Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-21
The Oppo.i,,on to Annexation.

1t Is understood that the annexation
treaty will not be pressed at this session
of the Senate but will go over to the reg
ular session in December. Between now
and then therefore. the opposition may be
expected to prepare dts case with care and
utilize all the material upon which 1t Is able
to lay its hands. What the coming six
months may develop cannot at this time be
forecast but as the case stands today the
opposition to annexation may thus be an
alyzed and described:
% Men who still worship at the Cleve-
land shrine. and believe that their hero is
incapable of error. He pronounced against
annexation. and therefore the thing is
wrong. 1t would be a mistake. and in n
certain sense also a crime. 10 go counter to
his judgment in a matter of such moment.
There may be appeal to Caesar. but
none from Caesar. Caesar has tried the
case. and has spoken. Let all men obey.
(2) Men who can see nothing In the pro-
ject but a land-grabbing enterprise. and
fear that if the country INDUCES in this it
will be tempted to become q sort OF gen.
eraI pirate. initiating England. and swoop-
ing down on exposed territory everywhere
These absurd and timid souls are full OF
apprehension 1t alarms them to see their
countrymen preparing to go forward in re-
Spouse to any call. The only call they can
hear Is that which pipes to them to remain
close to the main shore. They imagine
that they are in a very small boat. not ca
pable of living in rougher water than that
of horse pond. and they are opposed to
any enlargement of the craft.
G) Men who have invested a few million
dollars in beet sugar plants. When they
did this the annexation OF the Hawaiian
islands was not ON the cards-at least, not
on their cards. Therefore. the government
must not take q step which. as they in
sist. would interfere with profits they have
been promising themselves. In whatever
the government does. the sugar beet must
first be considered and protected. Their
real desire is that future policy be so
shaped that this become a government Of
the sugar beet. by the sugar beet, for the
sugar beet.
"a The Sugar Trust. Havemeyer. Searles
& Co. are against the project. And nat
urally. They are opposed to everything
designed to contribute to the general well
fare The earth to them Is In the shape CT
q sugar barrel. and they want it to be
made to revolve on axis in keeping with the
necessities of that shape. Their reading of
Scripture Is that the country which does
not provide for the Sugar Trust is worse
than heathen- Their motto is, No for
eign or domestic policy which does not
square with the interests of the Sugar
Trust.
G) Japan Japan's case is easily summed
up She wants the islands herself.
Here. then. We have the forces which
will unity between now and December in
an effort to overthrow the annexation
treaty: The Cleveland worshippers: men
who are fearful that the country is about
to turn pirate: men who survey things,
from China to Persia, from the view
point of sugar beet patch: the ever-pres-
ent and always objectionable Sugar Trust;
and Japan. who was cherishing the amiahle
desire of taking the islands In herself
Whatever advantage. therefore. may be
reckoned on from a combination of silli-
ness and seifishness ought to accrue to the
treaty and insure its easy ratification.