The herald., 1897-06-23
TO BE OR NOT TO BE

It seems now to be fairly determined
that the Hawaiian treaty of annexatio
will not be pressed to a final settlement
at the present session of congress. This
course is manifestly a most judicious
one. The manifold bearings of the pro-
ject are worthy of the closest scrutiny
and the fullest consideration as en-
bodying a new experience in the path of
our national development. 1t is fact
worth remembering that in this country
the special capacity known as states
manship is not the exclusive attribute
of presidents and senator's and that in
all public questions of the first magnl-
tude the popular sentiment is consulted
to advantage. Upon the question of an
nexing the Hawaiian republic there are
decided convictions pro and con. In the
absence of a settled sentiment by the
general public upon the expediency of
this measure brief resume of the views
that are advanced upon the whole ques-
tion may be of interest. On this subject
Senator White may be considered as
standing among the leaderS-as he is
about the most outspoken-of the oppo-
sition, and his views very fairly set
forth the attitude of the opposition. 1t
Is urged in that behalf that by annexins
Hawaii we are placing premium upon
the schemes of certain adventurers who,
it is said, are mere usurpers; that, hav-
ing first subverted a government they
come now and seek to have their usurp-
alton ratified by the government of the
United States by treaty of tion.
That by the act Of confirming this treaty
we will have departed from our tradi.
tional policy concerning territorial ac-
QUESTION and entered upon a new and
dangerous policy of territorial aggrand-
izement. That the acquisition of these
islands will involve the expense of great
necessary additions to the strength of
our navy, and the further expense OF
building Notifications and providing
further necessary defenses abroad,
while our shores are not properly pro-
tected at home. That annexation will
bring with it flood of unassimilative
people chiefly Japanese, Chinese, Por-
tuguese and Kanakas, to the volume Of
a hundred thousand or thereabouts, and
that all these drawbacks are to be sup
plemented by debt of 81, 900 600. This is
the negative position as thus far out
lined.
On the other side it appears that the
great majority of the senate is in favor
of annexation. Here it is urged that
without the possession of Hawaii the
United States has no base of CONNER
cial or naval operations in the Pacific.
That our expanding commerce in the
Pacific makes the possession of these
islands matter of urgent necessity
That as matter of safety TO the Pacific
coast cities, in case of war, the possess
sion of Hawaii is equal, from naval
standpoint, to feet Of dozen power
full warships cruising a sea. That the
government of the United States is
committed to policy of preventing the
acquisition of these islands by any other
nation, and hence to refuse to receive
them now is to invite a war with some
other government that might annex the
islands upon an application such as
that which we decline. Such war with
any first class power could cost us more
in twelve months than the defense of
the islands would entail in half a CEN
tury, and more than would supply our
navy with two battleships for every one
that we have now in commission. be-
sides. That the policy of refusing the
petition of the Hawaiian government
and at the same time demanding that
no other nation shall grant the terms
that we decline, IS wholly indefensible,
il measured by any recognized standard
of national good faith. That the island
republic, so far from becoming burden
would be q valuable acquisition apart
from its strategic Importance, as may be
shown by the volume of its commerce