The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-10
ISSUED BY LORRIN THURsToN, Ex-
MINISTER TO THE UNITED
STATES.
REASONS FOR ANNEXATION
SET r. IN IN A PRINT
ED BOOK OF EIGHTY
PAGES.
PACIFIC NAVAL BASE OF SUPPLY.
No Other Nation Should Be Allowed
the Islands for Such Use He
Argues.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.-Lorrin A.
Thurston, ex-minister from Hawaii, has
issued a handbook on the annexation
Of Hawaii Of eighty-four pages, in
pamphlet form. The handbook con-
sists of a statement Of the in
favor of annexation, a brief description
of Hawaii, its people, government laws,
commerce, finances, educational system
n resources; an enumeration OF
twenty objections that have been made
to annexation, n a reply to each and
an exhaustive commentary Of all the
facts relating to the island.
In specifying the reasons for annexa-
ton, Mr.. Thurston says: ut will pre-
vent the establishment of an alien and
possibly hostile stronghold in a position
commanding the Pacific coast and the
m of the North Pacific and
definitely and finally secure to the
United States the s~trategical control Of
the North Pacific, thereby protecting
it's Pacific coast and from
atta.-I
"All of the great powers of Europe
have coaling stations within steaning
distance of the Atlantic coast Of the
United States. No nation possesses a
coaling station lee enough to the Pa
cific coast to be available as a base Of
operation against 1t. The Pacific is so
wide that naval ships cannot cross and
operate on the Pacific coast without re-
1coallng. A country in possession of
Hawaii would nave a base of supply
and repair within four or five days
steaming of any part of the Pacific
coast and be a standing menace to it
and it's m By simply keeping
other nations out of Hawaii, the Unit
ed States will secure a almost absolute
immunity from naval attack, on it's
Pacific coast.
Upon the opening of the Nicaragua
or Panama canal, practically all Of the
shipping bound for Asia making use
thereof, will stop at Honolulu for coal
and supplies"
Other reasons given by Mr.. Thurston
are as follows:
The conditions are such that the
United States must act now to preserve
the results of it's past policy and to
prevent the dominancy in Hawaii of a
foreign people. 1t is no longer a ques-
ton of whether Hawaii shall be con-
trolled by the native Hawaiian, or by
some foreign people, but the question
Is what foreign people shall control
Hawaii?
Those inimical to American interests
may obtain control in Hawaii and ter
inmate all special privileges now held
by the United States and transfer them
to rival nations. That other nations
stand ready to avail themselves of the
opportunity is evidenced by the fact
that the English government has re-
Gently attempted, and is still attempt
ing to obtain the cessation or lease Of
one of the Hawaiian islands as a cable
station. All that has stood in the way
Of it's contamination has been the re-
~ciprocity treaty and the determination
Of Hawaii to keep it's face turned
Americanwards until the annexation
question is settled.
Whether the reciprocity treaty is
continued or not, conditions have de-
veloped which will as certainly evict
American interests and control from
Hawaii as though 1T were accomplished
by abrogation of the treaty or by hos
tile guns.
Under the head Of THE Awakening
Of Japan" Mr.. Thurston refers to
heavy Japanese immigrations to Ha-
wall and adds: Regardless Of the
declarations of the Japanese govern
ment, Hawaii has, against the will and
efforts of it's government and people,
drifted Japanwards during the past
two years, and unless radical action is
taken, to stay the process there can be
but one logical result, viz: The ulti-
mate supremacy Of the japanese, and
thereby Of japan in Hawaii This will
be accomplished in the teeth Of the
American policy Of exclusion Of for
eign control. and with no tangible,
overt act on the part of the Japanese
government. The controversy with
Japan is the preliminary skirmish in
the great coming struggle between the
civilians Of the East n Of the West.
The issue on Hawaii is whether, in
that inevitable struggle, Asia or Amer
lea shall have the vantage ground Of
the control Of the naval key of the Pa
cifc.
'All that is now holding Hawaii from
retrograding into an Asiatic outpost is
a handful of resoiute and determined
men. But there is a limit in their
strength and if help is to come in time
it must come soon. Annexation will
settle the issue and maintain American
control in Hawaii, and nothing else
will"
Mr.. Thurston enumerates other rea-
sons, chiefly Of a commercial nature,
and then answers twenty objections
to annexation. The cover the
questions Of constitutionality Of the
proposed annexation; Hawaii as a
point of weakness in time of war; ex-
penditure on navy, etc, to protect
Hawaii; application Of the Monroe doc
trine; status of a protectorate; infiu-
ence on American beet sugar trade; eff
feet on Sugar Trust; assumption Of
Hawaii's debt; leprosy in Hawaii;
United States already large enough.
Each Of these topics is discussed in
vigorous a"gumentative style. In con-
clusion Nj. TIiurston says: The cay
has gone by when the United States
can ignore It's international privileges
and obligations. Whether 1t will or no,
the logic or { nts is forcing the Amer
lean people 20 take their place as one
of the great international nations and