Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-06

ocean. With a government representing a
minority, Insignificant in numbers. liable
to overthrow at any time from internal
| causes, or from dangerous complications
growing out of the preponderance of aliens,
the situation in respect of these islands, in
view of the tremendous and far-reachng
interests that are involved, are such as to
demand the immediate action of our gov
eminent"
Mr.. Proctor reviews the circumstances
that give rise to the strategic Importance
of Hawaii, and urges that the oriental ma
ture OF the present population should not
prevent or make undesirable the scheme
of annexation. He reviews the historical
records relating to American achievement
in the line of territorial expansion, and in
passing. asserts that the question OF state
hood need not complicate the proposition.
THE government of the District of Column
ba.'' he says, with a population greater
than that of Hawaii. is an example of how
those islands may he governed. / doubt if
any people are better satisfied with their
government than are the citizens of the
District of Columbia"
Arms and Annexation.
Under the caption, american Annexa-
ton and Armament" Murat Halstead car
ries out with more specific arguments the
propositions of eX-Secretary Herbert. that
war is not thing of the past, and he re-
views in an interesting manner the history
of recent struggles between nations and
empires.
He refers to the war in Cuba, and says
that it has been the plain, common sense
of history that as Spain lost her colonial
system by regarding outlying possessions
as crown property and ruling them by
martial law, so she must lose Cuba in the
same way. He advocates Intervention in
the struggle in the island. and asserts that
we have the right to stop at our doors
Savagery in warfare and to protect the
lives and property of American citizens.
He points out how the war between
Japan and China has disturbed the balance
of power in the Pacific. He continues:
Japan has become conquering empire:
and suddenly we find her engaged in pro-
noting questions of dispute with the Ha-
waiian government and our own She is
anxious about the treaty rights in Hawaii
in case of the contamination OF anneNa-
ton, and she is even troubled over our tariff
We must understand that she is now in
our neighborhood, and has some adyan-
tages, if she cares to pick and provoke a
quarrel with us. She has victorious
army and navy of considerable strength
Her people are in Hawaii by tens of thous-
ands. very conscious of their number. abil-
ity and physical force The point is. that
she is in possession of the strength to over
throw the Hawaiian government while our
Senate waits, and to argue the case of her
treaty rights in the islands from the foun-
dation of occupation.
Mr.. Halstead rapidly reviews the condi-
ton in Europe growing out of recent
events, and particularly the upholding of
the sultan by the car and Emperor Will
liam, and suggests that it is in the line of
logical sequence that the latter will take
an interest in Spain's struggle to retain
Cuba, and perhaps give rise to a serious
complication. He goes on:
IF, therefore, the United States should
offer her good offices to Spain to secure the
liDGrtv independence IT,
ern deSpotS might support Spain. whose
queen regent is an Austrian. The eastern
question may thus come west, and chai-
lenge us in the very waters where the
dominance of the sea was fought for in the
last century. And, at the same time. Japan
might face us in the Pacific with the
ancient Asian aggression opposing superior
civilization"
Mr.. >Halstead throughout his article cou-
piles Hawaii with Cuba as equally demand
ing the Intervention of the United States.
He concludes by saying that We must
be armed as becomes a great power. We
and another for The Pacific, each COM
petent to confront all enemies. Now is
the time, he declares, to provide armament.
I'VE should have no concern how Africa
Asia or Australia is cut up. But the
American islands are ours for the here
after, ard we should. in good time, annex
Cuba, as We annexed Florida, Texas and
California, and add her tropical riches to
the arctic resources of Alaska, that all
the zones may be included in the patri-
mony of our people
TT is the logic and lesson of current
history that the greatest of wars are to
come; for the nations are spending money
time and toll in learning war. with an ex-
travagance necessarily increasing as the
later years of the century are numbered
We should heed the humiliation of China
by the inferior force of Japan-a discomfit-
ure due to insufficient equipment 1t is
but our duty"