Graham guardian., 1897-07-30
FIRM STAND AGAINST JAPAN.

ms attitude 10 hawaiian annexa-
tion, the Administration has de-
,ided to send the big battleshlp
Oregon to Honolulu, to relieve the
cruiser Philadelphia and the cor
vette Marion, now stationed there,
both of which need renovation.
The Philadelphia will remain at
Honolulu, however, until the
Oregon reaches there--perhaps
longer. 1t has been intended by
the Navy Department for some
time to send the cruiser Baltimore
TO Hawaii, but the repairs will
take longer to finish than was at
first estimated, The probabilities
now are that she will not be ready
for sea service until some time in
October.
But this unexpected postpone
ment of her assignment to the is,
lands has served good purpose in
allowing the Navy Department TO
send the Oregon, one Of the most
formidable ships in the service,
without giving japan theoppoturni'
ty of constituting the dispatch OF
the battleship into display of I'M
friendliness on the part of the
United States. 1t has been no I'M
common occurrence in diplomacy
for one nation to construe the
presence of warship or an musal
display of naval strength by an
other nation at a port in which both
have a vital interest, as an act to
be viewed with concern.
IfJapan should send such an in
timation to this Government, it
would be met by the explanation
that the Oregon is the only vessel
available for the service. She is
SO far superior to the Japanese
cruiser Naniwa, now at Honolulu,
that comparison is out of the ques
ton.
The Administration is evidently
taking Japan seriously in her stand
concerning the Hawaiian annexa.
ton. Minister Hoshi's frank state
ment to Secretary Sherman that
his government protested against
the annexation of Hawaii by the
United States, because "the main
tenance Of the status quo of Hawaii
is essential to the good understand
ing of the powers which have IN
terests in the Pacific" has been
with more concern by the
President and the Cabinet than the
other points of objection, as in
dieting the rumored purpose of
Japan TO secure some sort of con-
troll Of the islands. japan insists
that she does not seek to embar.
rass the United States, but the Ad-
is taking no chances.
The intention TO send the largest
AVAILABLE vessel to Honolulu shows
hat this Government purposes 10
20 prepared for emergencies pend
ng the settlement of Japanese
laims against Hawaii and the rati-
cation Of the annexation treaty.
is certain that if the Japanese
end other vessels to supplement |
40 Naniwa, the United States will
sspond in q vigorous manner, that
ill leave no doubt as to the de-
'rmined policy of the administers
on that foreign countries must
eep hands off Hawaii.
Indeed it is said that the gun.
oat Bennington will soon receive
'ders to go to Honolulu. The
,al determination Of the Admin
tration to make japan under
and that the United States will
IT be trifled with or submit to
citation of any character has
ZEN reached.
Evidences that the President is
coming much worried over the
.panese situation and the possible
Implications, if the reported al
'nce between japan and Spain
carried out are daily becoming
ore manifest. The condition is ,
heved to be all the more alarm
2 because il has been definitely .
certained that Hawaii has not {
lde overtures to japan to settle I
arbitration the matters in dis
to and that the island govern. {
mt has no intention of making =
Oh a proposition. All differences
W existing between Hawaii and a
pan because of the alleged viola. a