Evening star., 1937-10-23
Hawaii
Continued From First Paee,)


Continued From First Paee)
Government would then unhesitsttng-
ly meet the altered situation by seek
ing An avowedly American solution
for the grave issues presented"
60 MUCH for American govern
mental policy. When Benjamin
Harrison became President the posei-
bility Of annexation of Hawaii had
long been a matter of earnest con-
sideration by the various administrs.
tions. Now it became a national is-
sue. Grover Cleveland's astounding
instruction TO Willis to request the
removal of President Sanford B. Dele
OF the Republic OF Hawaii in favor Of
the monarchy brought a flood of edi-
torial attacks. Such powerful Dem
ocratic organs as the New York Sun
and World. the Hartford Times and
the Springfield Republican went into
action with all the vigor they could
muster and aroused public sentiment
from its natural apathy.
Papers all over the country probed
into the matter and came out with
their own findings for or against the
Presidents action and the whole sub
ject OF annexation. Debating socie-
ties in the colleges argued profoundly.
and the subject seems, from the press
OF that era, to have been on the lips
NJ eyarv ono IN, the oo,,ptvr YpAaAd
the ordinarily reticent Journalists Of
England had much to say Of Clevs-
lands instruction to Willis and Of
the furor 1t was causing. Some Brit
ish papers even advanced the propo-
sition that the islands would be bet
ter of as part Of the United States.
In rare cases was there any indics-
tion of q feeling that it was Eng
lands place to include Hawaii In the
imperial system.
MEANWHILE the Hawaiian Annex
alton Club was established and
the many intelligent leaders OF the
islands became extremely active as
they met in secret to plan for the
future. It was strongly felt that the
monarchy had suffered at the hands
Of those who were using the native
leaders as pawns in game which
they themselves intended to win, re-
gardleSs Of the means required.
Through the rebellion and the for
nation Of provisional government,
and the subsequent setting up OF the
republic, the state of the islands was
critical politically and economiclly.
To protect the people Of Hawaii and
the splendid gains made by their lead
ers in agriculture. education and gen.
eral well-being, it was Of vital i'm
pOrtance to bring about some form
OF alliance with the powerful United
States. AS most of the progress of
the islands was attributable to the
American citizens who had come there
and had given their lives for the bet
terment Of conditions, it was only
natural that this neighbor country
should be looked upon as the most
desirable protector.
However, self-gOvernment and self
dependence were even more to be de-
sired than mere protection against ag-
gression. For this reason the idea of
a protectorste, or of government by
some man or men sent like carpet
baggers to the islands, was particularly
obnoxious. Statehood or a territorial
status suggested themselves AZ the
alternatives. An appeal for statehood
even got to Washington when q COM
mission was sent there by the Annex
alton Club. Its members realized, how
ever. that such an appeal might wreck
their chances Of obtaining the merest
form of protection possible. 1t was for
this reason that the Republic OF Ha-
wall came to ask for the granting OF
q territorial status.
HE request was successful, for In
1898 Hawaii was invited into the
Union. The day when the American
flag was first flown over Honolulu as
the capital of the Territory of Hawaii
cleared away the fear of ruin for the
1t is impossible to state with
certainty that without this happening
the islands would have been perma-
nently ruined, but it is surely true
that they might well have undergone
Jhe ignominy of having inflicted upon
Jhem such colonial -le as has been
given to other parts of Polynesia.
As 1t is. the Territory Of Hawaii has
the role of an American COM
nunity, building for the future with
al the vigor shown by the fathers
If the Commonwealth of States. and,
ike the States, it has contributed gen.
to the Federal Government
If its culture, its agriculture, its pa
,riotic loyalty and its financial re-
sources.
II the old register of the Hawaiian
Club could speak before
he hearings Of the congressional party
now in Hawaii, it could tell of the
enormous development that has taken
,lace in the last quarter century in
Hawaii. 1t could show them that the
aith of Americas leaders has been
justified, that Hawaii has become an
invaluable part of the Union and
hat the Hawaiian people are as ap-
,reciative of their citizenship in tbs
United States as any one. anywhere,
,ould ever be.
AZ the result Of 40-ho,Ir-ye Iegis-