Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 199, 12 April 1893 — Untitled [ARTICLE]
It is sUtcd by H.iwaiian* th tt lhey are heing ip}ir >ached to f»vor fciiiiex2tti* } n wiiii t!i** 9:3ite>n>* >ita that if tiiey d> so th**re w;!. >•» plenty of w >rlt 2 v«n thern, and thatthey will xll gel steadyjobs and >< >on, i they ;gn ihe a'iiieialion r 11. Of ■ <urse th *•- I - 'p e • who >ro roui.d i r> . this ramner wiil aimply gay. after the deluded signer h«s iuquired wh-n- the psy and the i >b nr>*. tl. it th » ■ things will oome after annex iti«<n i" acc >mpliftbed. In the memiime however, they have accorapliehed t!.eir object —that of fr»udulent’.y deceiving sraue inuoeeiil il i.v i.im, whoae knowle<lge ot English is amall. inlo signing a\vay hiā birthrjght and not even getting in re turn the miserob’.e bite of bre.id and butter whieh induced hi* hunprv stomach to sway his better judgment. But if annexHti«<n comes will it bring the blessings in its train abur dance of wealth and w«>rk for everyone as these shouters keep perpetually d.»ngling bef>re Ihe worklees and hungry Portnguese. Dutoh or Hawaiian to huy his signature? What raagic is there in the wonl, or in a pieee of bunting of no raatler how tuauv siripes or eolon», to ensure woallh and work. Those who Ihink seriously of theee results are eimply chaeing a fallacy whieh, if annexation is realized. will be expoaed too h»te. Work goes where capital is and eapilal follo\vs work hut in no oase do either of thera f»llow a tlag, or a form of government siraply «e a form of governraent. \Vork would be juet as plentiful under the reat«>red monarchy ns lt wouhl be if we wero to Anierica or any other country and capita! will be expended just :is freely uuder either form as the etate of industry will justify. If theee ielamle are annexed who will inveet oapilal here that would not do it under the monarchy? Capital will eonie only to probab!y remunerative ent rprises. and, if there is sufficient return to be eeen in prospect.wiil goeveiKwhere there is annrchy. or even no form of government at all and it will not go even under the best government on earth 5f it ean not eee a probable pr«fit on tbe inveetment. And as there are n»< eheap lands in this country tn exploit. no more land to be leas-*d at a low figures big enouph to make a sngar plantati«n out of. and as sugar and coffee and all the thousand and one other industriee here are only in the experiraental atage of oaying returne they are not to be thought of as hkely to briug more capital for 8«»rae tiine. It would eeem to us that the only hope for those who desire to see this weallh and work business noming off eo«3n will be to beg the Thureton Commissionere 115,000,000 people produce eome of their wealth and turn itoveralittle oftener in rexlity than they do on paper betweeu one another. as aecuritv for as equally valuable businees tnnsaoti»QS. If it can’t be done in reaiity tben, we are efraid.our ehaneee of seeing eapiul invested «ill be something like eome of ihoee Oompaniee hera whoee valuati*fi on the share Iisl is. say 9245,000, of «hieh 9200,000 repreaenU tbe Iand, «hieh isn t oaed for anything. and the rest
| represeuts hi« own valuation of his ■ : busin -<3 skill, rxhibited by the , ui.i. wao ioc <rpor*ted it, but wtio : could n >:gvl as many cents 1- aned, , with :: as ?ecurity. as would buy I him a eup of c> tfee. ( Ttiis kiud of capital may be pl >ntiful enough now and no doubt wooM b‘» un«:ier annexation succo3- b’.it wh .t v.»lue is that to the h i grv >.»r liiō li:seless? And we fir:niv s1 v that neither Claus I Sprecsels. n»r any >>lher one who re v h langible capitaL will in- ; veet a c«*nt ra >r • here on account I,f th>- g.iverii'ne::t or il ig that is ; over us S! »w him a ehane- 1 to pul iu his ce!it aiul lake out a d > ar a: 1 he. like every one else, wili jump at the ehanee. We are day in and day out to'd t<* b‘ !teve by S**reuo Bish »p and I theother aniiexitioniata that no as.-:stance either moral or physical was remlered to the insurgents ; during the late revolution by the Americau representatives here—in i fact we are uiade t»< believe that the idea of annexation never entered inp» the head >>f the Araerican minister who simp!y performed his duty here as a servant of the Umted States accredited t» Queen Liliuokalani, and thit he, as such, in accord \vith all diplomatic etiquette, kepl clear of loeal poliliea and never discussed or encouraged poliiieal possibilities with the residents of the country o\ving allegianoe and fealty to the Queen and the Hawaiian tlag. For the benefit «>f the fe\v who may be inclined to aeeepl such assertions of the annexationist8, we will herewith re|>rint a fe\v of Mr. Steveiis’ disp itches tu Secretary of State F«s-t>-r. \vritt *n,n >t at the time or after the revolution, when it might l have l»eeii excus;«b!e. aml proper for him t«> sugg>*sl hoalile aelione t>>war«ls a fnendly nalion to \vhose court was accredited, but written in February, 1892, when in , his eyes the pear was beginning to rii>eu and traitoroua annexation [»latis were beiug developed in the heads «>f the ciique gathered around him. We italicize certain liuea in his letter in whieh he admits that the reforcu party d«>es not represeut the peopie and are too few in number to coutroI in polilieal affairs unaided. He advocates anneialion iu plain terms and abuses Mr. C. W: Ashf >rd, because thie gentleoiau successfully fought agaiust and »lefeated H.A.P.Carter s treaty whieh virtually was the begiiiiiiiig of the anuexation niove. The ,, Libera!s” nuw supporting the P. G., in the despatche3 aP.er the revolution have heen surrounded with a great deal of respectability aml included in the best elemenl. but \vere not considered in that ligbt by him a year ago; Mr. Steren.s to Mr. Foder. Uoited Sl :tes LegaV,on, Houolulu, Feb. 8, 1892. Sir:—The semi-annual eiection of uiemb.rs of the Hawaiian Legislature look plaee Eebruary 3, after several weeks of exciting eanvass. The princi iai i?sue on the part of the business men and more conservative aml responsible citizeus waa in respect of treaty relationa with the Uhited State«. These supp>»rters of the propjeed new treaty whieh they beheve has be«u nec»tiaUd at \Vashiugton had the approval of tbe principal Government officials, thongh the eaOiuei is lar rrom ueiug viguroua and influential. The oppoeition, or Liberals, as they tefm themaelvea. compoeed moetly of the irreeponaibIe white voters, half castas, and of a large majority of ,,
the oative llawahan#. pu*hed their canvas« on thrw linea —a ue* euiiiihuiio.i, op. s.:ioa t > tIie pres4Dt eahīnel. an*l hostility t« the prop»)sed trenty. th;.ugh it Dnaily hedge-l ai i disclaioaed Ui*>r« u r Ie=s i:. r-2»r-i V» the iail. Theee so called Lihewia vrere leil by \Vilc<>x, tf>e haif caste who wa« at the head f t .** revoluti *uary oi>tbreai m July. 1S'7, and by C. \V. Aslifiud tue C» m* - ober of the cabiuet \\ty b-.*trared and : <ieeerted hie a<5.ici.itee >v Len Mint ister Carter w:i-lry i g tonee tiatea ■ new treatv in 1SS9. Tuis Ashf*>rd ' i ha» some abiiitv, anv amount <>f | audacity. and i» utter!y withuut j scruple<. and has done his utmo9t to influeuce the prejudiced and passions of the native Hawaiiana. B<>th he and \Vilcux 9<careJ their •lection as representative9 fr>*m thi» island. The legislature is composed of forty-eight members, one-hall being noble« elected by property bolding or ineome voters. The Conservati ves and friend9 of the treaty have secured most all of the noble* and enough of the rep« resentativ68 to give them a decisive majority. sufficient it is thougbt. to secure the approva! of the trea(y, eveu with the Pearl Harbor grant in perj>etuity. Not improbably there may be a change of cabinet when the legislature asaembles in May. There are increasing indications lhat the annexation sentiment is growing aniong the business men as well as with the less responsible of the foreign and native population of the islauds. The present political situation is feveri9h and I see no prospeet of its being permanently otherwise until these islands heeome a part of the American Union or a possession of Great Britain. The intelligent and rcspomible men here, unnided by outside eupport nre too few in numbers to control in politicaI affaira and to secure good government. There nre indic.<tions that even the Liberali just beaten at the eleelion. though comj)09ed of a majonty of the popular yote are about to declare for annexation, at least their leaders. thcir chief newgpaper having already j)ubli9hed editorials to this effect. At a future time. after the pr»j>o9ed treaty shal 1 have b**en ratified, I shall deem it my official duty lo give a more elnhomle stntement of facts and rensons i chy n 'neie depnrture" by ihe United States ns to Haieaii if rapidly becoming n neccssity, that a “protectorate” is impracticable and that annexation must be the future remedy nr else Great Britain will be furni«hed with circumstancei and oppor»unitv to get a hold on these island9 whieh will cause future seriou« embarrassment to the United States. At thls time there seems to be no imraediate pr >sj)ect of its being safe to have the hart»r of Honolulu left without an American vessel of war. Last week a British gunboat arnved here, and it is «aid will remain bere for an indefinite period. I am sir, etc. Joh.\ L. Stevens. A month later in March 1892. Mr. Steven9 asks for instruction9 in view of certain po»sible eontingencies. It is evident to the mo«t innocent mind that he does not wish to ose his forces to support the legal and lawful governmeiiL Ut u« uiUuh) w wu*Cu u» >* accredited, but rather sympathi*es with the orderly and p*aceful revolotionary movement, as he so naively ealle it, whieh hae the for , ita object the ealahliehmeal of a
Pr*)visional G«vernment, or a r<*puhiie with the future pro«j>ecl of | a;l ..-X. i. U- • u’ S. » 90 well i>o?ted a« even to know the p!ans of atUok by ihe conspīrators, he never dre.ims that it wouui . be his duty s< repr-»e*it<ng * fnendly j>>wer t-> furnish tbe Qvieen’s G<>vern!uent with ali the ! iuf»rmation re!.»ling t>> the tr- »- ! , * >11 in devel<>t>ment. and thereby | as9i.-t the lawful government i-. ; checking it and j>uniehing the guil|v n<>. he >y< haek and '*<• cotues an access .rv lk t re the t t>, - ts. • , i but wr te home thal the .uineii- ; i ti«>u senliment i< gtining groun-is. i Here s part of the Iettcr of \iarch ! S, 1892 : _|/V. Stevens to Mr. t\>ster . # *United States Legation; Honolulo, March 8, 1>92. Sir:—lu view of j>oss;ble eontingeucies >n these ialaiul», I ;isk j for the iiistruclions of the Department of 9tate on the f.>Ilowing viz : If the Governraent here should be s«rpri9ed and overturned by ah orderiy and peaceful revolutionary movement, iargely of native Hawaiima, and a prT>visionaI or repuhliean government organized and pr«claiwed, wou!d the United States Minister and navtl c«ramander here be justified in responding affirmatively to the eail of the memhers of the reicoved government to reetore them to poweror placethemin jx>s9ession of the Government Buildings ? . . Should s revolutionary attempt of ihe character indicated be made, there are strong reas«ns t ) presume that it would begin with the seizure of the jx>lioe station with its arms and ammunition, and this acc >mplished, the RoyaI Palaee and tiie G»vernment Buildmg containing the Cabinet offices an<i arcliives would very soon be captnre<L the latter building heine situated about onethird of a mil« from the j>olice station. In such contingencies ; would it be justifiibie to use the LTnited States forces here to restore i the Goverument Building t<> the posseseioQ <>f the displaced <>fficials? I m»y add that th« annexation sentiment i* increasing quite as mueh among the white residents and native Hawaiiane, and other workingmen who own no sugar stoc& as with the sugar planlen». I am sir. etc., J. L. Stevk\s. In November, 1892, the pear i« evidently improving t«wards nj)eness. and Mr. Stevens who during hisfour years residence never before has found it his duty. now eonsidere it imperative to furni9h the State departaient with a detailed information of the conditi>>n ol' the j>eai’ and he writ"S a very lenglhy dispatcb of N'ovember 20. 1892. to Mr, F<>9ler in whieh he uiAke *'a carefui and full statement of the financial. agncnltural, s>>cial. and pohlieal condition of iheee j Isiands.’’ “An intelligent and impartial exatuination of the facts ean hardly f-a.il to lead to the eon- : eluaion that the relatione and j jx)licy of the United States toward Hawaii will 9000 demand 9ome change, if not the ad<>ption of deci9ive iueasurc9, witb the aim to «ecure American intere«ts and future 9Upremacy by encouraging Hawaiian development and aiding to promote re9pon«ibie government |n ♦U • T-» r~ 3** f■ r- ♦U • headir.g of tbe g»vernment of the Isiands, this minister, accredited to tbe Queen’s G«vernment, the.i criticizee tbe Queen and the monarehieal form of government in the moet unblnshing mauner. “A
c.*vernor at #.W0 a ve»r aovt c in h*rnjony wiih the r*- ■* >■ e menof *the legis!*ture wv b« far better for lbe ul»mls lti*n lie ; pr»senl monan’hieal 2" Vt “ r n, ent. ‘*IVstiny aml ihe va«t t t ,r» f inter*«ts of the l'mlol >! tvi> ;n ; ihe P.cific c:esr*.v ii ir »e «t no di!>Unt d*y n>!’.sl h*’ r» !»p >n•ib!e for the vrni!uenl «>f ?I »•? j :slands. l T nder a t-rr t >r.;ti g-*v- • ernment they e *»}h! b- v9 'y i gov»rned ae ai*v of ttie < x T'-rritories .>f ti>e T ; t< I >tal<a. • The nien qoaiifieditre here t*> oarry ion g <ni c>*vernmc?!t. pr*>vided they hav« tht .*upp.»rt »>f t' • e venunent of the i nit-«l Sl.il>'*. Why uot i*o?*t, .\m*rio*n i -- p» ??;t>n ? Wouia " ooi be jusl well f«>r the l T nit>d St ;>-'.*t.*se Ihe islandstwenty-five v- ir« h» n • FaoU and obv;.>i;< prob->b;. t;es wiil answer b<>tii of the>e int» rr>gatiors. Hawaii bas re >oheil Ihe (>arting of the way. .. ..... Auiencanize tlie iahi.ui'*, une control of the cn*w>i >a: >i«, «i;s: of th.*m in sui 'i. l> t« r*r tual settlers and fr. eho’,der« . thus bcingirg evorvlhin_‘ int<* barmoov with Anierican life and proeperitjr. T.* uosti»>ne Amenean aeiiun many y»ars ia only to add t» preseut unfav >r bl<- tendeucies and to make fut.:re (>• ■*- aeeaiou na re d>tficult. What stronger pr.*of is nee«Ied to ! ihow that ihe revoluuon and tiie annexatiou movemcnt wer> encouraged ami c*»unt*-nancetl frona Ihe U. S Legalion ai.d tl.at tlie luen wh«» c;«rn*d it *>ut und* r the batlle arraye*i tro*>jw >>f the i n;te«i Stateanavy weresimply imtri< ;>> tt* » duncing l>» the stri:;g *>f the r>-pre-sentative «*f an a!Iege«I friend!y nati«>n —a represent it ve wh» f**r tn>>re tban a year had preache«I and advocated t*> hia h*>me goverunient tiie conquest «>f th>s«' i«!;.n«is> to be ac«»mplished f r tlic »«r*e of appearance in the sliape ol an nprising of the people wher.-by tiie tree w.iuld b»> sliaken aml tiie p.‘.ir tumble d >wn in the 1 1|> «>f the Republ;can adiuiuistrati «> n . Thanks U> all g>nxi j>owers ih ve, the Arnerica.i nati<>n h.»d d »uned the imperialistic repuhli<’ »ns and h«»nesty, justice, »nd fairm ss reign again in Washington and liawaii was saved. Minister Stevens’ acti»n during the late revoluti«)n is th«»roughiy well kuown t«», Tmi is, we feel as-Btm-d, fully understo*d and properiy appreciated bv C*inmi«ai«>ner Blonnt. ll<>w very <lit!erent Mr. Cleveland’s miuister to Hawaii act*d in 1H89. during tbe Wilc<>x rev<*luti«»n. Here is Minister MerrilTs telegraph:c «li«|>alch dated AogusU IHHW; •‘On July 30 unsuccessful attempt by ab<»»t one hundre«l h,ilfcastes aud nativee t<> overthr<*w goverument aml dej*«»se King. Insurrection »uppress*-d bj’ Hawaiian government w:thoul f.*reign aid. Six ifisurgents killed. twelve wounded. t)r«ler r-sP>red aania day. Men from U S. Adams Ianded hy pfrmltnon to pr»tect live» an«l property if found i»ecessary; afterwards returued to ship.” How ilt-inf.»rmed to draw it Diildly Mr. John L. Stevens has been ean b« ueen in his disj>atch No. 6Ō d *ted September 14—1692 in whieh he r ports on a vote of want of c»mli»Ieiice to be bmught hg*inst the cabinet wherc he sj>eaks of Mr. Whaley a» if tbat gei)tlemat< ever had playtd any ro!e whalever in Hawaiiau jx>iitic». This is p«rt of ihe dispatch, the diplomatic aml pol;te t*»ne of whieh wouid h<ve made Tatleyrar.d open his eyes in uudisguised ••tonishmeut «>ver Amenean foreig.i «»tfi » et:>j i**tte. * Tae Tabitian ha.f-caste fkv<>nle of the Queeu, the Marshal <>f the iīttle kingd«»m, aml bis baud of adventurers, Btiil dominalettie j>alac« aud defy the re9jx»n9ible men of the legialature and the islaads. f n associate of the half-caste favorit« is au Amenean renegade by tb« name of \Vhaley. a d:sgraced and expelled San Francisco customhouse otficer, now at the head of th« Op!H r, ;-rir"? •*)<! <*n» of tp. — «nr>poeed owners of the Halcyon th« notorious smuggiing schoouer waieh fiits helween these islan»Js and Bntish Columbia. This man Wbaley bas mure bratns than the Tahilian favorile.'’