The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-09
THE PEOPLE MAY STOP 1T.

One of the first contests at Washing
ron is going to be that between the
people Of this country and the junta
that is attempting to force upon US
the annexation of Hawaii, There is nc
longer any question Of division of op1n-
lon along the lines that we have 1ndl-
rated. The people of this country are
sClidly and desperately opposed to the
ratification of the annexation treaty,
This feeling is not confined to Demo-
Gratis. Go anywhere you please among
intelligent and thoughtful citizens,
and ask Republican not actively in
terested in politics what he thinks o.
the project to take in these Islands
1000 miles away, with their mongreI
population which not even miracle
could work over to fit the American
idea, and in three cases out of four
he will express his bitter hostility to
the project and his belief that it will
not be carried out without serious dan
ger to American institutions. If pop
ular vote should be taken on the ques-
ton today, the annexation proposition
would be rejected by as large a pro-
portion of the people of the United
States as it would be by those of Ha-
wall. We shall not believe. until the
iniquity has been actually conSummat-
ed, that two peoples thus hostile to
conjunction can be tied together to
crafty the schemes of the plotters OF
political disgrace.
A patriotic American cannot take
any other position consistently. Well
was it for Mr.. Mckinley that he
made no mention of the Monroe doc
trine in the message containing ap-
provaI of the Hawaiian steal. The Mon
roe doctrine has received within recent
years the most tremendous indorse-
ment given to it since it was first
enunciated. 1t is the pride and hope
of the American people. 1t has two
branches which are of equal dignity
because each implies allegiance to the
other. 1t says that foreign power
shall not be permitted to obtain foot
hold on the American continent; and
to maintain it's right to that position,
and as pledge of it's sincerity, it holds
that the American people should avoid
entangling alliances and refrain from
plans of conquest and annexation. The,
moment that we take the Sandwich
islands we relinquish all moral right to
interference, as we have done in be-
half of Venezuela, or as we are ready
to do in certain contingencies in de-
tense of Cuba.
The clear understanding of the COM
mon people of the United States has
seized this fact. With all the intensity
and earnestness with which they up
hold the Monroe doctrine, they despisc
and reject the annexation scheme 1t
has never been before the people, d.
rectly or indirectly, for their judgment.
The promoters of it dare not have il
So The nearest that it ever came
to forming an issue in a national cleo
ton was in 1892. At that time Presi-
dent Harrison and Mr.. Blaine had exc
cuted their daring coup by which they
elected the government of the Sand
witch islands from power and set up a
mock authority with Dole at it's head
Had they been retained in power Ha-
wall would have been annexed forth
with. While other issues were domi-
nant in the campaign of 1892, the I'M
Righteousness of this act and it's I'M
popularity undoubtedly contributed to
the unparalleled Republican reverse OF
that year. The plot must succeed OF
fail at the present session. 1t has the
sanction of the president and of a few
leading Republicans in addition to the
lingo. The jingOes we know all about
They are about the meanest scum that
rises to the surface of politics. Their
auXiliaries in this campaign are mel
whose judgment, we feel convinced
does not approve of annexation, but
who regard it as a political necessity
The party in power is tied up by
vast interests, including the trusts
which have prepared their field in Ha-
wall. and which demand the annexa-
ton of the islands to increase theil
prospects of plumber. More than that
1t looks to the necessity of excursions