The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-21
The @lessen9er.


! AS the Hawaiian question Is at pres
Hhe question before the American con-
Eress, and the real question concern
ing the American people, We make no
apology for referring to it again at
6ome length. We see it mentioned that
The Hon.. Carl Schultz, the most dis
ainguished man Of the German race in
America, has happily said, that If
Hawaii were annexed to the United
Etates, it would Simply be the annex
alton Of a vulnerable point" n re-
ference was clearly to a lack OF the
navy. You will see that If the annex
have it their own way, that
the clamor will begin at once for a
great increase Of our already very cost
" navy. Why not let the Hawaiians
continue to govern themselves il they
are really doing it SO grandly and wise
Hy and successfully as is claimed by
Che enthusiastic cranks who are push
ing the annexation. We are glad to see
1t mentioned again, that now nearly all
the democratic senators are pposed to
The treaty concerning the ~nexation
The are opposed also to any method
of stealing the Islands by the process
described as annexation. We are glad
also to see that such able senator's
among the republicans as Hoar OF
massachusetts, White Of California,
9pooner Of Wisconsin, Aldrich OF Rhode
Island, men distinguished for their
leadership and their legal attachments
in their party, are against this whole
business. 1t is also thought that every
,day adds to the strength of the OPP
posers, and that the defeat Is already
almost assured.
We see it mentioned that Senator Ba-
con of Georgia, is confident that the
ratification will not occur. M
ter Thurston, who was sent to Hawan
Is strongly in favor Of the
project. He is in a fever of anxiety,
lest our Pacific states should receive a
great blow somehow by being unpro-
tected, SO the best way to prevent this
is to take in these islands and add them
to our country with their three thou
sand population of whites. The state
ment of this, is a sufficient reply. In
his anxiety however, he magnihes the
intellectual standard and the educa-
fional standard of the hotch potch col
lections of people in the islands as in
comparison with that of millions OF
Americans and even goes so far as to
saw that Hawaii is less ilHterate than
Massachusetts, all Of which reads to us
as so much nonsense.
~-o~+;o- hnrn Joct wa forgot
#. that all the thirty-four democratic
senators are said to oppose annexation,
save crank Morgan, Pettus, Rawlins
and Turpie. If this is correct, it is
highly honorable as we'll as hopeful.
The men who are coaching the treaty,
declare that the democratic party is
essentially a party of annexation and
therefore ought to go on annex1ng, OF
course taking in San Domingo, Cuba
and the Hawaiian group OF ISLANDS.
They point to the Louisiana purchase,
to the annexation of Florida and Texas,
to the acquisition from the Mexican
war. but the men need not know much
or go far, to discover that the principle
of annexation in the cases cited, and
that the principle of annexation as to
Cuba, Hawaii and San Domingo do
not stand on the same footing but are
altogether different. To control the
Mississippi river was a necessity, 1t was
adding to territory that was a part OF
the continent. With an expanding re-
public, the territory added was then,
or would have become, a positive ne
cessity. The additions consequent upon
the war with Mexico, did not interfere
with nationality in any sense, and it
didn't bring in a class Of voters into
the union that in any way would be-
come dangerous. 1t Dis very different,
as we have tried to show in several ed
fact, we repeat, that it is only the gov
eminent of Hawaii that seeks annexa-
zion. while the people at large, ppos
1t. The Savannah News very correctly
says, that the government of the is
Hands "is the product of a revolution
which was aided by the United States
navy and that it would not last a day il
our government should thdra from
fits support" We do not believe it is
either honorable or wise or just for a
great republic like our own, to in any
way interfere with the national life OF
any people, and we him it the worst
OF precedents that could possibly be set
This movement being so vigorously
dressed, is favored by the president, a
republican, and by most Of his party
In the senate and doubtless i'm the
o- -
scheme of foreign conquest. It is an
attempt to enable a foreign people to
steal foreign territory, and yet simple
Mr.. Mckinley has no more judgment
and true principle and discernment,