The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-02-24

ference, on "Hawairs International
Mission:
Address Of William Alanson Bryan.
At last the Hawaiian Islands are
being fortified O'ahu's ancient vol
canoes are being honeycombed with
secret passages. Underground cham
hers are being crammed with the
mysterious munitions of war. Her
cliffs and shores are already studded
with powerful cannon. Her harbors
1ave been Strengthened and deepened
and her sea approaches are to be
mined. Impregnable forts are being
equipped on every point of vantage
and great army posts are being es-
tablished Every day the streets of
the one time peaceful old city of
Honolulu resound to the marital
tread. The dream of three genera
lions of men is at last the reality of
today. Hawaii is rart of the Amer
ican Union, and the Gibraltar of the
Pacific is an undoubted reality.
AS patriotic Americans we do well
to realize that our flag, with all it
represents, floats over a grim fortified
port in the very midst of the broad
Pacific that is the pride of our nation
and the envy of the civilized world.
But as citizens of the world and stu
dents of the history of human pro-
gress, we must not in our complac-
ency lose sight of the fact that in
becoming annexed and fortified, this
little cluster of sun-kissed islands,
that since the dawn of human history
have been guarded solely by the palm
and reef, no longer voice their match
less aloha of open-hearted welcome
tc all who come to their shores. In
exchange for the open brown hand
that for more than a century Hawaii
has extended to all races of men, she
now presents the mailed fist. She is
Ueady for armed resistance and, if
occasion should demand, she must
Play the part she has chosen, and be-
come our first bulw'ark of defense
ir this great Western ocean. There
is something for the first time in the
perfume laden air of Hawaii that
whispers the old-time taunt of the
braggart nation-"that we, don't want
20 fight but, by lingo! if We do, we've
got the ships, we've got the men, we've
got the money too"
The fortification Of these one-time
inconspicious islands has brought
them into a position of singular ma
tional Importance and great interna
do, oP
fairs and the future development Of
no similarly limited area on the main
land d2n claim so large share of the
attention of the whole American PEG
PIE, and it can truly be said that ne
region of the globe is so liable tC
figure in the next great world move
ment, nor is the future of any place
so frahght with virile possibilities fol
good or evil.
In the complex position of uphold
ing the dignity of the American ma
ton, administering her own private
affairs 70 advantage and keeping thu
peace in the Pacific, the Territory o
Hawaii has no ordinary diplomat,
mission to perform. l therefore TAX,
the few minutes at my disposal t.
suggest policy for the future devel
epment of the Territory which hop,
those of you who feel an interest II
the great movement for internationa
peace, as well as the individual vel
being of every people, whether the.
be dependent races or not, will flint
worthy of consideration, and, it il
hoped, general approval
/ need only allude in passing 1,
the chain of political events in Ha
throw of the Island monarchy, tn,
establishing of a provisional govern
ment, to be followed in turn by thu
Republic which accomplished its mis-
sion in bringing about the annexation
of the islands to the American ma
ton as a Territory. l have alread!
spoken of the fertilization of the Is
lands IS the highest ideal of those
worthy citizens who labOred long t
bring about this much desired end
They knew that The development o
an American military and naval bas'
at Pearl Harbor would forever fix thu
seal Of permanency upon their Labors
for they believed the Constitution fol
lowed the flag, and that, if the tiaI
of our Union was once hoisted owe
the Hawaiian Islands, it would con
tinue to wave and the welfare Of tn,
Islands would ever afterwards 'b'
the jealous care of America, sine,
they knew Hawaii to be a possession
the y9Me of which to this or an,
ether nation it was impossible Z
state, other from military of
commercial point Of view.
We rlay then regard the fortified