The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-19
MORGAN ON HAWAII.
Alabama Senator More Strongly Than
Ever In Favor of Annexation.

Alabama Senator More Strongly Than
Ever In Favor of Annexation.
Washington, November Ex-senator
Morgan of Alabama, member of the COM
mittee of foreign relations has reached
here on his way back from Honolulu,
where he went to post himself on the an
nexation question. For the first time he
submitted himself today to an interview
OF the results of his trip, and said
My conclusions, based on my observa-
tions, are only full confirmation of
what had previously belieyed-that 1t Is
our national duty and will be in every
way advantageous TO all concerned to an
mex Hawaii to this country I have stud
led the questions from the most authentic
and reliable sources. The establishment
of an outpost of the United States within
the tropics and 200 miles from our coast
challenges the inquiry whether such
action is necessary to our national well
fare. Our Northwestern possessions on the
Pacific along the Aleutian archipelago,
are over 1000 miles west of Honolulu.
This gives us control.practically of the en-
tire American coast of the North Pacific.
The Intervention of the British posses
sions from the straits of Fuca to the
northern boundary of Alaska, creates a
powerful reason for our occupation of
Hawaii. Without imputing to Great Brit
ain any other motive than to extend her
national policy of commercial. conquest
it seems very obvious that If she should
acquire dominion of Hawaii and open
and fortify Pearl Harbor, her military
fortress at Esquimau, on the Island of
Vancouver, cooperating, would cut our
coastline in two and leave us incum bered
with mass of territory in Alaska, whose
defense would be almost impossible and
the famous advantage of which would
be lost to us. The Vancouver coal fields
would give the British navy almost ire
sistable advantage in war and virtual do
minion of commerce in time of peace.
Beginning with Key West we have an-
nexed the entire gulf coast to the Rio
Grande by purchase of territory and ex-
tending up to the Rio Grande across the
continent to the Pacific we have annexed
the territory lying to the north OF that
line and have annexed the entire Pacific
coast except the frontage OF 1000 miles
conceded to Great Britain. This rapid
and vast expansion has contributed much
to civilization and in none OF the tran
sactions have we cause for regret. [ have
no fears of such expansion, especially as
to possessions in the Pacii in those ISL
ands that constitute'part OF the geograpni-
cal and commercial system OF the North
"A lCdu CDnD1uOAU. WOui0 lOU
be the slightest difficulty i'll the character
conditions or wishes of the 81 900 native
people OF Hawaii. They are far better
adapted to American citizenship than
many millions of those whom we have
welcomed here from Southern Europe
and better adapted than the Indians,
Mexicans and native Alaskans.
Except among the few who expect per-
sonal favors and advancement from the
re-establishment of the royal government,
the general body of Hawaiian population
will rejoice in the honor, safety and peace
and prosperity which annexation will
bring. Morally and practically the silent
invasion of Hawaii by the Orient, (the
Japanese), violates all the declared poll
G1es and often expressed purpose OF the
United States to protect those people
against foreign interference.
The islands as a national possession
would richly reward us for the expenditure
Oh hundred millions. The annexation