship among all classes of the cosmopoIi-
tan population; and
" Whereas, Hawaii, the State, is as
certainly the natural and ultimate des-
tiny of these Islands as was the an
nexation by and admission as an in
tegral part of the United States of
America; and
Whereas, The record of our people
to the present day. the evidences of
their thrift in the figures of per capita,
the proofs of their Intelligence and am
bition as shown by the small percent
age of illiteracy among them are such
as to command for them a respect and
confidence equaling that accorded the
citizens of any State in the Union;
therefore be it
Resolved by the house of repre-
sentatives, session of 1911, and the SEN
ate concurring, That the Congress of
the United States is hereby requested
and respectfully petitioned to pass an
enabling act, authorizing the citizens of
the Territory of Hawaii to, and naming
the date when they shall, elect dele
gates to a constitutional convention for
the purpose of framing constitution
for the government of the State of Ha-
wall, the same to be of the full force
and effect when approved by congress
and the President in the manner and
form usual to the admission of States;
be it further
Resolved, That copy of this reso-
luton be forwarded to the President of
the United States, the president of the
United States senate and the speaker
of the house of representatives at Wash
ington."