The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-08
SOME HISTORY OF HAWAII.
Long an Object of Interest to American
Observation-Disclosures of State OF the
Past Who Have Advocated its An
nexation Why the Islands are
Important.
New York World.]

!
inaugurating by this government of a
foreign policy of far reaching conse-
quences. It is argued that such an act
would inevitably be followed by others
of like character.
The possession of Hawaii, it is held,
is not necessary to the carrying out of
any purely domestic American policy.
Her sugar product, which alone under
the present national policy makes her
of interest to the United States, could
be commanded in future, as in the past,
by commercial treaty.
The American market is as necessary
to the Hawaiian planters as the sugar
crop of those islands is to the Ameri-
| can people. It would never be difficult
to negotiate convention of advantage
to the United States.
But if the purpose is to inaugurate a
more ambitious foreign policy, to
place the United States abreast of En-
gland France and Germany in the
contest for territorial supremacy and
stragetic equipment, then the annexa-
ton of the Hawaiian Islands by this
government becomes imperative.
The islands hold or could be made to
hold the key to the whole situation in
the Pacific, naval and commercial.
Their value to the United States in
this view could not easily be esti-
mated.
But such policy, once inaugrated
by this government, could not, it is
claimed, be allowed to stop short of a
similar movement in the Atlantic.
If Hawaii holds the key to the situa-
ton affecting the Pacific coast, how
much more important, it is suggested,
is Cuba to the proper protection of the
lower Atlantic coast. She is right at
the door, only a few hours distant, and
commands absolutely the Gulf of Mex
leo and the entrance to the mouth of
the Mississippi.
For seventy years not a few Ameri-
can statesmen have favored the ac-
| QUESTION of that island. It's strategic
importance far exceeds that of Hawaii,
and its soil is quite as rich and produc-
tive.
The difference is noted, of course,
that in the one case there is request
for annexation, while in the other ac-
QUESTION would only be possible by
fconsent of Spain.
But it is asserted that poll of the
educated property holding people
would show strong sentiment in
favor of annexation to the United
States in Cuba as we'll as in the Haw-
allan Islands. The overthrow of Haw-
aii's queen was accomplished by the
property holding classes, and the ap-
peal for annexation to this country
comes from them. The ignorant na-
tive population, the majority, do not
unite in the request, but favored the
new tyranny the queen sought to i'm
pose on the country.
The archives of the State depart
ment are being carefully examined by
leading democrats and republicans of
both senate and house to ascertain just
what precedents will shed light on the
present problem.
The Monroe doctrine, it is generally
maintained, seems to stand in the way
ofthe acquisition ofterritory by annex
alton, but there are those who claim
that an extension of that very doc
trine will cover this case fully and sat-
isfactorily.
The United States refuses to permit
foreign nations to acquire territory on
this continent. The Hawaiian Islands
are nearer to the United States than to
any other country. Therefore when
it is demonstrated that Hawaii can not
preserve autonomy it should be the
duty of the United States to promptly
annex the islands in order to prevent
any foreign power from seizing them.
This is the theory known to be enter
tained by President Harrison and
Secretary Of State Foster.
A broad principle was laid down
early in the history of this country by
Mr.. Jefferson, who, in letter to Presi'
dent Madison, discussing the possible
annexation of Cuba, wrote:
ut will be objected to our re
ceiving Cuba that no limit can then be
} drawn to our future acquisitions. Cubs
can be defended by US without navy
and this develops the principle which
ought to limit our views.
Nothing should ever be accepted
which would require navy to defent
it,"
The possible annexation of the Haw
allan Islands has been considered b.
nearly every administration since Mr.
Jeferson's time.
President Tyler, in a message t.
Congress, declared:
"Considering that the United State
possesses so very large share in th
| intercourse with those islands it i
deemed not unfit to make the declara
ton that this government seeks, never
theless, ma peculiar advantages, no ex
elusive control over the Hawaiian
government, but is content with It
independent existence and anxiousl.
wishes for its security and prosperity.
'Its forbearance in this respect
under the circumstances of the yer
!. large intercourse which America
: vessels have with the islands, woul
: justify this government, should eve nj
hereafter arise to require it, in maxim
q decided re1nonstrance against th