The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-19

heard-of and new precedent The ac-
QUESTION OF Louisiana, Florida and
Alaska furnish no precedent. Those
countries all belonged to European
powers, ard we purchased them of
those powers Florida and Louisiana
were great integral part of our own
United States, ard their people were
our people. Alaska was owned by
Russia, inhabited by a few Indians
of a low older, and had never had a
government of its own. Texas was
also continuous part of our country
and it's people earnestly desired to be-
come a part of our Union. 1t was no
trouble to assirulate the people in
habiting the acquisitions of Louisiana
Florida and Texas, because they were
surrounded on all sides by our people,
and were themselves anxious and quail
flied to become citizens of our republic
The conditions surrounding Hawaii
are totally different These islands
are 2.0S6 miles from our coast by the
shortest line. They have had their
own form of government for years.
We have had no quarrel with them
not asked to sell their country to us,
nor to become a part Of our system
of government. They have invited
foreigners to come among them and
make their homes there. Foreigners ac-
cepted the invitation, and were kindly
generously treated. Their government
was very liberal constitutional mon
archy. Under it, for years before the
overthrow, the supreme court was
composed of foreigners. The ministry
was almost, if not always, controlled
by foreigners, mostly Americans. At
the time of the overthrow, Mr.. S. b.
Dole was chief justice, appointed for
life. He left that to become president
of the so-called republic, established
by the reVolutionists. Americans prac-
tically directed political affairs and
administered the laws. Foreigners
had been allowed to acquire large prop
erty rights, and were not molested
or interfered with in their enjoyment.
The United States boasts that 1t Is
the cradle of liberty. 1t has stood
as the friend and guide of weak couu-
tries, and has always insisted that
governments derive their just pow
ers from the consent OF the governed
AS nation we stand between Europe
and Asia, whose civilizations differ
radically. We profess 10 set an ex-
ample to both of them worthy Of their
emulation. We assert that the indi-
vidual should be consult Il in all mat
ters affecting his political rights and
status. 1t is high mark we have
set for ourselves, and most worthy
one. We invite people -.rom all lands
who are seeking liberty IL thought and
action, tc become a part of our system
of government.
I'VE give them the ballot and an
equal voice in the administration of
our political affairs We invoke the
Monroe Doctrine and have for sew
enty years, If any foreign power at
tempts to coerce a weaker country
invoked in vain. These people of the
Hawaiian islands havf not been con-
suited at all. Their country is being
taken away from them against their
will and they are being forced to be-
come part of a POLITICAL system and
civilization which they knew nothing
of, and do not want, and will not have
and by whom? If any other nation
should attempt to perpetrate this OUT
rage we would put stop to 1t at
once. These islanders are a gentle.
kind, indolent people, and have re-
mained passive because they believe
the United States will be fair and Just
to them and will not destroy their ma
tional life and force them into this
most distasteful union without their
consent. How are we to govern them
under these conditions, If we disre-
gard their dearest wishes and annex
them regardless Of their protests? We
should, of course, treat them as equal
to other citizens and give them the
ballot. If we do this they will take
possession of the island state and vote
themselves out of the Union at the
first election. If we undertake to de-
prive them of a voice in the manage
Of foi1 of
alton, as we are doing before, revolu-
ton viii follow revolution.
I'm any event, if they are ruthlessly
annexed against their will and pro-
test, and without even being consult
ed, 1t will require a standing army
and fleet of ships to hold them in
subsection and to maintain any sys-
tenn of government we may impose
upon them. If the people there are
willing to give up their country to Us,
we could fairly discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of taking 1t; but
when, as in this case, we must utter
ly disregard the sentiments of an en-
tire people, there is no room left for
argument as to whether it would be Of
advantage to US, commercially, strateg
ically or otherwise. There can be NO
gain in this case sufficient to warrant
us in abandoning the high ground we
have always maintained and should
always maintain as nation. 1t is my
calm, deliberate judgment that there
is not a just-minded, unbiased, disin-
terested American living, who would
favor annexing the Hawaiian islands
to the United States after ascertaining
the conditions existing there through a
fair and personal Investigation.
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Baxter Sues for Fees.