Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-01
MORGAN's VIEW OF HAWAII.
The Senator from Alabama Writes
the Herald of His observations.

| the neraiu OF HIS ODserNutfOns.
Honolulu. September 23d
via San Francisco, Cal, Wednesday.
| To the Editor of the New York Herald:
| There is no active or organized oppo-
| sition to annexation in Hawaii. Some
royalists naturally regret every step that
| leads to the dedication of the coun-
try to free self-government, which is
now beyond reversal, and they excite
the apprehensions of some natives that
annexation will tend to their social
degradation. But the effort and it's re-
suits are Insignificant. The less in
formed classes are free from political
cares. and those OF the educated classes
are free from all jealousy toward the
white race. Their desire for annexation
is intense and earnestly patriotic.
They are American in the most decided
form, without any tolerance of Asiatic
theories or forms Of civilization. They
copy nothing from the Asiatics while
they eagerly adopt the customs and
manners OF the Americans. If there is
any actual controversy about annexation
in the republic the fact is not observable
in any open demonstration that it is at
all important. A meeting at hllo re-
Gently. in opposition to annexation was
a failure, the people taking no interest
in IL.
THE ONLY QUESTION EVOLVED
The settled and universal conviction Is
that this is an American question between
American people, as It has always been
I'm our dealings with It. Annexation to
the United States, or a protectorato by
our government, are the issues TO which
a 1fcpneGfop ic hafu
on all sides that the islands will not
have the settled prosperity and con-
tentment they need and deserve Il their
foreign relations are TO depend upon
their naval power for security and free
dom from agitation.
For want Of metals and fuel the "sea
power OF the islands is far short of the
Importance of their agricultural produc-
lions and OF their value as a commercial
centre and as "a place Of rest and re- |
freshment and for supplies and repairs |
for navigators. We can supply these |
wants qulc,-er and more conveniently |
than any ether country, and this fact |
must necf ssary draw Hawaii to us |
with hooks OF steel" that no power
can destroy. In this respect. our only |
rival is Great Britain, through the
Straits OF Fuca.
Whatever country furnishes ships Of |
war and of commerce TO Hawaii will |
ind here ample material for supplies, |
and a body Of native sailors that are /
not exceled in many OF the best quail
lies by any people In the world. This
will be the nucleus of our supremacy |
n the navigation and commerce of the
North Pacific. AS TO the wealth and /
power this will bring US, all CONNER
,ill history is full of narrative. If con-
lecture need be INDUCED, the widest
fancy would become tame in the pre-
ience OF obvious facts that already are
1t Honolulu.
VALUE OF PEARL HARBOR.
Considered in sense as broad as the
distance between Asia and America,
here Is no place on either coast, or in |
my island Of the Pacific Ocean that is
If equal importance and value 10 COM
nerce or naval power as Pearl Harbor.
rhe reasons are that IL Is central i'm
he arc of the great circle, north Of tho
equator, that Is described by the coasts
# Asia and America. IL has the best
climate of any port on either coast. 1t
ifords the best and cheapest shelter to
hipping and the least expensive ways
or provisioning, repairing. coaling, and
Watering vessels of any size.
The sea line OF the harbor is n coral reef
hat is about eight miles from the shore
4 the harbor, in its inland stretch. on a
rect line. The bay divides into three
odies of water as 1t reaches inland AL
early of equal size and depth. The
ennsulas that thus divide the waters
pproach the entrance through the outer |
ar-the coral reef-within a distance OF |
hree miles. and command it absolutely.
inland. the shores of the harbor, with
heir meanderings, are included in a space ,
bout six miles wide. as will be seen by
a chart OF the harbor. The
utter bar is Of soft corals, and easily re-
loved by pumping, and the space to be
redged is less than half mile.
All these questions are put at rCst by
ne dredging OF the same kind of bar
/ Honolulu, not six miles further up the
past. and are no longer debatable. The
ork Is OF the lightest character OF sea
redging. Both outside and inside this
arrow reef the water Is over sixty feet
eep, and Pearl Harbor, from the bar TO
$ extreme limits inland. is without any
ostruction and is of sufficient depth for /.
lie largest ships. Five hundred sail =
,uld easily be moored 10 the shores In S
,sitions Of perfect safety
Deep water is found all along the shores >
the bay. all OF which are perpendicular
als OF stone. They could scarcely be
ore regular or useful II they had been
nlt by skilled workmen. On the side
the bay next TO Honolulu hi..- from \
Ie sea coast are from 100 to 500 feet high. :
uns on these elevations would easily
mnand the entrance TO both harbors.
lille within Pearl Harbor and back OF N
onolulu the points available for harbor \
fence could scarcely be more adyan-
geous. n
WHERE VESSELS COULD HIDE. D
The cost OF land for these works will
: what the United States chooses to m
We. II should be what a court and 8
ny should award on a full hearing. The |
urts here are very high models OF wis +
I'm and justice. The channels OF Pearl
arbor are all deep. with rock-bound
Iores. that are perpendicular. A ves-
i can be moored at almost any place | "
ong miles of shore line and will pe
Il OF sight from sea, except the top
yglngs. The largest ship can easily
IN around In the narrowest parts. while
dry dock can be constructed at a low
st at many places In Pearl Harbor. with
ais excavated In the rock =.
III. r.. Nichols, command -
Z the Remington. Is now completing al
g survey commenced by Admiral Walk
When his report is made the tech "a
cal facts will appear Of which present -
Q outward summing as they appear to Y
Q eye OF tho ordinary observer.