The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-01
Shall Hawaii BE Annexed ?

her Forum. The first, presented by eX-
Chief Justice Daniel Agnew, concerns
itself largely with the contention that
the annexation of Hawaii would be in
violation of the Constitution. says Mr.
Agnew: There is no express power in
the Constitution to acquire and incor-
porate a foreign territory and people
into the Union Precedents are cited
to Justify the annexation of Hawaii
Precedent does not amend the Consti-
tuition. Amendment requires a vot" of
tWo-thirds of coner5s ~. and Of three
foul this of the states. Consent Of the
senate alcne is not enough. Precedent
has NO force except by usage and con-
sent, and must be precisely in point
There j. no precedent to justify the adj
mission by treaty of Hawaii The pur-
Chases of Louisiana, Florida, and
Alaska are cited: but these are not in
point. y purchas' Unauthorized by the
Constitution can be justified only by
an uverruling necessity for the national
safety. To warrant the exercise Of a
power not found in the Constitution,
the necessity must be clear and i'm
porative. Without this it is viola
tiun of the oath Of Office"
In the opinion Of most far-sGhted
American statesmen. past and present
however. IAN uverruling necessity for
the national safety" does call in this
particular. case fer the exercise of tN
power By our government if no, eX-
pressly authoria Il in tn" Constitution
thea ccrtainl,' nowhere prohibited i'm
that instrument such necessity would
not exist with equal pressure if ii could
be affirmed with precision that the
status quo ir Hawaii could be main
tanned. Unfortunately Hawaii has
driftcd to the parting Of the ways. She
can no longer remain half American
and half Asian; one or the other in
tluercc must dominate Unless the
United States is prepared to cast her
sovereign interests in Hawaii adrift
tn" =. linQuShcd prey uf Oriental rivals
of the future, it must assume at last
the responsibility OF definite action
Paramount necessity is ample warrant
for the action contemplated by the
present administration.
The Other objection is presented by
Professor Bryce. who announces by
way of Introduction that his comment
is prompted by disiutcrcstcd friend
ship. The gist Of his argument is en-
bodied in this excerpt: "Th" fact is
that American institutions are quite
unsuited to tho government of depend
"ncios. Those institutions are per
vadCd all through by the principles of
equality and the habits of self-GDVrrn-
mcnt. They do not adapt themselves
I" countries whore the population con-
sists Of elements utterly unequal and
diSsimilar, as is the case in Hawaii
In other words, the problem
which the United States would have to
solve i'm cuba or in Hawaii. were either
"I them to hc annexed. would be, for
tn" United states, perfectly new and
oNtrcm lN pcrpleXinG problems He
must b" Sanguinc man who thinks
tnat democratic government. intend
vd to be worked by educated MN Of
tn" best European stock. whose anccs-
tors have enjoyed freedom and been
accustomed I" lf-Governmont for CEN
turtles, 'an. without danger to its new
subjects and iniur,- t. itself either sct
up among an inferior anj djysimiIar
population it, own democratic institu-
tDn' or SO far depart from all it's own
traditions a. to attempt To- govern that
population and its own citizens abroad
by deSpotic methods"
Professor Bryce adds: "Thc United
States has already a great a,l
splendid mission iu building M ba-
tween the oceans n free. hapnv. and
prosperous nation OF two burd,,ed mil
lions OF people. And one of III, nubIeet
parts Of her mission in the world bos
been to SHOW tu the older neonIos ma
states an example uf abstention from
the quarrcls and wars and conmuests
that max" uu So large and So lament
able a part uf the annals oc E,lropa
Her remote rosition and her Immense
power have delivered her from tho,
burden uf military and naval arna-
monts which uross.s with ,,uehirc
weight upon the peoples of t,urona II
would Lee. for her a descent from, .v,b,t
may he called the pcdcstaI ,f wise and
pacific detachment an which sbo NOV.
stands, were she to Weld to that Garth
hunger which has been raging amory
the European states. and T., initiate tha
aggressive methods which so,,,o -,
thtm have pllrsued"
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