Template:496-497 - Revision history

Ken Conklin at 05:24, 25 December 2005

2005-12-25T05:24:24Z

Jere Krischel at 22:52, 9 December 2005

2005-12-09T22:52:29Z

Jere Krischel at 04:40, 9 December 2005

2005-12-09T04:40:41Z

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Minister Pierce, in 1871, wrote the following to Secretary Fish:
"Impressed with the importance of the subject now presented for
consideration, I beg leave to suggest the inquiry whether the period
has not arrived making it proper, wise, and sagacious for the United
States Government to again consider the project of annexing the
Hawaiian Islands to the territory of the Eepublic. That such is to be
the political destiny of this archipelago seems a foregone conclusion
in the opinion of all who have given attention to the subject in this
country, the United States, England, France, and Germany.
"A majority of the aborigines, Creoles, and naturalized foreigners of
this country, as I am credibly informed, are favorable, even anxious for
the consummation of the measure named.
"The native population is fast disappearing. The number existing
is now estimated at 45,000, having decreased about 15,000 since the
census of I860. The number of foreigners in addition is between 5,000
and 6,000, two-thirds of whom are from the United States, and they own
more than that proportion of foreign capital, as represented in the agriculture,
commerce, navigation, and whale fisheries of the Kingdom.
" 1 now proceed to state some points of a more general character
which should influence the United States Government in their decision
of the policy of acquiring possession of this archipelago, their geographical
position, occupying, as it does, an important central strategical
point in the North Pacific Ocean, valuable, perhaps necessary, to the
United States for a naval depot and coaling station, and to shelter and
protect our commerce and navigation, which in this hemisphere is destined
to increase enormously from our intercourse with the 500,000,000
population of China, Japan, and Australia. Humboldt predicted that
the commerce on the Pacific would in time rival that of the Atlantic.
A future generation, no doubt, will see the prophecy fulfilled.
"The immense injury inflicted on American navigation and commerce
by Great Britain in the war of 1812-1814 through her possession of
Bermuda and other West India Islands, as also that suffered by the
English from French privateers from the Isle of France during the wars
between those two nations, are instances in proof of the necessity of
anticipating and preventing, if we can, similar evils that may issue from
these islands if held by other powers.
"Their proximity to the Pacific States of the Union, fine climate and
soil, and tropical productions of sugar, coffee, rice, fruits, hides, goatskins,
salt, cotton, fine wool, etc., required in the West, in exchange for
flour, grain, lumber, shooks, and manufactures of cotton, wool, iron, and
other articles, are evidence of the commercial value of one to the other
region. Is it probable that any European power who may hereafter be
at war with the United States will refrain from taking possession of this
weak Kingdom in view of the great injury that could be done to our
commerce through their acquisition to them?"
Secretary Fish, in a letter of instruction of March, 1873, used the following
language:
"The position of the Sandwich Islands as an outpost, fronting and
commanding the whole of our possessions on the Pacific Ocean, gives to
the future of those islands a peculiar interest to the Government and
people of the United States. It is very clear that this Government can
not be expected to assent to their transfer from their present control to
that of any powerful maritime or commercial nation. Such transfer to
a maritime power would threaten a military surveillance in the Pacific
similar to that which Bermuda has afforded in the Atlantic. The latter

has been submitted to from necessity, inasmuch as it was congenital
with our Government, but we desire no additional similar outposts in
the hands of those who may at some future time use them to our disadvantage."
Gen. Schofield, in May, 1873, under confidential instructions from the
Secretary of War, made a full report upon the value of Pearl Harbor
as a coaling and repair station, recommending its acquisition, and later
he appeared before a committee of the House of Kepresentatives to urge
the importance of some measure looking to the control of the Sandwich
Islands by the United States.
Now, the desired and desirable opportunity has arrived. The Provisional
Goverment proposes a treaty of annexation, and the so-called
Qneen is ready to part with such rights as she has for a comparatively
small sum.
The whites of the island desire earnestly to join us, and the natives
certainly are not violently opposed.
This is shown by the fact that when the American flag was lowered
in Hawaii, by order of Commissioner Blount, although it created some
excitement in this country, it caused no rejoicing there, according to
Mr. Blount's report.
He says:
"Inspired with such feelings, and confident no disorder would ensue,
I directed the removal of the flag of the United States from the Government
building, and the return of the American troops to their vessels.
This was accomplished without any demonstration of joy or
grief on the part of the populace."
Capt. Hooper says:
" There were no demonstrations of any kind as the American flag
came down, and not a single cheer greeted the Hawaiian flag as it was
raised aloft. The native men stood around in groups, or singly, smoking
and chatting and nodding familiarly to passing friends, or leaning
idly against the trees and fences, while the women and children, which
formed a large proportion of the assemblage, were talking and laughing
good-naturedly. As the hour for hauling down the American flag
approached, many people, men, women, and children could be seen
ax^proaching the Government square in a most leisurely manner, and
showing more interest in the gala-day appearance of the crowd than
in the restoration of their national flag. The air of good-natured indifference
and idle curiosity with which the native men regarded the proceedings,
and the presence of the women and children in their white or
bright-colored dresses was more suggestive of a country "fair" or
horse race than the sequel of a 'revolution.'"
Even the presence of the "armed forces" of the Provisional Government,
numbering, perhaps, 200, parading the corridors of the Government
house, failed to elicit any sign of a feeling of anger or resentment.
Mr. John F. Colburn, one of the Queen's cabinet, in describing the
revolution, says:
" The next day (Monday) the proclamation dictated by these gentlemen
was printed and posted and distributed all over town. Later on
in the day two mass meetings were held, one by the native element
and the other by the foreign element. At the former the natives
accepted the proclamation, though it was directly contrary to what
they wanted (a new constitution), and the latter denounced the Queen
and left everything in the hands of the committee of safety spoken
about." '
S. Doc. 231, pt 6 32

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Minister Pierce, in 1871, wrote the following to Secretary Fish:
+{{p|496}}Minister Pierce, in 1871, wrote the following to Secretary Fish:
 "Impressed with the importance of the subject now presented for
 consideration, I beg leave to suggest the inquiry whether the period
 has not arrived making it proper, wise, and sagacious for the United
 States Government to again consider the project of annexing the
-Hawaiian Islands to the territory of the Eepublic. That such is to be
+Hawaiian Islands to the territory of the Republic. That such is to be
 the political destiny of this archipelago seems a foregone conclusion
 in the opinion of all who have given attention to the subject in this
 country, the United States, England, France, and Germany.
-"A majority of the aborigines, Creoles, and naturalized foreigners of
 this country, as I am credibly informed, are favorable, even anxious for
 the consummation of the measure named.
 "The native population is fast disappearing. The number existing
 is now estimated at 45,000, having decreased about 15,000 since the
-census of I860. The number of foreigners in addition is between 5,000
+census of 1860. The number of foreigners in addition is between 5,000
 and 6,000, two-thirds of whom are from the United States, and they own
 more than that proportion of foreign capital, as represented in the agriculture,
 commerce, navigation, and whale fisheries of the Kingdom.
-" 1 now proceed to state some points of a more general character
 which should influence the United States Government in their decision
 of the policy of acquiring possession of this archipelago, their geographical
@@ Line 28: / Line 32: @@
 the commerce on the Pacific would in time rival that of the Atlantic.
 A future generation, no doubt, will see the prophecy fulfilled.
 "The immense injury inflicted on American navigation and commerce
 by Great Britain in the war of 1812-1814 through her possession of
@@ Line 35: / Line 40: @@
 anticipating and preventing, if we can, similar evils that may issue from
 these islands if held by other powers.
 "Their proximity to the Pacific States of the Union, fine climate and
 soil, and tropical productions of sugar, coffee, rice, fruits, hides, goatskins,
@@ Line 44: / Line 50: @@
 weak Kingdom in view of the great injury that could be done to our
 commerce through their acquisition to them?"
 Secretary Fish, in a letter of instruction of March, 1873, used the following
 language:
 "The position of the Sandwich Islands as an outpost, fronting and
 commanding the whole of our possessions on the Pacific Ocean, gives to
@@ Line 54: / Line 62: @@
 a maritime power would threaten a military surveillance in the Pacific
 similar to that which Bermuda has afforded in the Atlantic. The latter
+{{p|497}}
 has been submitted to from necessity, inasmuch as it was congenital
 with our Government, but we desire no additional similar outposts in