Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 191, 12 May 1891 — ANNEXATION. [ARTICLE]

ANNEXATION.

[ Writfen fi r the Ka Leo.1

We hope that the American press will continue to assist, us in calling attention to the position and needs ef our island realm. We believe confideotly tbat we are voicing the feeling and opinions of the intelligent natives and of a majōrity of foreign residents. Annexation is a consummation devoutly to be wished. It would give us a right to elect our loeal officers instead of having them appointed from above. It would abelish eoolie slavery. It would stop the influx of Chinese. It would ifisure us peaee and a stable government. It would open up our puhlie lands to settlers, and induce a desirable class of oiti2ens to settle on them. It weuld secure the improvement ef our harbor, tbe erectien of puhlie building, an oeean and inter-island cobles. We might have our laws made | by a iegislature and by congress rather than by judges and ministers <And finally we would have a market fer all our produce including sugar, our chief resource and our greatest cUrse. The bounj ty or the proteetion would perhsps ! induce our American to consent to be annexed to their native country, though they would have to give up slavery and the power to make and brake contracts in the name of the Hawaiian gevernment. The question is whether the beunty and prot«ction would conipensate them for the loss of unpaid lalx)r and the miscellaneou 8 advantages of running a separate government, land. liberal- tax ap peal boards, indulgeot courts. and no respouBibilitieB. We have some hope that thev will prefer to obtain a certain market. As it iB, Hawaii is a good plaoe to raise eane, but sugar will not spontazneouBly change into gold and other commoditiee. The planters and missionaries have alwayB pretended to cherish the plao ef ann»xation. In fact, they have held it over the Hawaiian monarchB and people as a aort of threat of what might befall them in case of miacoiHiuct. Of course no king or queen is anxious to heeome a citiien of m free and enlightened republic; and the Hawaiian peeple by reason of their natural patriotism and devetion to their chiefs, have heen very adver»e to any propoeal to give up their national independence. But educatio» is rapid)y chaoging their views in regard to governtnenU. We de net mea literary edication or achooliug; that is a long ago act?ompliBhed f*ct, and foretgnera #honld ivmeniber that thtre ia leaa iilivemcy among, native Hawaiiaiia than anong Kur»f «ana. Ttie ed(»eaUon that ia tr*neforuaing our po|iUeal opioiema ia the practical one of ed-

penenee and observation aided by enlightened leaders and a free press. The Hawaiian is awaking to find himßelf m & curious position, an urgent poeition tbat demands that some manner ef relief be found at onee. He finds himself homeless, pennilesB, and without influence !in his ewn ceuntry. While he has been studying the bibles distributed by the good missienaries for the welfare of his soul, the aforesaid missionary has been attending to the business of this werld 1 80 succesefully that he has a clear paper title to the land, water and air. Even the ehanee to be a serv&nt and day laborer does aot remain, since the country is flooded with Chinese and Japanese. Fornaerly the people respected and trusted their kmg and chiefs and were satisfied und*r tbeir kindly, paternal government; but they have recently seen their rulers heeome mere playthings in the hands of the money-changers, blown about by every breath of inAuenee, leoking out rather for their ewn interests and pleasures than for their people and the prusDerity of the country. The eonclusion is forming itself in the minds ef the people that our sovereigos have enough to do, to spend their salaries and amuse themselves, and that we have a right to make our laws and choose our officers. This right would be secured by becoming one ©f. the states of the Ūnion. Of course weean only thinkof annexation with all the rights of state, nothing else would receive consideration.