The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-19
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
Senator Morgan Tells Why He FavOrs
Adding Haxvnii to- Our Territory.

Senator Morgan Tells Why He Favors
Adding Hawaii to- Our Territory.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Ex-senator Nor
gan, of Alabama. member of the committee
on foreign relations, has reached here on
his return from Honolulu, where he went
to post himseif on the annexation question.
For the first time he submitted himself to
an interview on the results of his trip and
said:
my conclusions based on my observa-
tions, are only full confirmation of what
I had previously believed-that 1t is our
national duty and will be in every way ad-
vantageouS to all concerned to annex
Hawaii to this country. have studied the
questions from the most authentic and re-
liable sources. The establishment of an out
post of the United States within the
tropics, and 1920 miles from our coast,
challenges the inquiry whether such
action is necessary to our national welfare
Our northwestern possessions on the Pacific
along the Aleutian archipelago are over one
thousand miles west of Honolulu. This gives
us control of practically the entire Ameri-
can coast of the North Pacific.
1.-THE Intervention of the British posses
sic Ms from the Straits of Fuca to the north
ern boundary of Alaska creates a powerful
reason for our occupation of Hawaii. With
out imputing to Great Britain any other
motive than to extend her national policy
Of commercial conquest it seems very OBJ
vious that if she should acquire dominion
of Hawaii and open and fortify Pearl har-
Dor her military fortress at Esquimalt, on
the Island of Vancouver. cooperating,
would cut our coast line in two and
would leave us incumbered with a mass
of territory in Alaska whose defense would
be almost impossible ard the enormous ad-
vantage of which would be lost to us. The
Vancouver coal fields would give the British
navy almost irresistible advantage in war
and virtual dominion of commerce in time
beginning with Key West, we have an
nexed the entire gulf coast to the Rio
Grande by purchase of territory, and ex-
tending up the Rio Grande across the con-
tinent to the Pacific we have annexed all
the territory lying to the north of that line
and have annexed the entire Pacific coast
except the frontage of six hundred
miles conceded to Great Britain This
rapid and vast expansion has contributed
much to civilization and in none of the
transactions have we cause for regret I
have no fears of such expansion especially
as TO possessions in the Pacific in those
Islands that constitute a part of the geo
graphical and commercial system of the
North American continent. There would not
be the slightest difficulty in the character
condition or wishes of the 81, 900 native peo-
pie OF Hawaii. They are far better adapted
TO American citizenship than many millions
or those welcomed here from southern Eu>
rope ana better adapted than the Indians
Mexicans and native Alaskans Except
among the few who expect personal favors
and advancement from re-establishment of
the royal government the general BODY of
the Hawaiian population will rejoice in the
honor, safety. peace and prosperity which
annexation will bring.
Morally and practically the silent in
vasion of Hawaii from the Orient (the Jan
anese) violates all the declared policy and
often expressed purpose of the United
States to protect those people against for
eign interference. The islands as a national
possession would richly remard us for the
expenditure of a hundred millions The an
nexation would cost us nothing and will
not at present excite the open opposition of
any nation" =