Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-06
Earnastnes osthe President Discuss
ing Annexation.
SEVERE BLOW; fo.s5THE OPPOSITION
1t Has Been Busy Since the Special
- Session.
S UGAR U=ST AT WORK

The earnestness with which the President
Hawaii. stating, as he does. that every
consideration of dignity and honor re-
quires' that the treaty should be confirmed
by the Senate, is a severe blow to the op-
ponents of annexation. The President pro-
ceeds upon the ASSUMPTION that annexa-
ton will certainly be completed and dis
cusses the question Of the government of
the islands by the United States
What he says makes the annexation a
matter of administration policy and will
bring all who shall oppose 1t in direct an
taFonism with the administration There
is nothing in the case to make it a oarty
question, and he does not in any sense
treat is as such. but those whose relations
to the adminstra ton render them friendly
to the success of its policy will naturally
hesitate to oppose the President in a mat
ter OF SUCH Importance to the general plans
of the President for his administration.
Inc opponents TO annexation have been
very active since the treaty was sent to
the Senate during the special session. The
opposition has come from two principal
sourceS-the sugar trrst and the foreign
interests, which would be injuriously af-
fected by the spreading of American COM
merce over the Pacific 1t is realized by
the nations of the earth that the conflict
of the future will be for the commerce of
the Pacific; that the trade with China, ia
pan and the Indian trade offers the great
est opportunity for development, and that
the nation which controls the commerce of
the Pacific will tiiun phi over the rest.
Wherever British influence Is felt there
is opposition to the annexation of Hawaii.
The British party in Hawaii is working
against it. and Japan is opposing it.
Opposition to Annexation.
,g,,l,; e
senators against the treaty is that it will
bring the country into conflict with foreign
nations directly or in the future, and that
it will require an immense navy to main
tain our power on the islands, involving
our declared policy no foreign nation could
be permitted to get foothold in Hawaii
and that we would have tc protect the
islands whether annexed or not is ignored.
other arguments are advanced, according
to the character and natural sentiments of
the nell intended to be Influenced. With
some of the southern democrats the argu-
mcnt that the Hawaiians are a dark-skn-
ned race is advafced, with the suggestion
that we have eiiough undesirable citizens
ready. without adding more. To influence
the laboring people. >, the annexation of
Hawaii is ASSOCIATED in some vague way
with foreign pa1Iper labor. To influence
the representatives Of, the farmers, the
state ment is made that the sugar-beet in
dustry will be injured.
But all these arguments seem TO come
from about the same quarter and are aimefl
at one of two srrpreservtng the in
terests of the sugar trust. or restricting the
development of American interest i'll the
commerce of the Pacific. The first Is but
incident of the sefffshness OF powerful
corporations. The other relates to the
development. wealth and influence of the
United States among nations throughout
the rest of it's existence.
Chnnse of SENTIMENT.
1t appears, h5wever that some of the
democratic senators who have in the pas
had most to say about the development OF
trade with China and Japan and have
thought that the prospects of this com
merce a good argument for continuing sill
yer coinage are allowing themselves t.
he influenced by talk of "a black popula
ton and are being frightened by the cry
of 'eXtravagant naval establishment
1t is uncertain how much, if any, strength
the treaty has lost since the end of the Spe-
cial session. when there was no doubt felt
OF its ratification. 1t is said. however. that
the sugar trust has influen need some, di-
rectly or indirectly and it is intimated that
even some republican senators who favor
&c annexation last spring will. at the be-
hest of the trust, oppose 1t now.
There is undoubtedly going to be a very
hot fight, the foreign influence and the
sugar trust having to be contended with
and the prejudices of honest men being
played upon by those whose profession II
is to construct reasons why a wrong thins
is right when certain interests are at stake