Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-01
VIEWS OF LEGISLATORS
Reasons Why It Is Thought the Matter viii
Be Quickly Settled When the Annexation
Commission Arrives-The Present Situation
Anticipated by the Administration.

anu uemOcratlc leaders have been consulted
and their views as eagerly solicited as have
been those of prominent republicans. Instance
of this is shown in the visit to Secretary
John W. Foster this morning of Senator Nor
gan and Representative Blount. both
democrats. one the leading democratic
member of the Senate committee on foreign re-
lations-the other chairman of the House COM
mittee on foreign affairs. Secretary Foster
also had talk on the Hawaiian
situation with Representative Hit of Illi-
nois. ex-chairman of the House committee on
foreign affairs and the leading republican men,
Der of that committee. These gentlemen came
singly and gave their views with reference to
the great question now before the administra-
ton and the country.
NOTHING YET IRON ENGLAND.
Secretary Foster has not yet received any,
thing official from the British government bear
ing on the situation. That some definite policy
with reference to the matter will be decided on
within a week is almost certain. for Mr. Foster
is booked to sail from New York on the Teutonic
on Wednesday next to attend the Bering sea
conference. He is not likely to quit the State
Department leaving such an important ques-
tlon hanging in the air, so to speak. and it is
more than probable that the annexation COM
mission will be given some definite information
as to what Hawaii may expect from the United
States before his departure.
THE NAVAL FORCE AT HONOLULU.
What the government will do with reference
to augmenting its naval force in Hawaiian
waters cannot be predicted with any degree of
certainty, but from present indications il seems
likely that there will be no material increase
made in the number of vessels there.
No DEVELOPMENTS that will lead 70 hloodshed
in Honolulu or elsewhere in the islands have
come to light, and it Is the belief in naval
circles that the force of marines and sailors on
the Boston is sufficient to protect American
interests ,i1e a,anan and keep the turbulent ma;
may be sent to support tho Boston and
the Mohican at Hawaii, but information OBJ
tanned at the department leads TO the belief
that no more will be sent unless the situation
becomes alarming, and this does not seem
probable in view of the present state Of affairs
The government will not be caught rapping
however, and its vessels will be prepared for
sea and kept in localities convenient to the tele-
graph.
The Present Situation Anticipated.
If there is any doubt about President Harri-
son being in favor of vigorous and, in a
measure, an aggressive foreign policy for this
country that doubt is likely to be dispelled dur
italian and the Chilean affairs he showed his
frmness in maintaining the dignity OF this
country, and it is said when the inside
Of the Hawaiian case is known it will be seen
that he believes in being aggressive as well as
firm when the circumstances warrant aggres-
siveness. There is very good reason for be-
ieving that if he had been reelected an ag-
gressiye foreign policy would have been the
most marked feature of his administration and
that the end of another four years would have
found this country in possession of strong
points of advantage. from a naval point of
view. in the South Atlantic and in the Pacific,
placing us in position both to foster and pro
tect American commerce and to check foreign
aggression on this hemisphere. For the past
two years or more he has devoted a great deal
Of time to the study of international questions,
and, being a good lawyer. he has naturally be-
come familiar with international law.
One thing which particularly attrac ted his at
tention in connection with the efforts to de-
velop our trade with the South and Central
American,countriesw was the defenseless condition
in which that commerce would be as long as we
were without naval stations in the great oceans
that wash our shores. The constant aggres-
sions of Great Britain and Germany presented
to his mind great difficulty in the way of our
cultIvating relations with the southern coun-
tries, and the Chilean trouble and the growth
Of our navy has made more apparent our lack
Of any base of naval operation.
The administration is too near an end to ex-
pect that anything will be done in Hayti,
though efforts to secure a foothold there have
been long in progress and are still being made,
but the establishment Of the United States in
full power in Hawaii may be accomplished
before the 4th of March. The Hawaiian situa-
ton, disclosed by the advices within the
past few days, is the outcome of the policy
which Mr.. Harrison inaugurated some time ago,
and of his efforts to place this country In con-
troll there, to the extent at least of preventing
any other country from dominating the
Hawaiian government. The evidence of con-
templated British aggression made a more pro-
nounced position necessary than was perhaps
at first contemplated. As has already been
stated in The STAR, the administration ex-
pected the revolution which has occurred and
had prepared for it beforehand The
matter had been talked over between
him and his cabinet and with some
of the Congressman on the foreign committees
A delegation or secret commission from the Ha-
waiian legislature were here last winter to con-
fer on the subject of annexation or the estab-
hshment OF a protectorate over the Sandwich
Islands by the United States. When the Bos-
ton sailed for Hawaii her commanding officer
had complete instructions as to the course to
be taken by him when the expected revolution
should occur. and instructions were sent also to
our minister at Hawaii. The presence of the
Boston just at the proper time, which seemed
to be lucky accident, had been, it is said care
fully provided for beforehand.
As far as the administration is concerned
the question is not now whether we will let one
wing of the eagle spread over Hawaii, but how
our control can be established there without
provoking Just criticism as to the methods by
which il is brought about. The question is one
of establishing protectorate efecting an
nexation in strictly legal and proper manner.
1t does not matter whether England or any
other country likes or dislikes it, if we make Q
good case in the law of nations.
THE AMERICAN INTERESTS PREDOMINANT.
One of the best, perhaps the very best, in
formed member Of the foreign affairs commit
tee said to a STAR reporter:
"Of course the argument will be made that it
s in violation Of our long established principles
Of human liberty for us to take possession Of
these islands and deprive the natives of self
government. That question, however, does
not properly. arise. The question is that Of
preponderance Of interest in these islands by
the United States and the relations existing be-
tween Hawaii and the United States by reason
OF position. The dominating interest in Hawaii
by possession is held BY Americans and by po-
Gtion the Sandwich Islands form an outpost Of
the Unifsd States, and il is acknowledged
among nations that such conditions establish in