Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-30
Ex.Secre.ary Foster on Annexation.

Ex.Secre.ary Foster on Annexation.
With the Inauguration of the new adj
ministration interest in the subject of
Hawaiian annexation has arisen and
considerable comment has been made
in consequence. OF all this the most
exhaustive and in all respects most i'm
portant is that made by eX-Secretary
Of State Foster in his address last Fri
day evening before the American geo.
graphical society at Washington. Mr.
Fosters conclusions upon the matter
have been formed after a visit to those
islands few months ago and from OBJ
servations there made. In a very in
teresting manner he summarized the
history of Hawaii and cited the leading
authorities respecting the attitude of
the United States toward Hawaii. He
demonstrated from the actual history
of the island governments and from
the actual condition now existing there
that Hawaii must inevitably and be-
fore very long be annexed by this coun-
government. He shows clearly that
the fear of Japanese domination is we'll
grounded and he believes, and supports
his belief by incontrovertible argu-
ments that the only way in which it
may be prevented is by annexation and
the application of our immigration
laws to the country. The sugar plant
ers. as he points out, are opposed to
this as they are now securing cheap
labor from China and Japan at the ex-
pense of the welfare of Hawaii, but the
present condition of affairs cannot en-
dure much longer. The Asiatics are
clamoring for suffrage and will soon
have the power to take it by force.
Mr.. Foster found the consensus OF
opinion on the island to be that mon
archy could not be restored. The pres
ent government, which has never been
considered a permanent one, is doing
all that can be done by local govern
ment in unfolding the best interests of
the country, which is American in its
school system, in it's aims and aspira-
tons and bound to US. so far as the
better elements go, by every tie. The
speaker dwelt with earnestness and
vigOr upon the prospect unfolding in
the Pacific. He believes, with Gen.
Grant. Seward, Capt. Mahan and other
leading authorities that the great en-
terprises of the future are to be
tivity being already displayed by Japan
and China, both of which countries
within the memory of many now living
were closed to foreign enterprise and
dormant, SO far as any development
was concerned, lend inca1culable weight
to such conclusions. All this has
changed radically and is still under
going change. In light of the past the
most glittering prophecies respecting
the future of that part of the world do
not seem exaggerated, IT this country
is to share in all this, as it seems de-
signed to. the occupation of Hawaii by
our government seems necessary The
most eminent authorities in the world
have taken that view Their opinions
Mr. Foster referred to briefly. Indeed
this view cannot be successfully con-
troverted and is admitted by those who
want the territory for themselves. Mr.
Foster quotes the London Times, which
declared 1.-The maritime power that
holds Pearl River and moors it's fleet
there, possesses the key to the Northern
Pacific" He also quotes from Capt
Mahan, naval authority, recognized
both in this country and abroad Capt.
Mahan says:
Shut out from the Sandwich islands
as coal base an enemy is thrown back
for supplies of fuel to distances of $500
or 1000 miles-or between 1000 and 5000
going and coming-an impeachment to
sustained maritime operations well-nigh
prohibitive. 1t is rarely that so i'm
portant a factor in the attack OR de-
Tense of coast 'line-of sea frontier
is concentrated in a single position,
and the circumstance renders it doubly
imperative upon us to secure it if we
righteously can"
In support of this is also the opinion
of Admiral Walker and other naval
authorities of the highest eminence