The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-03
MR.. HARRISON WILL EMBROIL Us IF
HECAN,

CAN.
II Is now said on good authority that
Mr.. Harrison has made up MS mind to
commit this country as far as he can
to the policy of annexing Hawaii. He
will. 1t Is said, recommend that we take
up the position Of protector Of Hawaii
so as to exclude all other powers from
a chance to effect a Judgment there until
we can look into the whole case and de-
termine whether we want 10 annex or
not. 1t is given to no one to gainsay the
strong man IL he Is minded to use his
strength. and If we propose to base action
of this sort upon the fact that we are
strong enough and intend to do the thing
because we are able to do II, II is useless
to appeal to those considerations that
control the reasons of men. We shall
have assumed the role of the brute. and
cannot, of course, be checked, unless we
find that we have overestimated our brute
be applied to us is superior to ours-a con-
dition Of things by no means unlikely to
arise.
But II any man can show anything in
reason that would justify this Govern
ment in establishing a protectorate over
Hawaii except the fact that it Is valu-
able island that we would like to own
because IL is valuable, he will do some
thing that is completely surprising to
The Times. There is absolutely nothing
in the Constitution Of the United States
or in the history of our institutions.
which gives even the slightest counten-
ance to the proposition. The Constitution
OF the United States opens with this
solemn and impressive declaration:
I'VE the people OF the United States.
In order to form a more perfect Union.
establish justice. insure domestic tran
quillity. provide for the common defense.
promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty 10 ourselves and
our posterity. do ordain and establish this
Constitution of the United States Of
America"
The purposes for which this Union Of
States were formed are set out mere.
Where is there a word in it that hints
at or even tolerates the idea of going
abroad to acquire States and peoples In
foreign lands? Every word and line of
this declaration of intention negatives
such an idea. The valuable principles to
be ordained and established were to be
for the benefit of ourselves and our pos
terity," not for the benefit OF Japan and
those who live there. And the whole
tenor Of the United States life as
nation has been in accord with the OPEN
ing declaration Of the Constitution. We
have lived as a nation to develop and
improve the United States. without re-
gard to methods of procedure which the
people of other countries may see fit to
establish.
Shall we throw overheard all the pro-
LESSONS and traditions OF our national life
as soon as the first temptation is offered
to us? Better that Hawaii should sink TO
the bottom of the ocean or become q
fortified home for pirates, than that we
should go back on and trample under
foot every profession OF our lives to ac-
| quire this territory. even II ii is fertile
| and productive.
| If the principle be admitted that we
may establish a protectorate over Hawaii
to annex her subsequently, why shall we
not equally establish one over Japan If
she should become the victim of internal
disorders that induced her people TO APP
peal to us? Japan is a few thousand
miles further off In the ocean than
Hawaii. 1t is true. but where is there any
difference in principle between annexing
Hawaii and annexing Japan? And, II we
may go to Japan. why not to China.
and why not to the whole world? II we
are to depart from the theory of the Gov
ernment then The Times says let US make
the most of it. and go for everything in
sight. Let Us go out as a conquering
nation and make the world ours while
we are about 1t.