Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-02-04

question of Hawaiian annexation we
shall permit no foreign interference"
Secretaries John Foster and Tracey
bowed, and the conference Saturday
between them and the president, who
uttered the quoted words above, came
to close. The conference, which
began rs soon as the secretary of state
had carried the news of the Hawaiian
revolution to the president, lasted an
hour. The question was discussed in
all it's bearings. Its great Importance
demanded prompt action lest American
interests should suffer; and while il
is certain that the annexation
idea will be combated strongly
in congress, and that nothing could at
present be done regarding that phase
of the question, it was taken for
granted that the country would not for
one moment brook encroachment upon
Hawaiian territory by any European
power. 1t was determined that every
possible step should be taken to pre-
vent such interference.
The immediate dispatch of Rear Ad-
miral Skerrett with the Mohican to
Honolulu, to be followed later by the
Ranger, Adams and possibly the
Thetis, the only available warships on
the Pacific coast, means, and
the authorities do not deny
it, though they are reluctant to
give information on the subject
that all available forces will be used
to enforce the Monroe doctrine in the
Pacific and to maintain and strengthen
the advantages the United States now
have in the rivalry between this coun.
try and Great Britain for supremacy in
Hawaii.
The senate in executive session Sat
urday took up the annexation question
and discussed it freely. The democrats
seemed to oppose the idea, while the
republicans favored it. But as no Of
fetal notification of Hawaiian desire
to be annexed had been received
no formal action could be
taken. 1t is understood that the
majority of the committee on
foreign relations will favor annexa-
tion. The most earnest champions of
this idea are Senators Sherman and
Morgan. The president will receive
the provincial commissioners and with
out encouraging or discouraging them
will, it is believed. send their request
to congress without recommendation.
Although it is little early yet to
predict what President Harrison will
say about anneXation-for it is not
known what conditions the commits
sion will propose-it is firmly believed
by naval officials that he will urge leg.
islative sanction to the desire of the
provisional government of Hawaii for
United States guardianship.
While it is hoped there will be no
clash with England, such contin-
the range of probabilities. The United
States are not counting trouble; but
will, nevertheless, take all possible pre-
caution against being overreached
by British greed. While, of course, no
statement of the policy to be pursued
will be made, at least until after the
arrival of the commissioners from Ha-
waii, who are to present the request for
annexation to the United States, it may
be said that the visit of the Hawaiians
will hardly be successful, if the pur-
port thereof has been correctly stated.
Aside from the innovation upon the
policy of the government since its or.
ganization, which the annexation
would be, the interests of other coun.
tries in the Sandwich islands are toe
large to permit on the part of the gov.
ernment of those nations an acquies-
cence in such annexation. 1t would
involve consequences that the United
States would not care, and which its
long settled policy forbids, to assume.
The only danger of serious complica-
tion is from Great Britain, whose rep.
resentatives, it is believed, have en-
couraged the queen to attempt the
coup which led to her downfall. Should
Great Britain refuse to recognize the
provisional government and send
u naval force to back up
her representatives in sup
porting the queen trouble will
fellow. Half dozen British war
Vessels could be concentrated at Hon.
olulu long before the United States
could get any force strong enough to
cope with them to reinforce the Bos-
ton. The fact that the Boston was in
the harbor at the time of the revolu-
ton proved the wisdom of Secre-
tary Tracy's policy of keeping a
war vessel at the islands. Had a
British vessel been there instead u
force of British sailors and marines
would have been sent ashore and then
the United States would have had the
wrong end of the subsequent negotia-
tions. Because should Great Britain
once obtain any sort of foothold on
the Sandwich islands she would hold
on until compelled to retire.
The talk that it is against the Ameri-
can governments policy to annex Ha-
wall is secuted by some Of the most
distinguished senators aud representa-
tives at the state capital They cannot
blind the fact that unless bold course
is adopted at once John Bull will soon
be master at Honolulu. Amy compact
entered into with England will
be violated in spirit, if not in letter.
Great Britain's jealousy and greed will
override all arrangements that may be
entered into for the control of these
coveted islands. Harrison, it is con-