New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-20
MR.. SEWARD on HAWAII.

The Administration of Lincoln speaks from
the pas: to support that Of Mckinley mat Is
the immediate purpOrt of the letter from Fred
erick W. Seward, published in The Tribune OF
Yesterday. Mr. Seward is a son OF William H.
Seward, and was his chief assistant in the state
Department all through the mOmentous era from
1881 to 1865 He was intimately associated with
the great annexation plans then formed and
partly executed. He made a special study OF
the question of adding to the territory of the
United States by purchase or other peaceful
means. He is, above all men now living, en-
titled authoritatively to speak concerning the
traditional policy" Of this Government in
such affairs His occasional utterances. made
through the columns of The Tribune. on grave
matters of State. such ms the Venezuela dispute
and the Arbitration Treaty, have invariably been
marked with clarity Of thought and convincing
sanity of Judgment Once more, from we'll
earned retirement. he speaks in no uncertain
tones to commend and vindicate the policy of
the present Administration in negotiating
treaty for the annexation of the Hawaiian ISL
ands.
That in itself is an impressive fact. Still
more impressive is the logic which Mr.. Seward
brings to bear for the establishment of his con-
permanently to stand alone 1t realizes that
fact as we'll as all the rest of the world. Four
other great Powers are casting longing eyes
toward it. Any one of them would gladly take
il and make good use of it. They refrain from
so doing simply because they are on ana wish
to remain on friendly terms with the United
States. and the United States has been telling
them for half century that 1t would regard
their seizure or annexation or HAWAII as an
unfriendly act. They recognize the right OF the
United States to say that. But such warn
ing Is not q final settlement The time mas
come when Hawaii itself demands some other
1t desires to be Incorporated with some great
Power. 1t offers itself first to the United States,
and all the others expectantly await the issue
They are willing for this country to accept the
offer. But II this country decline 1t: Then Ha-
wall will repeat il to some other Power. and that
Power will have a right, in sense and justice,
TO accept 1t, and the United States WILL by its
own refusal of the offer, be debnrred from max
ing valid objection. The simple question Is
then, whether this country Is to take 'Hawah
or let some other do so. President Mckmie!
and his constitutional advisers favor the former
course. and Mr.. Seward-with, no doubt. the
mass of intelligent American ctizeps-thinks
that course the wise and profitable one.
Nor is that the only value of Mr.. Stewards
letter. He closes it with passage that should
overwhelm with shame and confusion those
timorous souls who fear ruin to the RepuDllc
will come from such annexation. Such phan-
tom fears have been conjured up before. There
were those who opposed the Louisiana Purchase
and the Florida annexation and the acquisition
Or holding on to-Of Oregon. and the taking
Of California, and finally the addition OF ALASKA
to the National domain. What ridicule and
obloquy were heaped upon the head Of Mr.
Stewards illustrous father for that last-named
act. Yet how superbly have the processes OF
time vindicated his wisdom in performing it,
That and all the annexations named, only
strengthened and enriched the Nation AND so'
as Mr.. Seward confidently says, so 1t Will be
with Hawaii His words are a trumpet call to
the Nation to have the courage of its cOnvic-
tons and of its manifest destiny. They will not
fail to be widely needed.