In view of all that Liliuokalani has to say, the recent interview with President Dole is particularly interesting.
After explaining that no special powers had been granted him on his present mission by the Hawaiian Senate, the President declared it was the belief of the friends of annexation that if the recent amendment of Senator Bacon, to let the question be decided by a vote of the Hawaiian citizens, had been accepted, the vote would be in favor of the treaty.
President Dole said that, in case of annexation, Hawaii had in view no radical changes in legislation.
"The treaty provides," he said, "for the appointment by the President of the United States of a commission authorized to formulate and recommend to Congress the legislation and forms of government for Hawaii.
"The matter of franchise is now specifically provided for by our laws. For those who elect Senators there is a property and educational qualification; for those who elect Representatives an educational qualification. All electors must take an oath of allegiance to the present Government and renounce allegiance to monarchy.
"There is a strong sentiment on the island against allowing Chinese and Japanese to become citizens. There are cases where these races have acquired the ballot, but they are very few, and the sentiment is adverse to their becoming citizens.
"The natives are all citizens, and would have the right of franchise. Under the regulations now governing the franchise, about 4,000 votes were cast in the election of 1894, and about 3,000 at the more recent election."
President Dole made a glowing picture of the benefits that this country would receive from annexation. It would greatly encourage commerce between the United States and Hawaii by making the trade absolutely free, and it would open up to Americans a great many industries, the chief among them being coffee-growing.
It would also vastly improve the condition of the islands themselves.
In case annexation is rejected by our Government, President Dole says the Hawaiian Government will continue much as it is at present.