The San Francisco call., 1897-11-20


In this great international question Ameri-
can labor is, as l look at II, concerned 10 an
extent greater than any other element of our
citizens. You are here this evening repre-
sentIng a powerful aggregation of men-peO-
pie of thought, OF courage and OF determlna-
ron. You nave, l take 1t, studied this ques-
ton OF annexation and pave arrived at
conclusion which you consider TO be the cor
rect one Ii we followed the bent OF our in
clinations, without regard 10 the cOnse-
QuenceS, we would not !fer with our friends
on any important question. We recognize and
respect their views but, as independent m en-
who have opinions and our reasons Ior form
ing them, we are ottumes compelled to differ
with them.
In the brief time that is remaining to me of
my Senatorial career cannot fail in the per-
formance OF my duty as see It Rather than
do this might better fall. II would be far
better 10 fall than TO rise for the time by dong
that which my conscience tells me Is not
right and is not for the good OF my country.
Before forming judgment on the annexa-
ton policy studied the question from the
standpoint of my eOuntry's good and in every
phase and bearing.
In 1898 the California Legislature by a
unanimous vote indorsed the policy of acquir-
ing OF the islands. In 1898 the California
State Senate, by practically two-thlrds vote,
declined to again lndorSe annexation.
merely cite these facts TO show you the chang
ing views of individuals and OF legislative
bodies in regard TO this matter.
1t would have made no difference to me
what the action of the California legislature
and views would have Deen just the same. l
was elected by the people OF California TO
represent them in the Senate OF the UHlted
States the highest ana most honorable otlce
that ca be given n citizen, and 10 the people
OF this State l propose to do my duty as con-
ceive duty In discharge OF Ii l cannot De
swerved from my purpose by any power
When the question comes up, as i soon will,
in the Senate of the United States, Will stano
squarely out against annexation, ana by that
Judgment 1 am perfectly willing TO stand or
fall. [Great applause
You are here to- Eignt as laboring men. and
l wish TO assure you that there is no man
among you who has labored more constantly
or more arduous.y in his lifetime than / have
since arrived a. the age OF manhood. BY
education and experience of long years my
soul and heart are with the workingman.
What are The reasons that are given US by
those friends of ours who are SO earnest in
their advocacy OF the acquisition OF this ter
ritory?
First, they tell US that we need the islands
for purposes OF defense. Wei, our territory
now extends from British Columbia on the
north 10 Lower California on the south. Tell
me, il you will, how these Islands, 20oO
miles distant from our shores, are gong 10 be
any measure OF protection TO our coast IlneT
am not general neither mGjur nor briga-
der, nor am l an admiral of the deep blue sea,
but there are a few things that are apparent
to me. One OF them is that ioTtItCations ou an
island 1000 miles away are going 10 be OF no
assis ance 10 us in protecting line OF coast
which extends from the northern boundary ni
Washington state 10 ia Juaua on me sOutn.
Laugh Ter an d applause,
Then they tell us that we do not need Hawaii
to protect ourselves but we do need 1t in or
der TO protect it. Well in order TO do this we
must have navy tuAt Will be able to compete
with the most form da bic power in the world.
We cannot protect Hawaii with the iortlhc8-
tions in San Francisco bay. Nor can we de-
fend her from the forIs al 5 in Diego. We can
not be able to help the islands any when we
convince Mr.. A ger that we are entitled to
Notifications at San Pedro. So in order to
help out the islands we would lie compelled to
have navy about four times as large as the
very respectable one We now maintain.
As coal station, they tell US. Honolulu
would being an exceeding desirable acq ulsi-
tiOn to this country. Now, let us see. They
have no coal at Honolulu and whatever coal
we could get there would have to be taken
there first before it could be secured; so in
the event OF war the vessel or ship with the
coal would be compelled to run the blockade
in order to get into The harbor with the coal,
and then the ship that was going 10 receive / |
would be compelled to take the chances and
run the same blockade in and outin order 10
be able 10 reach ii.
Oh yes Honolulu would be q coaling sta
ton of exyracrdinary value. 1t would cost US
$4 000, 600 pure and simple to get 1t, not to
speak OF the cost OF Keeping 1t after we got II.
We would be compelled to pay the debt the
islands are now burdpned with and it
amounts 10 over 81 100000. This money
would have 10 be paid by the taxpayers OF
the United States.
They tell US that it would be great depot
for our commerce and that it is right on the
track of the Asiatic trade. In this instance
our friends on the other side have deviated
from exactitude. The great circle on the high
seas from San Francisco 10 Yokohama and
Hongkong is about 1900 miles long. In order
10 make this c1rc e III ude Honolulu II IS
necessary 10 stretch it 1000 miles; hence our
friends are wrong. for the Asiatic commerce
line is naturally way from Honolulu.
They tell US mat Hawaii is a beautiful coun-
try, aud l guess that it is. One OF my Sen
atorlal colleagues who recently returned from
the islands was telling about the wonderful
things that grew there And told him yes, |
guessed that IL was SO, but that if he had gone
further south to Samoa, he could have seen a
fruit tree growing in all Its splendor On the
trunk OF the tree was human being and on
tne end OF one OF the limbs was monkey,
and they were both engaged in eating the
same truit, in the same way, from the same
tree. This, told the Senator, was a lair
average OF citizenship of many OF the Islands
OF the tropics.
1 tell you my friends, that no true republic
ever existed in the tropics The reason why
this is fact will not explain TO you here to-
night, but it is nevertheless true, and in my
jud gment while you and l live no republi C
will ever live in the regions adjacent to the
equator.
Tney tell US that when the annexation is
effected millions of dollars will come into the
country. Well, why have they not come in
beforeY Why is annexation essential to the
bringing in of this wealth? 1t is true that the
islands rich, but the wealth that is Gre
ated and developed there passes 10 a few
Suppose we have, say, fifty men in San Fran
cisco who acquire great wealth in Hawaii. We
want that money brought here, OF course, and
we viii certainly Try TO get some of ii, but an
nexaIion will not bring 1t to an extent greater
ian ii is being brought to-day.
Congress noW-foOlishly in my Judgment
pc rmiIs Hawaii to send Its sngar to the United
states free of duty. | think that 1t is bad
business, but for arguments sake we will say
that it is ali right To bring in their prod CT
free OF duty, butwe will ask them for heavens
sake to keep their Chinese friends at home
Laughter and applause
No, we don't want their Chinese associates
on the sugar antations as citizens of the
United States. The folly of the statement
that If we do not annex the islands we will
lose their trade is too apparent 10 need any
contradiction. 1t stands to reason that the
inhabitants of the islands are going to trade
in San Francisco as long as 1t is to their ter
est financially to do so. They are not going
elsewhere until it is to their interest from a