Race

The Hawaiian monarchy was the last channel of political power for native Hawaiians. More than 90% of them signed the Kūʻē Petitions, opposing annexation. The effort nearly worked. The petitions prevented the Senate from passing annexation, but President McKinley ultimately pushed annexation through a joint session of Congress. Native resistance continued, through the preservation of language and culture.

"The population of [the Hawaiian Islands] not exceeding 5 percent are white and the remainder chiefly semi-savages and Orientals can never be fully assimilated with Americans nor be submissive to the rule of constitutional law."
~ Hermann von Holst, historian

Most annexationists argued that, while nonwhite Native Hawaiians had racial “flaws,” that could be remedied by white American “civilization.” Native Hawaiians were stereotyped as primitive; they could be “shaped” into model citizens. This “white savior” form of white supremacy was subversive and harmful.

"There is evident need of the instrumentality of the genuine missionaries to remove the selfishness from the hearts of these people and make them more Christian-like."
~ Representative John McDowell, Ohio

Many white Americans worried that annexation would draw nonwhite people to the US, threatening white political and economic dominance. Political figures stressed racist stereotypes and warned that "Americanizing" Asians and native Hawaiians would be dangerous to white Americans. This reflected the racist “Yellow Peril” policy.

"I am opposed to starting a Territorial government in Hawaii with four Kanaka [Hawaiian] votes to every single vote of an intelligent white man."
~ Representative Ebenezer Hill, Connecticut