CHAPTER XXXVI

ENGLAND OR AMERICA

PEOPLE who give the subject any thought are asking, What is to be the future of the republic of the Pacific? The islands are too far removed from other countries, and too weak to defend themselves against any great external force. They are rich, and in continual danger of the filibustering buccaneer. At present, that hydra-headed monster, the Louisiana Lottery, seems their worst foe, and, in the language of Senator Waterhouse, the people are compelled to sleep on their rifles to protect their lives. They may be overrun by buccaneers, their towns looted, and streets reddened with blood, but they will never return to monarchy.

Another danger menaces the Hawaiians. According to a treaty made by Kalakaua, or some preceding king, with Japan, the Hawaiian Government agreed to admit their people on the same terms as the most favored of nations, and to grant them the same rights and privileges. The Japanese, under the pernicious contract-labor system, have been imported to Hawaii by thousands, until there are now between twenty

three and twenty-five thousand on the islands.

As a

rule they are an ignorant and prejudiced class, and it would certainly be fatal to give them the elective franchise, tho they are to-day clamoring for it. There are enough of them to outvote the whites, and the islands would be plunged into heathenism and debauchery worse by far than that from which they were rescued. Not only are the Japanese on the islands clamoring for recognition, but their Government through its ministers demands it. Japan, flushed with victory over China, may ere long conclude to enforce the demand with her army and navy. The Hawaiian Islands are too rich not to become the spoil of some nation, and what nation would be more likely to seize them than a half-civilized country like Japan?

Next comes the question, Does England really want these islands? Most of her newspapers and writers say no, and in the same breath assert that the United States can not have them. England has always looked with jealousy on the advancement of American interests in Hawaii. In 1853, when the Hawaiian Islands were making overtures toward annexation to the United States, England and France felt disposed to interfere, but a change of rulers put an end to what might have been a troublesome matter.

Hon. S. N. Castle, a man long in confidential relations with the different sovereigns, and on intimate

terms with foreign representatives of Honolulu, said: "It has been stated to the writer that Captain Laplace, in 1839, did not believe that the $20,000 demanded by him could be raised, and in failure thereof intended to take possession, as he had just done at Tahiti. Such is also believed to have been the intention of Captain Mallet in 1842. The occupation by the British in 1843 was to anticipate the French occupation, which they believe to have been determined upon, as was stated by one of the British commissioners to the writer at the time. That occupation, however, having taken place, would have continued, as stated by Lord Aberdeen to Mr. Richards, if the admiral had not already restored the flag. And it is stated that the admiral was moved to do this when he did, because Lord Paulet did not send his despatches to him as he should have done, but sent them directly to the foreign office."

Edward Everett, American Minister to England, wrote from London to the State Department, August 15, 1843:

"Had France got possession of the Hawaiian Islands, she would certainly have retained them. Had intelligence been received here of Lord George Paulet's occupation of them before the promise was given to recognize them, England, I think, would not have given them up."

Commodore Kearney, of the United States frigate

Constellation, arriving at Honolulu on July 6, issued a protest against the cession of the islands to Great Britain, and when his vessel was visited by the governor of Oahu and the young chiefs, he saluted them under the Hawaiian flag, which greatly annoyed Lord Paulet. Dr. Judd, the missionary, who was confidential counsellor of the king, fearing the seizure of the royal archives, secretly removed them to the royal tomb, where, in the words of Jarves, "surrounded by the former sovereigns of Hawaii, and using the coffin of Kaahumanu for a table, for many weeks he nightly found an unsuspected asylum for his labors in behalf of the kingdom."

The Hawaiian Islands have been an object of concern to Great Britain for years. They complete the chain across the Pacific from her Australian to her British American possessions, and in case of a war with the United States or any other power would give her almost complete possession of the Pacific Ocean. If Great Britain owned the islands, our fleets would be able to find no more rest in the Pacific than Noah's dove when sent forth over the waters of the deluge. There now is, has been, and always will be a commercial rivalry between the United States and Great Britain. If England is jealous of anything more than another, it is of her commercial interests. A glance at the custom-house reports for the last ten or fifteen years shows very clearly the cause

of England's anxiety in regard to the Hawaiian Islands.

Only a few years ago the imports to Hawaii were chiefly from Great Britain; perhaps eighty per cent. of the machinery, cotton, silks, and woolen fabrics, coming from Europe. Thrum's Annual for 1896 shows that 76.23 per cent. of all the imports to the Hawaiian Islands now come from the United States, and only 8.16 per cent. from Great Britain. This of itself is enough to aw sen the jealousy of the latter country.

The English press and English authors, while denying any interest in the Hawaiian Islands so far as political or commercial matters are concerned, become frantic when the subject of annexation of these islands to the United States is mentioned. Mr. Nottage makes the following statement in his book on the islands:

"Neither Chinese nor Japanese have the franchise; and the Hawaiians have, or rather had, 8,777 votes out of a total registry of 13,593. The half-castes had 777, and the Portuguese 2,091. English, Germans, Americans, and other nationalities held 1,848 among them. I do not suppose there has been any great change since 1890, when the number of registered voters was recorded. If on the question of annexation the voters had been consulted, there is little doubt that, out of this 13,593, 10,000 at least would have voted against it. I shall be told that admitting the natives, almost to a man, are averse to annexation, it is the minority of the voters that represent the