The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-03

OUR "TRADlTIOxAL P0LfCfT
Some OF the opponents Of annexation OF
the Hawaiian Islands are putting forth ar
susaen4s dsrsgned 10 defeat the consam-
ruzssoa OF the project A sample OF these
arguments - found IN enc following ex-
tract from an editorial "a the Omaha Bee
IN the eubjects
.Annexat1cn of the islands would be a
departure from the traditional policy OK
this country thar no conservative effszsss.
respecting the policy OF the past. can cosa-
template without apprehension. H&waa =
remote territory. IL Is more tHan 1sVS
m.lee dsztanf from our western bouns&Fy-
Ets possession would require a large an-
nual outlay for military and naval protec-
ton, most If not ali OF which would cofso
out OF the pockets OF American sSxpaysfs-
Bur the great abiscf.on - tbs Dropos<fon
of annexation "a that II wsud inaugurste
= policy Of territorial acquisition. w'isca
might bscome . source OF serious trDusss,
for once having embarked on suoh .
course. e. Is impossible 70 say where II
would halt. Domination Of ne sentiment
for territorial EXTENSION would be daf-
serous thing
How familiar these arguments sound %
= student of political history. Precisely
tho came arguments. "a almost ident.eally
ahA same language, were rut forward
axAlnxs mo Louisiana purchase. the an
nszAxson OF Texas. the conquest of Cali
fornis. the acquisition OF Oregon and tfs
purchase of Alaska
In reading over rhA speeahss on tire
"oregCn question" there - met the very
able and is~rned argument Of aasttn-
essse,,ad senator frem one OF the sosslasFn
starsss. who. afssr putsinx forth various
srgumepss - 80 sis usslesaneas OF the ter
rstsry. rfs lrupessiblilty Of defending Il.
and III distance from all tho secuted parts
Of sfas unfbed States, went on 20 demon
ssrase m4shamatically slsas II fhs terri
tory sssould ev~r become stale y would
cake IN ectsve. aale~boatsd senator pre-
essesy oas-h~if OF the year 80 make ais
way frem Aouas 20 the sext Of gev.rninsnt
and che other half OF xhs year TO return
homs. This was considered . final srsa-
usnk against recognising Oregon as
= purt1en Of tiss serrsssry OF ths United
Gsatss Fortunately, 'sts1s traditional poll
icy OF chs United STATES was sufss6en<iy
observed - save the territory 70 thls oonn-
cry.
Had s1s Glass Of arguments now used
against che annexation OF Hawsai pre-
walled vita tho fouEe~Fs Of this govern
snaaf and their sniinsdfste successors. sha
untted kstatss would EAve consisted today.
u In ex.xtens~ at al. OF thirteen states on
xhe Atlantic seabozrd. with she beet and
possntaally x1ae richest portion OF tie
AsnsrseAa sontsnent In sfss possession OF
Great Britain. France and spain. TAs
Gulf OF Mexico would have been a foreign
waterway: ere pacsfio states forsign oe.e-
nse~: and shs interior states parcaied out
among different European nations. and
she scene os sneessans hostllslex whenever
. European war was ia progress.
AS 10 she QUESTION of distance: distances
ere merely relative. IN time. Iiswag "a
closer 70 San Frsnclseo than Witnesses
WAS - Washington at the time Andrew
Jacksea lett chat state on isss way - the
national capital 20 be iaaagurated. A. 10
being islands. tho uniko1 States already
owns Islands further distant frusn the
cities or the ssaseArd than arc ssoss OF
abe Hawaiian group. and the unsted
states has spent nore money IA protesting
one corporation ia ia monopoly OF the seal
fishery en- those islands Than would sur
ice "a foFttfy and xaFTkson the Hawaiian
islands ard secure them against gars.ga
attack. and has incurred as many saEtsxn
complications IN connection visa those
real lssania as would be likely - follow
upon the accession Of Hawaii ne seal
islands are barren rocks. With a pcpulA-
ssn consisting OF handful or AIeuts The
ymwatan isianaa cover territory as great
as the state - cenaeosteus. WITH a varse,s
wealth. OF produces. ana a trade w.tA thsa
ronnfry amounting 50 So coo annually.
Ths hulk of rae Write population are
araerlcan csStsens. wfso have carried Their
estmcnfnsnt 10 cur inatitu.-cas VITA them
20 their present Acme
Hawaii - tntastety nearer than was
ssr~~on wA~n n Was considered q pcsut sf
such great maternal imperzAnc~ tssas she
Tested States saeuia acquire thas turri-
cory that shss country was prepared 60
enter upen a war VIII Crest Britain b.
sore eur rights 10 oregoa sfscula ee rsssn-
cnssses. Hawaii ,sss more Auez4eaa cssi-
ssa- rexs6oas Among fts population rAaa
ssaa ne whole scspe OF ArssrscAa teTsitSsy
acquired ssnoe she Esvo,usssr As the s,no
~ 80 seaussatfcuL
n nav D. tssss sae United States will
eessae ssos % annex Hawai-. bet tat rrso-
,asson ossas 60 "a basel upoa arxauasnsA
sscrs Substantial than saose whsea have
eose cusy Tor three successive gesess-
sisss~. oaiy 70 70 as osceG r0sasei by the
k<~fs. 80 xst a ..4s,.~x syseatS