St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-15
SENATOR VEST ON HAWAII

While it cannot be said that the eX-
position by Senator Vest of the policy
of the administration relative to Hawai-
ian affairs is official, it no doubt reflects
in measurable completeness the views
of those in authority. 1t is not studied
review of the situation of affairs; it is
more in the nature of an off-hand dec
laration of Democratic policies, past
and preSent,as to territorial acquisition.
All territorial extensions on this con-
tinent have been the result Of consistent
and systematic methods for which the
Democratic party has been responsible.
The Louisiana and Florida purchases
were necessary to give us control OF the
Mississippi river and the Gulf Of Mex
leo, upon which the United States had
important possessions. The great valley
Of the Mississippi was without an outlet
to tidewater save by the river route, and
that lay through territory over which
a foreign power held sway. 1t was
manifest that conflicts of authority
would be continually arising if this con-
dition were to contiue, and Spain agreed
with the United States that the true
policy would be to have but one owner-
ship and one allegiance. The Mexican
war had its origin in spirit of advent
ure and lf-aggrandiZement, but there
were other motives underlying it. We
needed the territory Of California in
order that our Western states might
have an outlet on the Pacific. This
having been obtained, a still further
addition was needed to conform our
boundaries to the requirements of geo.
graphical symmetry and trade necessi-
ties, and the purchase Of Oregon from
Great Britain completed the work.
With this purchase Democratic acqui-
sitions ceased. They had been pur-
sued with praiseworthy and patriotic
purpose. They had given to the United
States the most magnificent empireson
the globe, consistent in outline and
united in interest. 1t embraced almost
the entire temperate zone. Its ma
tural products were sufficiently varied
o provide for all the necessities
of - great people. Within our
borders there was material for i'll
definite development. We could, if
we chose, place Chinese wall about
us and still all enjoy the comforts of re-
fined existence, and. having accom-
plished so much, the Democratic party
rested.
The Alaska purchase is the only ad-
dltion to our territory yet made by any
party other than the Democracy. AS to
its wisdom opinions differed at the
time, and they still differ. The seal fish,
cries are valuable, and if our govern
ment could control them would amply
pay for the investment. But it has re-
Gently been decided that we have no
exclusive right to them. The British
vessels engaged in the trade have as
much right to the seals as the American
vessels, and. being the most numerous,
reap the largest harvests. We derive a
small income from the royalties granted
to the Alaska company, but it hardly
pays the interest on the investment.
The country is sparsely settled. the peo-
pie are degraded and poor. and unless
the gold mines that exist in the Yukon
region shall prove exceptionally rich
we will derive no particular benefit from
our expenditure.
1t is not the province of republic
such as the United States to acquire
colonies, especially if they are located
on other continents or in the islands of
the sea. They are necessarily source
of annoyance and expense. Hawaii is
located too far from our shores to be-
come homogeneous. The people are
more Asiatic than American. They are
not desirable as citizens, and if the
ic1a cho,ld hn 70
try they would of necessity become citi-
zens. We could not deny them that
privilege under our constitution and
laws. And as they would be entitled to
all the rights of citizenship, they would
have to be protected against forelgn.foes.
In the case Of Hawaii. a foreign power
might assail the Island and hold pos
session for weeks before our government
would be aware Of the fact, and months
would elapSe before we could place an
effective force at the scene. To guard
against such an occurrence we would
have to maintain a large fleet in the
Pacific-a fleet that would cost millions
every Year-more than we could hope to
receive from taxation or the profits of
trade.
Senator Vest is right when he says
that the people Of the United States
want no colonies. They want the gov
eminent the fathers made for them, and
which they intended to preserve for
their children-a compact republic IN
which every citizen is represented, with
no islands out in the ocean around
which the United States must gather
an enormous fleet, and upon which it
must place Notifications. when an at
tack upon single Kanaka would in
volve the dignity Of the whole country,
and would require the expenditure of
the last dollar and the last drop of blood
to defend them.