Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-11

S., 49,, coo.
These results have been achieved by
affording to Hawaii. under the reciprocity
treaty. a free market for. practically
only three of her products, viz: sugar.
rice and bananas, while under annexa-
ton, the country would have a free mar
ket for all products.
In 1886 Hawaii had foreign trade of
over sos per capita for every man. wom-
an and child in the country, a record al
most unparalleled in history.
Hawaii can support population of a
million as easily as it does a hundred
Even this increase will place it's COM
merce in the front rank of American ex-
port trade.
If Hawaii becomes American territory.
the protective tariff will give to Ameri-
cans practically all of it's present foreign
trade, and an immensely larger trade
which will spring into existence under the
influences Of stable government, fertile
soil and free market.
FOURTH REASON IN FAVOR OF THE
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
1t will greatly increase and secure to
the United States the shipping bust
ness of the islands.
Hawaii is, today, the main stay of the
American merchant marine engaged in
deep-sea foreign trade.
A table is given showing the number of
entries in American ports. of American
ships, from foreign countries. during the
year ending June 80, 1896, viz:
From all Europe, 30 Ships
From all Asia, 50 Ships
From all Australasia, 30 Ships
From all Africa, % Ships
From the United Kingdom, IS Ships
From all the Pacific Islands, other than
Hawaii, 80 Ships
From Hawaii, 191 Ships
Or, in other words, Hawaii furnished
cargo for 1871 American ships, and all the
world besides, outside of the American
continent, furnished cargo for only 2)S
American ships
Tables are given showing that 247 Amer
lean ships did about so per cent of the
business OF Hawaii in 1896.
After annexation, the coasting trade
laws will apply, and freight and passen-
gers can be carried between Hawaii and
other parts of the United States in Amer
lean vessels only.
AS the American tariff will bar out al
most all imports from foreign countries
practically the whole freighting business
of Hawaii will be with the United States
and will be transacted by American YES
sells With the increase of population ano
commerce under annexation, the number
of American vessels required in the Ha-
waiian trade will double.
FIFTH REASON IN FAVOR OF THE
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
It will remove Hawaii from inter-
national politics, and tend to promote,
peace in the Pacific by eliminating an
otherwise certain source of information
al friction.
Within the past eighty-five years, Ha-
vail has been taken possession of: Once
by Russia; once by England; twice by
France. and by reason of hostile demon
strations, creating the fear of foreign
conquest, cession of the country to the
United States was made in 1851, and a
treaty Of annexation negotiated in 1854
Since 1874, on four occasions, foreign
troops have landed for the protection of
the interests of the several nations there
represented. The existing conditions in
the world, and more particularly in the
Pacific, render it unsafe to suppose that
there will be no further conflict of inter-
ests in Hawaii.
With the rapidly progressing develop
ment of the Pacific coast of Siberia. the
construction of the railway from ST. Pc
tersburg to the Pacific, and the fore
Swallowed absorption of northern China,
there can be no prediction of the limit of
Russian interests and strength in the Pa
cific.
In the short space of a year Japan has
become not only a Pacific, but a world
power.
With its rapidly increasing population
of nearly fifty million; its navy now
demonstrated power of organization and
military execution; it's progressive COM
mercial and aggressive national spirit,
there is no safety in basing any calcula-
ton upon the meekness or weakness of
Japan:
Australia and New Zealand are in the
springtide of their development and will
increasingly control British policy. Their
statesmen have repeatedly advanced the
claim that the control of the Pacific was
theirs, by right. Today, their influence
and strength is not sufficient to control
in the Pacific. What their power may be
The statesmen of the United States
should look, not to the conditions of to-
day only, but to the future as well.
For the immediate present. the govern
able to the United States. There Is no
certainty that this will continue. AS long
as Hawaii is independent, other national
lilies will naturally and legitimately seek
to advance their interests at the expense
of those of the United States.
1t is not necessary that any foreign
government should attempt to do this, as
a government.
The present difficulty with Japan is an
| Illustration of how international troubles
may arise through conflict of the private
| interests of the different natonalities res
| ident in Hawaii. Today the friction is
| with Japan. Tomorrow it may be with
Europe, England, or China.
| AS long as the country is independent
there will be growing tendency to in
ternational friction among it's inhabi-
tants, which will inevitably draw into
controversy the respective governments.
! When annexation was proposed in 1898
no government objected. Today Japan
interposes a vigorous objection. 1t may
not be a serious obstacle to annexation;
but it is an Illustration of the rapidity
i with which changes are taking place in
the Pacific
Hawaii Independent but without the
power to maintain its independence is u
standing invitation to International in
trigue and friction. and menace to the
peace of the Pacific.
AS a part of the territory of the United
States, Hawaii will be eliminated from
| international politics.
TWENTY OBJECTIONS TO THE AN
NEXATION OF HAWAII AND RE-
| PLIES THERETO.
| 1t is unconstitutional because the
general government is limited in it,.
powers to those expressly conferred
| upon it by the Constitution