The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-05

WASHINGTON, Dec Al have care
fully considered the proposition made for
the annexation of Hawaii, and am bitterly
opposed to the scheme. 1 can readily see
how if would be advantageous 10 the
islands, but am at a loss TO see how any
good can accrue to the United States from
annexation. ] am opposed TO tine policy
Of the United States anne king an island
about 1000 miles from her shores. In the
time of war its possession would be a
source of weakness instead of strength.
It would require an immense navy to pre-
serve it if we were engaged in hostilities
with any hrst-class power. Much of our
navy being at these islands to afford pro-
lection to them, would 10 that extent
lessen the real defense to the Pacific Coast.
1t is ridiculous to suppose that ships 200
miles from the coast could afford any de-
tense or protection to the coast. Tnus, to
my mind, possession of these islands in
time of war, with the obligation upon US
TO protect and defend them, would be a
source of weakness in defending the Pa
cifc Coast, instead of strength.
1 am opposed to the inception of
policy of acquiring islands which will ne.
Cessitate greatly increased navy to prop
erly defend them. The moment that
these islands become part of our terri
tory will witness appropriations for a
greatly increased navy, because it had as
we'll be understood that annexation will
necessarily create the necessity for an in
creased navy. An increased navy means
a great increase of taxation. The Fed eraI
Government, already having an annual
expenditure of over half billion of dol
lars, cannot afford to further add to this
without imposing burdens upon the peo-
pie which will paralyze trade ana in
dustrv.
The expenditure that the Government
must incur to be prepared to defend these
islands and to give them a good system of
government would far exceed anything
that this Government would ever receive
from them in the shape of taxes or of
wealth to our people.
The people of the islands are already
over ourdened with taxation and debt to
support their present Governm ent Their
public debt, amounting TO large sum for
so small a country, must be assumed by
this Government. The proposition SIM
ply means taxing and imposing burdens
upon The people of this country for the
benefit of these islands, without any cor
responding benefit to US whatever. We
have already, in RENTING duties upon
sugar, given to the people of these islands
enough to purchase every acre of land in
them.
l am opposed to a policy which will
greatly tax the people OF this country
simply to possess a beautiful but useless
Toy like Hawaii Besides the annexation
will be but the beginning of the acquisi-
ton of other territory of this kind. 1t
will not be long before people with
schemes TO serve will be advocating that
this country acquire other islands in the
south seas or IN the Orient. 1t will be
claimed that the acquisition of these
will be necessary for the safe pro election of
Hawaii. Thus the scheme when once
commenced will go on until this country
becomes Loaded down with Islands and
territory OF this kind. This policy is for
eign TO the genius of our people and must
result Ill much delriment and loss.
These islands once possessed nv us
make US at once interested in and affec ed
by the political affairs of China, Japan
and other countries of the Orient. Here
tofore we have not been in the least af-
fected by the political revolutions of the
older coun tries. The moment we acquire
hese islands we will begin to watch with
apprehension the growth of any great
II avail power in the Orient. We will by
degrees become parties TO the political al
fairs of those countries. This can result
no benefit to us and can only bring
calamity.
Wisdom demands that we shouId
strictly adhere to the traditions of our
ia theirs and confine our territory to our
natural and contiguous boundaries.
view with deep apprehension the least de-
parture from this policy.
The possession of thee islands. creating
for US jealousies in japan, China and
other countries of the Orient, will m AXE
us lose far more in trade than can be &C.
quired. Also most of the labor of these
stands being servile japanese and Chine {
must before long EN- broil us in misunder-
landings with these two countries in ref