Show HAWAII the house of representatives in adopting the resolution providing for the annexation of the Ha hawaiian wallan islands certainly met the expectations of a great majority of the american people the measure was passed by a vote of to 91 all indications now are that the senate too will adopt the resolution with an overwhelming majority and without spending much time on the debate the opinion Is ia general that to the hawaiian islands ought to be extended the protecting care of a the united states gover government ment it to is believed to be a military as wu as a commercial necessity senator morrill of vermont in addressing the senate on the question voiced the sentiment of the opposition he referred to the population as unfit for citizenship in this country and to the policy of annexation as contrary to the constitution and the history of our country but to the letter latter of these arguments gu ments it has been replied with considerable sid erable force that it can be no more contrary to our institutions and antecedents to annex hawaii than it was to aquire acquire alaska and as an to the former objection that the inhabitants are unworthy of american citizenship it should be sufficient tn t say that on that point an opinion can better be formed after they had bad been given a chance to prove themselves worthy or unworthy of political liberty we believe the same objection has been raised without ground against people nearer at home who have knocked at he door of the nation for admission we believe the islanders have proved themselves an intelligent progressive tace race capable of grasping gra the intricacies of modern civilization in a remarkably s brief period of time they are placed at a disadvantage being crowded to the wall almost by the r representatives of other races that overrun their country it is high time for the united states now engaged in taft ohp magnificent enterprise of looking into the condition of the inhabitants of the islands of this hemisphere to include the Hawaii hawaiians ans in the policy of humanity it if they need the strong arm of a great government to protect them from intruders whose ultimate aim is their oppression perhaps annihilation we cannot be silent spectators without violating the sacred trust that is ours the assumption that annexation would mean entanglement with foreign nations is not well founded no european country has even a semblance of right from an international point of view to object to a free country in the pacific voluntarily joining the union of states it is not to be presumed that any of them would enter such a protest but even if contrary to expectation tai tion such a protest should be heard this country will always find it a safe course to follow out its destiny faithful to the principles paes that guided the founders of the republic and caused them as the instruments in the hands of providence to raise the ensign of liberty for the nations of the world no mistake can be done if that work is carried to its logical consequences in the spirit in which it was commenced |