Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-05

''ty is always The best policy"
The declaration I have read chal
lsnges the verscity of every reputable Am
erican whose opinion by residence, expe
rience ard study on the question raised, il
worthy of consideration. For myself a.
one Who has given the best years of his life
to the service of AmeIici in interests in the
Pacific, ard as a lover of the whole Poly.
Desian race, dencunce it. At the risk OF
criticism from those l hold most dear and
of the termination, if need be, of personal
and political ties of life time, | have come
| here tonight TO denounce the statement and
to appeal to the intelligence and patriotism
of our State in its refutation.
As regards Samoa, and Hawaii that state
ment falsifies history and while seeking to
flatter the chief actor in it, fails to pie ase,
for no one knows better than Mr.. Cleveland
| that however much he may justify his ac-
ton towards these peoples on other grounds
| it cannot in the light of events be called
humane. Humane.
Let the Samoans speak whom he seeks
how to abandon to their enemies, to Great
Britain and Germany, the greatest naval
and greatest military power in Europe
whose rule of native races have been mark
|
around, if indeed it has not meant their ex-
termination
| Let the Hawaiians speak, through the
wretched woman once their queen, now a
pauper through her pursuit of the delusive
hopes held out by Mr.. Cleveland, depend
ent on the charity of her people and beg
gar at the halls of Congress!
But anticipate.
We are told now -a-days in the discussion
of public questions to acquaint ourselves
with conditions rather than with theories.
What are the facts regarding our position
in the Pacific?
On this immense ocean two-tfths of the
territory of this country finds its outlet.
Our states on the Pacific slope give us q
frontage there of over 1900 miles, not in
Guiding Puget Sound. Alaska in its meas
ured extensions east and west and north
and south adds to that frontage twice as
great.
To the East lie the richest nations OF
Asia; to the South, the future Anglo-Saxon
Republic of Australia whose people are to-
day the aptest students of our political in
stitutions
My friends could the fathers have fore.
|
they have foreseen this expansion to the
Pacific, and expansion which by the connec-
tons of commerce finds its limit only at the
shores which form that oceans western
bounds, and has robbed the Orient of its
name. Above all could they have foreseen
as we foresee the bursting of the
Istbimian barrier that divides the
two great oceans of the world, who
can doubt that the hand that secured
for us the vast territory of the Mississippi
that was only stayed from Cuba because il
was already in the possession of a jealous
and powerful nation. Who can doubt,
say, that the hand of Jefferson would have
planted our flag and planted it to stay some
where on those fertile Island groups that
guard like sentinels the highways of the
Pacific, the seat of the future commerce of
the world?
But it was not in fate that this should be
foreseen. And while our whalers crowded
the port of Honolulu as it never has beer
crowded since, and their sails whitened the
seas of the archipelagoes to the south
the distant nations of Europe were estab
fishing themselves here where the valor Of
our Wilkes had made navigation safe fol
all civilized mankind. Spain and Holland
were there long previously. France came
and took Tahiti and the beautiful Mar
quesas where Porter in the gallant ESSEX
had raised our flag. Great Britain came
and took New Zealand and the Fijis. AnG
finally Germany, the more eager because
last in the race dividing New Guinea with
The British not content with this division o.
the earth, ran with her a line far into the
Pacific delimiting the seas as the sphere Of
their respective operations.
What have we, my friends, in this grea
ocean on which our extended coast line, oul
proximity aud the enterprise Of our people
promise our maritime supremacy? VIVA
have we there, or rather l would say wha
had we there, for it is beyond human ker
to know what we have there now since Mr.
Cleveland, for reasons which those WHIT
still try to believe in the integrity of his in
tpntions, find hard to explain, began to sur
render what of our advantages he could il
the Pacific, and to intrigue against what h
could not surrender.
The advent of Mr.. Cleveland to power il
both his administrations found this countr,
in position of supreme and momentum
advantage regarding the Pacific.
In lSS5'a treaty was before the Serat
which would have ensured the completion
of the canal at Nicaragua, brought the com
merce of the world by our doors, joined, q
one, our two coast lines, and made of tn
Eastern Pacific an American lake. TIL
Senate stood eager to ratify this treaty an
the country eager TO avail itself of the ben
fits that would accrue. But wilfully, ig
noring alike the approval of the countr
which had gone out to the measure, and t
, a consecutivepess in our foreign polio
which he delights to disregard, he Withdrew
that treaty, and we have today disappoirt
meut and failure where the achievement o
glorious enterprise full of blessings 70
all mankind, was within our grasp.
Two years ago another treaty lay befor
the Senate, transferring to US rich herr
tage from our countrymen beyond the seas
, the sovereignty of Hawaii. l pass by 70
moment the shameful story Of how thi
was lost to US, of the intriyues conducted
in our name against our countrymen there
iutrigues which inspired to murder. pas
, by, also, the story of Samoa, and of the at
tacks made upon our connection there
which ensures the neutrality of those Is
! lands and the protection of our interests
pass by these to name the single footholt
in this great ocean which we can call on
own, Midway Island small uninhabite,
coral reef, discovered only by means of