The herald., 1895-04-10
WEDNESDAY,. APRIL 10, 1905
SHALL WE ANNEX MORE TERRITORY :

This question is in measure before th
country. The Cuban insurgents talk o
becoming part of the great republic, bu
their situation is so forlorn that Cubar
ANNEXATION can hardly become liv'
question. The Hawaiian government an,
people, at least those of American birti
or descent, want to become part of thi:
country, and there are many advocates o
annexation among our people. These
facts are sufficiently important to entitlt
the subject to some consideration.
1t is not surprising that an impression
should prevail that this country is quite
willing to enlarge its territory through
customary and honorable means, for its
area was quadrupled within eighty years
after it was esta blished under the consti-
tuition.
Acquisitions thus far have been on GER
tain defined lines. Nothing has been an
nexed beyond the limits of the continent
all acquisitions except Alaska have been
contiguous to what was already possessed,
and with that exception all have con-
tributed to the compactness and shapeli-
ness of our domain. None of the acqui-
sitions were populous. In physical char
acteristics all the countries opened rich
fields for the display of American enter
prise and for the development of wealth.
No territory was taken on with popua-
tion sufficiently numerous to seriously re-
tard the rapid growth of HON ogeneity.
Being new and sparsely peopled there
has been no serious difficulty in. prepar-
ing them for statehood and equality in
the Union. None of them having been
densely peopled by inharmonious ele-
ments there has been no serious test of
the merits of our plan of governing, pre-
paratory to granting autonomy as states.
Annexation of Hawaii would be de-
parture from previous policies, and in
wolves consideration of questions never be-
fore raised. First of all, it is not contigu-
ous to our possessions, being in mid
ocean and distant from the continent,
and for that reason it would be more
difficult to govern and more expensive TO
defend. 1t would be precedent for an
nexing islands in all directions. But a
small percentage of the population is
American or Anglo-Saxon. The people
in the main are not harmonious with our
civilization and principles of govern
ment. The country is plastered with
monopolies, and there are large mum bers
of laborers under contract for many years.
The people, except small percentage, are
unfit for self-government.
Annexation of Hawaii would be after
the manner of the annexation of Texas,
by joint resolution of the American con-
gress and by similar action on the part
of the Hawaiian government. If the ar
rsngement should be that she should be
admitted as a state, it would be incumb-
ent on US to guarantee republican form
of government. None of the people could
be denied suffrage on account OF race.
or previous condition., but suffrage
might be limited on some other ground
To deny suffrage to the Kanakas, who
would become American citizens by an
nexation. would place the government in
the hands OF an oligarchy and create i'll
feeling on the part OF the natives. To
admit the natives 10 the right of suffrage
would place the government in their
hands if they felt disposed to use their
power, and they were not thwarted bv
unlawful means. 70 annex as a territory
and not as state would in measure
deprive the people of the right of self
government. To allow universal male
suffrage is now the settled principle of
the government SO far as concerns the
territories. and to apply Il different prin-
ciple to Hawaii would be an incons istencv
and be deemed by the disfranchised class
as an unjust discrimination. We hay
governed nowhere without allowing q de
gree OF sovereignty to the people, excert
in the District of Columbia. whose gov
ernment is specially provided for in the
constitution.
What particular advantage would an
nexation of Hawaii be to us? Ic is true
that her commerce is important, put we
do not see why we cannot appropriate il
as we'll without, as with annexation The
islands are as far away in one case AS in
the other, and our facilities for conduct
ing that trade would not be any better bv
taking on the country than without do
ing So. Hawaii would not discriminate
against us, for we could give her as good
terms as any other country. and better
than any European power on account of
our proximity. No power will acquire
tudb ccuiibly cNCh DN Vic COuSetb OF 1IS
government and people, for the United
States would not allow it to be done and
no nation would attempt it without our
consent. treaty with Hawaii guaran.
teeing her independence would involve
US in no more troubls than the known
purpose on our part to enforce the Mon
roe doctrine.
AS soon as we begin departing, in ac
quiring territory. from the well defined
and sensible lines on which we have thus
far proceeded we shall not know where to
stop. If we are to annex from CONNER.
cial considerations, then we should hold
ourselves out as ready to take on all the
Islands in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean
sea and all waters within our reach. The
better policy is to go cautiously and to
wait until our own country is more fully
developed and our institutions have been
carried to the highest perfection Let us
take better. care OF what we have before
out after more. Our territory is
already large. and before we increase it
let us staidythe consequences to other ma
lions which have ext nded their termini