The record-union., 1897-11-27
Soon After the Assembling Of the Next
Session Of Congress.
Senators and Representative, Both
Advocates and Opponents Who
Have Thus Far Arrived at
Washington, Practically IMAM
imous on the Question.

Hawaii will be annexed to the United
States during the coming session or
Congress. This is one of the certaintieS
of the session. The Senators and Repre-
sentatives, both advocates and oppo-
nents, who have thus far arrived in
Washington, are practically unanl-
nous on this question.
President McKinley's message will
strongly urge upon the Senators the
early ratification of the annexation
treaty, and it will be one of the first
topics brought up in the executive ses-
Sions.
Senator Caffery of Louisiana, who
will oppose the annexation in any form,
said:
II am radically opposed TO the an
nexation of any more territory to the
the best policy we can pursue to ex-
regions of the earth far remote from
our natural boundaries.
"The acquisition of all the territory
now included in the United States, ex-
cepting Alaska. was the natural result
of a reasonable and powerful impulse
to extend our domain from ocean to
ocean between the British possessions
on the north and the Latin people to
the south. Now that this has long been
accomplished, and the entire included
region amalgamated with it's popula-
ton in intelligent sympathy with the
Constitution and the institutions which
exist under it, the question of terri
torial annexation should rest.
II can see no reason or advantage in
reaching out 1000 miles into the Pa
cific to take in little group of alien
Islands, which are not geographically
allied to this continent, and the ac-
QUESTION of which can do little for rs
beyond constituting an outlying naval
station, which we are already able to
establish there without annexation.
That their territorial extent is small
does not prevent their annexation from
constituting a dangerous precedent for
the addition of alien peoples.
Cuba is so much nearer to us than
Hawaii that she is almost a part of us
geographically, but her people are as
alien to us as if they lived at the anti
podes. The annexation Of Hawaii
would naturally serve as an argument
for the acquisition OF that island also
The annexation Of Danish America and
more of Spanish America would then
follow, as l understand it. / acknowl-
edge the existence of a powerful ele-
ment in the Senate in favor of annex
ing Hawaii, but can see no reason in
following its leadership
Senator Cockrell of Missouri is also
opposed to the treaty, though he be-
lieves that Hawaii will be annexed by
legislation probably during the next
session. He said:
81 doubt very much if the necessary
two-thirds of the Senators will be found
in ratification of the annexation treaty,
when the time comes to vote. / ex-
pect, rather. to see the islands become
a part of the United States by an Act
OF Congress in the same manner in
which we acquired Texas. An annex
alton treaty could not be passed at that
time. but legislation to annex the re-
public was easily passed
THE conditions appear to me To he
similar in the case of Hawaii. 1 don't
know just in what political status Ha-
waii may become a part of the Union.
but she VIII probably not be endowed
with Statehood Immediately Provis-
ional Government Of some kind will
probably be established at first"
Senator Fairbanks Of Indiana said:
THE ratification of the treaty will be
accomplished during the coming ses-
sion without serious opposition. The
whole subject is thoroughly understood
in all its phases, has been thoroughly
discussed for years, and there is a
practical unanimity OF feeling. both
here and in Hawaii, in favor of annexa-
ton. I anticipate the speedy ratifica-
ton of the treaty"
Senator Burrows of Michigan ex-
pressed belief that a majority of tho
senators are ready to ratify the treaty.
ana that annexation will be an accom-
plfshed fact in short time.