Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-02

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-lt ia believed in
Washington that the Hawaiian question
will be one of oversbadowing Importance
here until it is settled. President Harrison's
administration VIII hardly have time to
deal with it adequately before it expires by
limitation but the problem of annexation
viii confront Cleveland ut the threshold of
his term and will call Tor the most skiltul
and vigorou, diplomacy. There Is little
doubt that If the question goes over to the
next administration an attempt will be made
to secure the independence OF tho islands
aud ward off British interference without
going to the extreme of annexation
If on the other hand, the crisis in the
islands becomes Immediately more acute,
and England displays no inclination to step
in and grasp for herself the privileges which
the United States is coy about accepting,
the leaders OF both parties in Congress ex-
pect to ses tEe annexation question precipi-
tatod at once, with the possible result that
Il decisive step may be taken toward the
addition OF the islands to American terri
tory before the Harrison administration
passes into history.
At present there seems to be en- incina-
tiou to draw party lines on the subject. AS
q rule, republican members of the House,
and senators, are favorable to eventual an
nexatiou and express the opinion that it
will eventually prove to bs the only alter
native TO permitting the islands to fall
Und the Control OF Another Power.
This feeling also is shared by some of the
leading democratic senators and few OF the
more aggressive democratic members o. the
House, bu as a rule, the democrats in
Congress are everse to the suggestion OF
anne xatiou, and, if the question is referred
to Congress, they may be called upon to
place obstacles in its path. Il is argued by
thom that the Hawaiian islands are alto
gether too far from tho shores of the United
states ever to become an integral portion OF
its territory, and that the inhabitants are
not Of class which the United states de-
sires Besides, they are averse to enterias
on policy which may result in complce.
tions with En- gland or other European gov
ernments.
An exception to this rule is Representa-
tive Chapman of Detroit who is member
of the foreign affairs committee and who
declares himself an advocate of annexation.
The United States ought to possess the
Sandwich Islands, he sad: 81 have bs-
lieved SO for a long time, and this now
crisis only confirms me in tnat belief. Those
Islands are the key to the
Co;nmerc, al Supremacy of tho World.
Whoever controls them will control the
Pacific, not only commercially, but from
naval point OF view. III we had the islands
now, we should Immediately control the
largest part OF the sugar production of tine
world, and that alone Is reason enough for
! getting possession OF them.
We wl probably have to make en- issue
with England about it, but what if we do &?
| England is always reaching out after every
| thing in sight, aud we shall never amount
to any ything in the eyes of the world if We
continue to shy away from every quarter
| where Great Britain sees tit to put u calm.
believe firmly that we shall meet the issue,
and NEST it in the right way. The Hawaiian
Islands will be a part Of the L United States
within the next four years The logic Of
events is in that direction. The people are
in favor CT it, and they will sway the
representatives, no matter what the drift OF
opinion among public men in Washington
may happen to be just now"
The Population of Hawaii
is 30 small that it would be out OF the quss-
tion to admit it as a State into the Union.
even if the people were Of a class who would
maze desirable citizens. Ii the islands are
brought under the jurisdiction of the Unitod
States it would probably be in the form of
a Territory. In that event, with the con-
troll OF its affairs directed from Washin gton,
there is little question that tide of immi-
grafton would set in which would before
many yearS bring the population up to e
status for Statehood. The islands are ex-
tremely fertile. Although the inhabitants
number a little more than 90, 600, they
numbered at ouo time nearly 500, 900, and
| they would probably sustain a population
even larger than that.