Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-24
Annexation Of the sandwich Islands.

The resolution offered to the United States
Senate, on the 18th, by Mr. Gwin, and adop-
ted, instructing the committee "to enquire
and report on the general condition Of the
Commerce of the United States carried on
upon the Pacific Ocean, and whether any le-
gisatve action Is necessary for the security
and promotion Of this i'm portant national in
tsrcsl, may bring up in that body a discussion
i of the advantages to our Commerce which
would result from the annexation OF tho Sand
witch Islands Perhaps Mr.. Gwin had this
object in view in offering his resolution In
any investigation relating to the "security
and promotion OF our Commerce upon the
Pacific Ocean, the dcsirabencss of tn 9se Is
lands must arres. attention and receive con-
sderation. The Washington Globe recently
summed up the advantages Of annexing the
islands, as follows:
l. We should be acquiring more territory,
more population, more producers, more con-
sumers, and more tax payers.
2. We should then posses foothold in
the Pacific, and to be able to compete com
mercay--with still greater success than we
do-~ilh the French and English.
g. The islands, if belonging to us, would
be great convenence--much greater than
at present---for all the United Stntes vessels
in the Paollic--whalers, &c. When there,
they would then be INJURED in their own
waters, and to all intents at home.
A. Though not jdst half way between
Canton aud California, nevertheless the is
lands will answer every purpose of hall
way station, which is needed, and will answer
it vastly better as territory of the United
States, than if foreign
But the Globe also sums up the disadvant-
ages and as they are being generally copied
by the press, we shall examine how forcibe
they are. The Globe asks.
| l. Would it be good policy for the Unit.
ed States to acquire insular possessions so re
mote? Honolulu is between $500 and 5000
miles from our Western coast.
Annexation is good policy when it brings
profit and strength to a nation The posses
sion of the Sandwich Islands, as the Globe
itself shows, would be profitable, and certain
Ily what would invigorate and expand oui
commerce cannot be considered as weaken
ing our national strength. The distance o
the Islands from our Western coast only con
stitutes their value rs commercial stations If
} the great Pacific.
2. II We acquire the islands, they mus
he defended and maintained in all fnturt
time, at evcry hazard In case Of war will
France or England, could they be success
fully defended?
| Most successfully The islands one yea
after annexation, would contain an American
population capable Of defending them from
any ordinary force which a European powe
could send against them But the possession
Of the Islands would strengthen our nava
power in the Pacific, and render the protcc
lion Of our commerce in that quarter NOR,
easy. II would be easier to defend the is
lands, than to drive the English or Frencl
; from possession. Would it not be better fo
us to have possession Of the islands at th,
commencement of the war, than leave then
to be seized, without difficulty, by the enemy
and used as basis of operations against ou
commerce and possessions on the Pacific.