The morning call., 1893-01-29


cherished scheme. He spent part OF last
winter in Washington endeayoring to fur
Their the project Not having any official
designation his efforts met with little sue
cess. His proposition was that this Gov
eminent, If 1t would not agree to an
mex the islands, should at least assume
protectorate over them and gov
ern them as our Western Territories
are now governed. His present visit
to Washington will carry with 1t prestige
which he has not heretofore enjoyed. as he
Is now the duly aecredIted; representative
OF the new provisional Government. What
success may follow his present effort it is
OF course difficult al this time TO say.
IL IL barely possible that Secretary John
w. Foster may. as result OF the Hawaiian
coup d'etat. postpone his departure for
Paris for a few days. 1t was his intention
to sail February 8. This would enable Mr..
ThurstoD to have several conferences with
him, as the former will reach Washington a
week from to-day. 1t is said President
Harrison wishes to profit by the advice OF
General Foster. and that he will ask the
latter TO remain In Washington until Mr..
Thurston arrives
Out III twelve Senators and thrty-two
Representatives In Congress seen by The
CALL TepTeseD tatiye tonight eighteen ia
v0red annexation, twelve opposed ii and
fourteen were non-committal, preferring to
await further news and TO have time to give
the matter more careful consideration. A
singular fact is that the members OF the
California delf CATION do not seem as favor
ably disposed toward the annexation scheme
as might reasonably be expected OF them.
Senator FELTON, said:
II am not sure whether / favor the an
nexation of the islands or not. It seems to
me that the advantage would all be on the
side Of the Hawaiians, even from an eco
nomical standpoint. From the strategical
ard sentimental point OF view the acquisition
OF the islands will be popular with the
masses. As is well known, sugar manufac-
turing is the great industry OF the hawaiian
Islands, and her people would be glad to
receive the bounty which the American
planters do. II would probably amount to
several millions per year, for An immense
amount OF sugar is produced there. III the
bounty on sugar is not retained the Demo
Gratis will | think, be obliged to increase
their revenue by again imposing a tariff
duty on that grade Of sugar and the ha-
waians would thus reap benefit from
American citizenship. The question as to
what we should do with the Islands
after we had acquired possession of them
is pertinent. Would it do TO make a new
State? There are about 900 people there,
| understand, and at least half Of them are
natives and Cinnamon an undesirable
class Of people, generally speaking. There
has:been some talk in former years of making
the islands an adjunct OF the State of Cali
fornia. and this might be done, though a
good many Caifornans would oppose the
scheme. The question Is too big one to
handle in an Offhand way, and l have not
had time to give the matter careful thought"
Representative Geary OF California. a
member Of the House Committee Oh Foreign
Affairs, said This is matter which
should have very careful consideration
before an opinion could be ventured as to
the adyisability of acquiring possession Of
the islands. While such action would not
re a variance with the Monroe doctrine, it
would b. departure from the policy of
this country heretofore expressed. We
have only one warshp on the Pacific Coast
at present which would be Immediately
available in case Of trouble over the Islands
with any foreign power"
Representative Loud OF California, said :
This j. very serious question. 1t is a
matter Of doubtful public policy whether the
United States should acquire any foreign
territory. 1t has never been the policy Of
this country in the past. And then, the
people of the Sandwich Islands are SO very
dissimilar to our own. | believe that natives
ana Chinese constitute A very large proper
ton of the population. 1t might be expe-
dent. perhaps, & secure the islands In order
to prevent any foreign power from gaining
supremacy on territory so near our own
shores, and the establishment of a naval
coaing station there would also be Of un-
doubted advantage to us in time OF war; but
1t is not certain that there would be any
other great advantage to the United States
in acquiring possession OF the Islands"
Representative Hilb0rn reiterated his
views expressed some time ago opposing an
nexation.
Irving NJ. Scott OF San Francisco said !:
Il am heartily In favor Of annexing the
islands. The advantage would be mutual.
| had talk with the Navy Department
officials to-day about the completion OF the
Monterey, and while don't know whether
they purpose sending her to Honolulu, yet
that is the presumption. l told them
would turn the vessel over to the depart
ment at once If they wished her, but they
said they would await the receipt of the
official report OF her tritl trip before put
ting her in commission. II there is no i'm
med late prospect of trouble the vessel will
go 10 the Mare Island hayward to be pro-
visioned, but If trouble should seem immi-
nent and immediate the ship could be on
her way to the islands in week.
representative Dockery of Missouri said
81 am opposed to the annexation of the
Hawaiian Islands. The United States has
its hanus full now looking after the men,
bers of its large family"
REPRESENTATIVE Sayers of Texas also ex-
pressed himself as opposed to annexation.
and for the same reasons as were advanced
by Dockery.
Senator Morgan. member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, fayors the
annexation scheme heartily. He says that
this is one of the most important matters
that has arisen during his career in Con-
gress.
Representative Hit Republican,. a mem
Der of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
favored annexation.
Representative Holman OF Indiana op-
poses it. as might well be expected.
Blount, chairman OF the Hou.e Foreign
Affairs Committee, Is non-committal.
Senator Butler. member Of the Foreign
Relations Committee. said: at is prema-
ture to discuss the matter now. | presume
that when Commissioner Thurston and his
colleagues arrive they will present their
petition to the President. who will transmit
1t to Congress with n special message bear.
ing on the matter, which will then come I'D
for legitimate discussion. or course there
can be no doubt of the desirabilty OF those
islands for a naval station. Unless they
are purchased, as were Alaska and Louis
lana, it will be necessary for Congress it
pass a regular act OF annexation, as was
Lnna In the casa of tho Rannhlic IF