The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-12-14
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION
AEENLSTER URSTON'S PLEA BE- FORE CONGEEGATLONA CLUB,


 Place church last evening. Supper was served by the ladies of the church. President Parsons presided at the after meeting. The following new members were elected: Rev. William G. Lathrop of North Haven, Charles w. Whittlesey of this city and Rev. N. M. Calhoun Of Winsted.
 Lorrin A. Thurston, former Hawaiian minister to the United States, now the special commissioner on annexation to, this country, made the address of the evening. The commissioner Is rather tall, dark complexioned, black hair and beard. He is a rapid speaker, exhibit ing a great amount of nervous energy. He said in part:
 One of the living issues of the day is, whether or not the United States should annex Hawaii. There are several reasons, based moEe or less upon sentiment which have been advanced ill support or annex ation, such as that Hawaiian civilization, government and advancement; are the d. rect product of America and Americans; that in Hawaii is resident the one Ameri- can colony of the world which, against heavy odds, is struggling to maintain that country as an outpost Of American power and civilization and are appealing to their fellow eountrymen Tor helP Ill oi so dolhhs; h been there established by Americans, is in danger of being plotted out by the steady Influx of Asiatlcs, unless some power strong CT than the local government interfereS to prevent it.
 So far as these suggested reasons appeal to your sentimental regard, have notnlng to say. recognize that this is practical world,--that the United States IS a practl- cal country, and the Americans the most practical of ali people.
 We of Hawaii, who believe In anneXa- tion, urge that policy upon you of America, not on sentimental grounds but because we believe there are practical business reasons. by reason of which America needs uaWal more than Hawaii needs America.
 Each generation must judge for itSelf what Is best for it; but in judging of both the present and the future It IS wise 10 take In President McKinley's message to the senate, recommending the ratification of the Hawaiian annexation treaty now pend ing before the senate he says: Annexation is not q change-it is q cOnsummation."
 There is little technical military knowl- edge necessary to tine understanding of the problem. It is one which is demonstrated by the map and the consideration of a few From Hong Kong on; the west to the isth mus of Panama on the east the distance is $500 miles; as far as from San Francisco, across the continent the Atlantic ocean, the Mediterranean and Turkey to the boundary of Persia
 From Alaska on the north to 500 miles south of the equator, the hfst supply sta tions north and south of Hawaii Is as far
  the Amazon river
 1t has been suggested that coal can be carried across in merchant steamers and transhipped at sea. Naval authorities de clare that this Is theoretically possible to "a limited extent, but is impracticabe on any large scale. of Hawaii, will have coal supply and re pair base within five days steaming dis fance of any Pacific port of the United States with power to annfhilate the sea bound commerce of the Pacific coast.
 It is objected that the United States is to assume the public debt of Hawaii.
 The reply is, that while the Hawaiian debt is four four millions of dollars, it transfers to the United States public buildings, lands and cash on hand to the amount of nine million dollars.
 It is objected that the people of Hawaii are not up to the American standard.
 I reply that millions of Americans are not up to the Hawaiian standard. That no radical difficulty has been experienced from the past American anneXatons Of several millions of Indians, Mexicans, Spanlards and EsQuimaux, and none would be met from a population numbering less than an average ward in New York city, even though they were All savages-
 That there Is less ilIiteracy, in Hawaii than in the State of Massachusetts; that English is taught in all of the public schools, and is the language of the country. That the laws, customs and business rela- tions are all American, as much like those of New York as those of New York are like those of Massachusetts; that no territory has ever been annexed which was so thor oughiy Americanized as is Hawaii to-day. Moreover, how are the people of Hawaii going to injure this country: They will not come here; they will remain where they are
 The treaty of annexation does not provide for statehood; it provides that Hawaii shall be q territory under such form 0t govern ment as congress shall provide. The inhab sitants of Hawaii will have no word in na- tional affairs. How then can they injure Amerca?
 The charge that the republic has disfran. chised the natives is untrue. Every man who could vote under the monarchy can vote under the republic, with the sole differ ence that whereas he formrly took oatn to support the monarchy he now takes oath to support the republic.
 The natives are rapidly dying out, and number now less than one-third of the pop ulation. It is no longer question of whether the native or some foreign nation shall govern Hawaii, but what foreign na tion will 1t be?
 There has been and is no discrimination against native HaWaiians.
 The rapid Asiaticzng of Hawaii will force the natives down to the level of the Asiatic coolie if Hawaii continues independ ent, and nothing but annexation to the Un.ted States will prevent it. Every reli gious, philanthropic and educational organ ization in Hawaii especially devoted to ma tive interests is working, hoping and pray ing for annexation as the one last hope of the native Hawaiians.
 It is objected that annexation will re uuire Qualifications and a navy. That al American navy and other military defense> in the Pacific are necessary, is true; but they are necessary whether Hawaii is an nexed or not. If a navy is necessary il connection with Hawaii, it is because o1 the policy of exclusion of all other cOun tries and not because of annexation. An neXation is only incidental to the policy o1 exclusion, the method which statesmen 1T the past and statesmen now, believe is the best means of making the policy of excu sion effective.
 A navy will be needed to defend Hawaii If it is annexed; but q far greater navy will be needed to defend the Pacific coast and American commerce on the Pacific il Hawaii is allowed to pass under the con trol of any other foreign power
 By simply keeping other nations out of Hawaii, the Pacific coast and it's commerce is far more economically and better pro tected than by fortifying all the ports o1 the Pacific coast. It is cheaper to f0rtify one point than a dozen.
 Financially. annexation will raise nc problems. Hawaii Is q rich fertile country more than self-sustaining.
 Internationally no problems will be ere ated. On the contrary, the problem which has made demands upon the time of Amer can statesmen for two generationS,-the problem of how to keep other nations out oi Hawaii,-will be balanced and wiped off the books
 To those who believe in the solidarity ot the continent, and claim that the United