The Hawaiian Gazette

Minister Castle, while in Washington, has done good service to our country. His suave and genial manner has carried its way. There is every probability that an effort will be made to get the Hawaiian matter definitely settled, and of that there can only be one settlement. Annexation, in spite of every personal desire in this place, is bound to come. The sooner the better.

It amuses a student of history to watch how the cat plays with the mouse. The logical end of things is practically, in our case, foreshadowed: but we play with the question, and are played with very efficiently, until we get into a regular ferment. Our end is assured. We become a portion of the United States. Till we do become so we shall have to pass through none too comfortable a time. We are open to attacks from various sources. We have to be prepared to meet those attacks. Consequently we have to keep up a strong force, not for those within, but for possibilities from abroad. The very end and aim of our existence is to show that we are really a self-governing power. This we have shown.

President Cleveland's path in dealing with the inevitable is plain. It is disagreeable to swallow your own words—but the path is plain nevertheless, it is that no settled form of government in the Hawaiian Islands can flourish save a Republican one, and, granted that, why should not Hawaii become an integral portion of the Great Republic. It is to us tiresome to hear intelligent people talking against annexation. We are in the position of a buffer between the East and the West. Our only hope is with the people of our own race. Flood the little islands with Eastern influences and where would not only we be but where would the great power near us be? It would have a thorn in its side, which, however great it may be, would prove anything but pleasant. The thorn in the foot, it is needless to make allusion to, but a very large body can be made very uncomfortable by means of a very small disagreeable. Hawaii stands now in the position of a possible thorn. It is doing its best and doing it gallantly to keep its own autonomy, but it looks for its eventual annexation to the United States. The day for that does not now seem to be so far off.