The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-12-23
IN AMERICAN WEN HERE.
\ BOLD CRASHING OF THE AN
NEXATION PROPOSITION.
traditional Policy of the United
Statcs"-A Chance to Nindicate It
Discussion of Presidents.
Seattle Post-Intclligencer.)

ting forth arguments designed to de- |
feat the consummation of the project
\ sample of these arguments is found !
in the following extract from an edi- |
toral in the Omaha Bee on the sub
ject:
"AnneNaton of the islands would
be departure from the traditional
policy of this country that no conser-
vative citizen. respecting the policy
of the past. can contemplate without
apprehension. Hawaii is remote ter
ritory. It is more than 1000 miles dis
tant from our western boundary. Its
possession would require "A large an
nua outlay for military and naval
protection, most. if not all Of which
would come out of the pockets of
| American taxpayers. But the great
objection to the proposition of annex
alton is that it would inaugurate
policy of territorial acquisition. which
might become a source of serious
trouble, for once having embarked on
| Sucn Il COURSE, IL ~ llupo9SIblt " say
where it would halt. Domination of
the sentiment for territorial extension
would he dangerous thing"
How familiar thesa arguments sound
to student of political history Pre-
cisely the same arguments, in almost
identically the same language, were
put forward against the Louisiana
purchase, the annexation of Texas, the
conquest of California, the acquisition
of Oregon and the purchase of Alaska.
In reading over the speeches ON the
Oregon question" there is met the
very able and learned argument of a
distinguished senator from one of the
Southern states, who, after putting
forth various arguments as to the use
lessness of the territory. the impossi-
bility of defending it. and its distance
from all settled parts of the United
States, went on to demonstrate math-
ematically that if the territory should
ever become a state it would take an
active, able-bodied senator precisely
one-half of the year to make his way
from home to the seat of government
and the other half of the year to re-
turn home. This was considered II
final argument against recognizing
Oregon as Il portion of the territory
of the United States. Fortunately,
"the traditional policy of the United
States" was sufficiently observed to
save the territory to this country.
Had the class of arguments now
used against the annexation of lIa-
wall prevailed with the founders OF
: this government and their immedi, e
successors. the United States would
have consisted today. if in existence
at ALL of thirteen states on the At
lantic seabord, with the best and po-
tentially the richest portion of the
American continent III the possession
a of Great Britain, France and Spain
Il foreign waterway; the Pacific states
foreign colonies: and the interior
states parceled out among differrpi
, European nations, and the scene al
incessant hostilities whenever ii Euro
e pean war was in progress.
AS to the question of distance; dis
tances are merely relative. In time
/, Hawaii is closer to San Francisco thar
= Tennessee was to Washington at tn,
time Andrew jackson left that star.
on his way to the national capital {,
be inaugurated. AS to being islands
the United States already owns island
further distant from the cities of III
seaboard than are those of the III.
"a waiian group, and the United State
b zone corporation in its monopoly of tn
seal hsnery on those islands. thar
.. would suffice to fortify and garrison
- the Hawaiian islands and secure then
B. against foreign attack; and has in
r. CURED as many foreign complication
in connection with those seal island
as would be likely to follow upon III
accession of Hawaii. The seal island
are barren rocks, WIN populatlo
consisting of Il handful of Aleuts, Th
Hawaiian islands cover territory a
great as the state of Connecticut, wit
varied wealth of products, and
= trade with this country amounting I
$2O, 0O0,0 annually. The bulk of tn
' white population are American eli
izpuS who have carried their a ttoch
ment to our institutions with them I
We their present home.
- Hawaii infinitely nearer than wa
Oregon when it was considered
- point of such great national import
ance that the United States should az
quire that territory that this countr
was prepared to enter upon war wit
Great Britain before our rights to %
4 L., Il. ii, 60,