Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-11-03
Hawaiian Annexation.


viding for the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands is a subject which
will cause much interesting debate
In the United States senate at the
coming session, and at present 1t
seems almost certain that the treaty
will receive the necessary two-thirds
vote and the little Republic In the
Pacific become apart of this nation,
as the treaty has already been rati-
fed by the Hawaiian senate by a
unanimous vote.
A notable pamphlet on this sub
iect has recently been issued by Lor-
rim A. Thurston, n of the plenipo-
tentiaries empowered by Hawaii to
negotiate the treaty, a copy Of which
was received some time ago. The
pamphlet includes So pages and be-
tween it's covers are stated the five
principal reasons why the annexa-
ton should be accomplished, replies
to the twelve leading arguments
against the contemplated move and
much statistical and Instructive mat
ter concerning the islands.
While it is q question which has
received comparatively little atten-
ton during the past year, notwith-
standing the negotiation of the
treaty, it is, nevertheless, not a new
idea. Other treaties to the same
end were agreed upon by the repre-.
i aanfnfivQG ri tho fuvn onrrnfrioS In
1854 and 1898, the latter treaty being
concluded by president Harrison
but summarily withdrawn from the
senate by his successor, President
Cleveland.
The five eason especially urged
In favor of the annexation are:
Ffrst-"It will prevent the estab.
lishment of an alien and possibly
hostile stronghold in a position com.
handing the Pacific coast, and the
commerce of the North Pacific, and
definitely and finally secure to tho
United States the stragetical con.
troll Of the North Pacific, thereby pro.
tecting it's Pacific coast and com.
merce from attack"
In support of this q little studying
Of the map is necessary. Hawaii
will be seen to lie in a south-westerly
direction from San Francisco and
distant therefrom about 1000 miles.
The group includes eight inhabited
islands and a large number of unin.
habited ones and from these to the
nearest inhabitable islands, which
are Tihiti, is 1889 miles, the North
Pacific being singularly free from
islands, which could be made use o.
as a base of supplies or as q coalinp
station by fleets. With Hawaii In
possession attack from the Pacific
would be practically impossible, fol
none OF the modern vessels of wal
are large enough to carry a sufficient
supply of coal to steam from tn,
Asiatic mainland or any other of tn,
habitable islands and attack oui
coasts and yet have coal with which
to retreat II necessary. Hawaii hal
well been termed, ''The Key to tn
Pacific"
Second-"The conditions are sucl
that the United States must act nov
to preserve the results of it's pas
policy, and to prevent the dominance,
In Hawaii Of a foreign people,"
Since the days of President lyle
the policy of this country has beel
to discourage and at times to openl,
oppose the taking of the islands b.
any other power, and up to within
two years this policy has been sue
cessful. But since the awakening O
Japan, the latter have looked abou
for new worlds to conquer and they
have been shipping to Hawaii larg'
numbers of trained Japanese will
al evident intention of cOlonizing tn,
islands and eventually supplantins
the Republican government with tn,
flag of Japan. Just now the littls
Republic is making a strong diplo
matte fight against this aggression
and has succeeded In having the de
termination OF the matter postponed
until the United States senate shal
have had time to pass upon tn,
treaty 4 annexation.
The third and fourth reasons ar,
commercial ones:
Third-"It will increase many fold
and secure to the United States thu
commerce OF the islands,"
Fourth-'It will greatly increas.
and secure to the United States thu
shipping business of the islands.
That lit will remove Hawaii from