Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-06
HAWAIIAN CABLE.
speech of Hon. H. st. G. Tucker, of Virginia,
IN the House of Representatives,
Thursday, February FL, 1906.

IN the n OuSe OI n6pTestmtdtlNeBs
Thursday, February FL, 1906.
The House having under consideration the
report of the committee of conference on the
iisagreeing votes of the two Houses on tn.
amendments of the Senate to the bill III
S239) making appropriations for the diplo
matte and consular service for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1896. and for other purposes
Mr.. Tucker said
Mr.. Speaker, 1t is well enough to
understand the real question brfor.
The House. The amendment presented
apparently is for the sole purpose o.
laying cable by the Government o.
the United States between this country
and Honolulu, to he owned and ope-
rated by the United States Govern
nent. | say that this is the propo
-ition, Mr. Speaker, but that is not its
ultimate object. Down below the lay
ing of the cable, down in the bottom
of the hearts of gentlemen who ad
vance this proposition there is another
not to lay the cable to Honolulu, bnl
to lay the wires for the annexation OF
the Hawaiian Islands. Loud applause
on the Republican side
/ am very glad. Mr.. Speaker, that
have succeeded ut last in smoking out
The gentlemen upon the other side
Jeers on the Republican side.
Mr.. Storer.-Ihe gentleman can al
ways smoke out the American flag.
Mr. Tucker.-I listened with greai
pleasure to the distinguished gentle.
man from Illinois Mr.. Hittl, who is :
noted diplomat, yesterday. l noticed
that his speech WAS given up to dis
cussiOn of the commercial Interest thai
existed between this country and The
Hawaiian Islands, but failed to heal
him declare openly for annexation.
noticed his magnificent appeal TO tn.
Americanism OF this House / accepl
it, sir. l am for America against thu
world. Yet, sir, am for America fol
Americans, and not America fol
Chinese, dagos, Japanese, and half
breeds IN the Hawaiian Islands. Zap
plause on the Democratic side.
Unjust do justice to my honored
friend and colleague, the gentleman
from Massachusetts Mr.. Draper], who
in his discussion in this matter, with q
frankness which is characteristic OF
him, did not conceal the fact that his
object was to have annexation. Mr.
Speaker, / do not believe in an am.
bilious government. do not believe
in that principle which would lead us
to cast our longing eyes across the
seas, seeking what we can gather
under the folds of the United States
flag. Our duty, sir, as Americans is to
see that honest and good laws are en-
acted for the advancement, cultiva
ton, civilization. and progress OF
Americans, and to see that our com
mercial relations with other nations
are proper and correct. / am against
annexation.
Gentlemen have said in this discus
sion that they voted for the naval ap
preparation bill on yesterday carrying
$50, 000, 900 for building four warships
in time of peace. Well, sir. found il
to be my duty to vote against it but
when that bill was passed, at least
congratulated myself that the country
was at last safe. But now, my honor
able friends on the other side say that
the Navy alone amounts to nothing
We are to have it, but, they say
What is navy without cable ?"
Mr. Boutelle.-A cable is a good
thing for navy.
Mr. Tucker.GA> sort of umbilica
cord [Laughter.] Why, Mr.. Speaker
if the United States can not get alons
WILL tAO REIMBURSEMENT III tnt Navy
with -four battle ships provided for in
the bill just passed, and which think
ought not to have been passed in the
present condition of the Treasury
we can not get along with that, what
next will gentlemen bring up? Dc
they want to extend this cable Il
Japan and thence to the islands of the
sea beyond, and in their wild dreams
IF nd tc
sion from those countries to ours Mr.
Speaker, l have no sympathy with
that idea. / have no sympathy with
annexation.
Have we not questions of sufficient
difficulty to contend with in the vasl
domain now under our jurisdiction
Have we not political and social ques
tions enough to engage our attention
And has our solution of the great race
problem with which we have been
struggling for thirty years been so sue
cessful as to warrant our acceptance o.
Others The acquisition of territory
on this continent in the past for we'll
known political reasons is one thing
to attempt to bring into our social
faoric the islands of the sea is. AL en-
tirplv different matter. Sir, the argu
mem can not be resisted that if the
Hawaiian Islands. 2. 100 miles from ouI
coast, are necessary for its protection,
then must it follow that the countries
beyond the Hawaiian Islands must be
necessary to the United States for the
protection of the Hawaiian Islands. ]
can not do more than suggest the argu-
ment in the limited period of five
minutes.
believe that our true principle is to
legislate for Americans. and not to
seek, by greed and lust of power. to
extend our dcInain across the sea-
Without meaning any pun,I may sug
gest, in the language of another, that
when you leave the land. then are
you at sea indeed" [Applause on the
Democratic side.