Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-28
fact, emphasized by the Republican
party in their national platform ut St

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party in their national platform at St
Louis in 1896, in the following words:
1.-The Hawaiian Islands should be
controlled by the United States, and no
foreign power should be permitted to
interfere with them"
This was the true Democratic doc
trine before the Republican party ex-
listed. 1t Is distinctly an American and
not a party policy. 1t Is policy that
has been championed by Pierce, by
Marcy, by Johnson, by Grant, by Ar
thur, by Seward, by Fish and by Blaine.
To-day this policy is advocated by goli
Democrats like j. X. Proctor and Thos.
II. Bayard; by silver Democrats like
Senator Morgan of Alabama and Sena-
tor Rawlins of Utah; by gold Republi-
cans like Senators Frye, Lodge, Davis
and Thurston; by silver Republicans
like Senator Teller; by Populists like
Senator Stewart Of Nevada and Senator
Allen of Nebraska; by Senator Kyle,
the Independent. 1t is advocated by
such radically antagonistic newspapers
as the Herald, Tribune. Sun and Jour
nal of New York. 1t is advocated by
such men as ex-Secretary Foster Gen.
Schofeld, Admrals Belknap and Walk
er, and by Capt. Mahan. 1t is a com
mon ground upon which all can come
together because Hawaiian annexation
is a policy as broadly national as the
Monroe doctrine.
The reasons for the adoption Of this
policy are self-evident. Hawaii is the
only spot In the Pacific Ocean, north
of the equator, that Is near enough to
the Pacific coast to be used as base
of naval operations against us. A for
eign power, in possession Of Hawaii.
would be within four days steaning
distance of San Francisco. Shut out
from Hawaii foreign nations would be
forced back the entire width of the
Pacific, distance prohibitive OF effect
i've naval operation because battle
ships cannot carry coal enough to
steam that distance.
A foreign power in possession of
Hawaii would compel the elaborate for
tification of every port on the Pacific
coast in order to afford protection to
our people and property out there. With
all foreign powers excluded from
Hawaii, our people and property on the
Pacific coast would be comparatively
free from foreign danger. If we do
not annex Hawaii some other country
will. and 1t is more economical for us to
fortify one point in Hawaii than TWEEN
ty points in California, Washington
and Oregon.
We need Hawaii far more than Ha-
wall needs us. We need 1t as England
needs Gibraltar, not so much for its
territory nor its commerce, but for its
location. We need 1t, not for aggres-
sion, but for the protection of the in
terests that we have there and for the
protection of our people and property
upon the Pacific coast.
Another, ard subordinate, reason in
favor of annexation Is because Hawaii
lies in the direct track OF all trans-Pa-
cific trade. With one exception, all of
the seven different steamship lines that
cross the Pacific stop at Honolulu. All
the China and Japan trade, to and from
the Nicaragua canal, will subsequently
do the same. Hawaii has been rightly
termed the commercial crossroads as
well as the strategic key" of the Pa
cific.
Hawaii, although but partially devel-
oped, is a rich and prosperous country.
1t already consumes more of our United
States products than any other country
bordering upon the Pacific. Under an
nexation we shall not only protect this
trade, but we will multiply 1t tenfold
through the resulting development of
Hawaii. Hawaii can easily support
million of people.
Hawaii produces sugar, coffee and
bananas, all'of which we buy largely
from foreign countries. BY annexation
we will produce these articles for our
selves. The acquisition OF the Hawaii
an sugar lands will the sooner relieve
us Of our dependence upon Germany
and other European countries as the
base of our supplies Of sugar. We can
absorb the Hawaiian cane sugar as
well as all the beet and cane sugar that
we are likely to grow for very many
years to come. American citizens have
cmigrated to Hawaii In such numbers,
and have acted there with such energy.
that they already own thrce-fourths of
the property there and transact three