Evening star., 1897-05-12

tnat been expended! Not to fight with
France: not for the possibility of a strug
gle with Russia, her great rival. 1t is
because those ships carry guns that may
come into our ports; ii is because they will
be the most terrible weapon against us in
the contingency of war. Is it not plain
that such naval station Is tremendous
adjunct of British naval operations against
our coast in war?
is abrogated, Great Britain will imme-
diately press for new and closer rela-
tions with Hawaii. Instantly Japan will
be pressing, and fiercely pressing. In the
teiegrams of this morning 1 read that the
cruiser Ninewa, bearing q representative
OF the japanese foreign Office, has already
arrived at Hawaii to present nacing
claims upon that feeble government. And
!. there comes at the same time the report
from the Senate that the treaty is to be
abrogated. thus taking away from the Ha-
Waiian government the support of the
United States.
When we discussed here, not long ago,
the project of Pacific cable, all of the
Old members recollect how it was brought
out In that debate that the Hawaiian gov
ernment resisted a proposition of the Brit
ish government to land a British gov
ernment cable upon the Hawaiian Islands,
railing back upon that provision of the
treaty which gave them the support of
the United States, they having covenanted
with us that no other power than the
united States should have a foothold or
lsnding upon the islands,"
AHe Seitieinun speaks OF the fact that
Great Britain will likely move in the di-
rection OF procuring concessions in Ha-
wall, said Mr.. McMillin, land that that
hight be damaging to the United States.
Britain already has coaling stations and
privileges on this continent that are far
superior to any she could obtain in that
ocean?"
Englnnd's Struggle in Hawaii
THE coaling privileges she has on the
seas east of this continent are of no avail
and have no relation to a war waged in the
Pacific" answered Mr.. Hit. She can not
yet get the Hawaiian Islands for that pur-
pose, and she has been struggling by every
means to get foothold there. There was
memorable race between a little boat of
the Hawaiian government and a British
light vessel 20 reach a bare rock in a tenn
pestuous sea, so that they might claim by
right of occupation footing which Great
Britain intended to use a. fortified post
upon which to land a government cable;
but the Hawaiian boat beat them by a
few hours; then claimed that rock as hers.
and that under the treaty with the United
States the British could not come there.
They made that bold answer knowing that
Uncle Sam would back them, and would
enforce his exclusive rights under the reci
procity treaty of 1875. If we now abrogate
that treaty the English may come unre-
sisted.
Pearl Hnrbor.
Pearl Harbor is a great harbor, enticing
to any eye that sees 1t, and 1t would have
been the seat of commerce long ago but
for the fact that there was a reef across
the entrance, which, it was thought. was
coral reef. The city of Honolulu has
been built upon an open pocket, into which
the free commerce of the world could go:
but 1t Is small harbor. 1t is already near
ly all occupied. 1t is not suitable for a
naval station. 1t would be a costly pur-
chase TO get even the shore space. Our
government has had careful examination
made by sOundingS and borings of the
channel or entrance to Pearl Harbor from
the outer deep sea 10 the inner harbor, and
the reef is found to be easily movable sand.
The cost of channel 25O feet wide would
be 500, 600. The cost of a channel 200 feet
wide would be $4,000
In Cnse of War.
II did suppose" remarked Mr.. Cummings
of New York, that the chairman Of the
great committee on appropriations in the
last House had some knowledge of naval
affairs. He says that United States men,
of-war can get coal in Honolulu. Let US
see. We obtained $15.O0O.OOO from England
by the Geneva award What did we give
In return? We sanctioned Englands propo-
sition that coal should be considered as
contraband of war. That government had
at that time 271 coaling stations on the
globe, while the United States had not one.
England has today over 800 Of these sta
ttons. We have two, IL they are worthy of
the name-Pago-Pago, in the Samoan
Islands, and this shadowy affair s.t Pearl
Harbor, in the Sandwich Islands.
Now, III case Of war, how are you going
to coal your war vessels in the port of
Honolulu? Coal is contraband of war. The
only way in which you can coal American
vessels in time of war will be 10 carry the
coal to the vessels In lighters on the ocean
or coal them at United States ports.
Sir, 1t Is time that something WAS done
to secure the coaling stations which We
have offered to us instead of seeking coal
ing stations at Mole st. Nicholas. samana
Bay, or elsewhere. What good-is Pearl
Harbor to us If we cannot get into it? This
paragraph proposes an appropriation of
only $oOOoO toward establishing a coaling
station in that harbor and we are told that
$5O.OOO more will make it entirely accessi-
bic.
Mr.. Chairman, there Is one reason why
l might feel induced to vote against this
proposition. The chairman Of the commit
tee on foreign affairs in the last House had
1t In his power to save this appropriation
by reporting a bill for the annexation of
Hawaii. Then, indeed. we might readily
ccal our vessels in Honolulu in time OF
war. l have faith enough in the Ameri-
canism and the patriotism of President Nc
k1nley to believe that before he leaves the
White House Hawaii will be an integral
view of that belief 1 might yote against
this proposition; but as the matter is now
presented. l shall vote for it. 1t Is better
to be sure than to be sorry.
I'VE have had this harbor for nanv vear re
under treaty stipulation. 1t is of no use to
US unless we can get into It, Let us an
propriate the money and make a coalinp
station out of it, for we need it. and ii
seems to me to be playing into the hands of
England to neglect it. She would probably
give fifty times $4,000 to secure it,
No Land Given With the Harbor.
Mr.. Hilborn of California oppose5 tba
amendment. He said:
Mr.. Chairman. there are certain facts In
relation to this proposition which think
| the committee should understand before we
come 10 q vote. The Hawaiian government
transferred to the United States a sheet of
water in the Hawaiian Islands known es
Pearl Harbor, but she gave us not one inch
OF land. 1t was the old transactlon-a
pound of flesh. but not one drop of blood.
| II we acquire any land at Pearl Harbor-
and we shall certainly want some land
there-we shall have to buy 1t and pay for
1t.
"All the available land which is adjacent
| to that body Of water is owned by specula-
/ tors anu Is held for the purpose of being
| sold to the United States. On the occasion
of my visit to those islands q short time
ago, a gentleman was pointed out to me as