The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-26
Question of Annexing Ha-
Waiian Islands.
The Views of Ex-Secretary
of State John w. Foster.
Change That Has Been Wrought by
Advance of Civilization.


One of the most interesting lectures heard
In Washington in many days was that de-
livered by ex-Secretary Of State John w.
Foster before the Geographical society Fri
day night. 1t Is considered very import
ant, too, In political sense, because Mr..
Fosters position is very high In this coun-
try, and in this lecture no openly advocat.
eel the annexation of Hawaii. As a former
secretary of state, as former minister to
Madrid to st. Petersburg and the City OF
Mexico, as confidential adviser of the
state department, as negotiator of the
treaty of peace between Japan and China,
and as u prospective ambassador from this
nation to Turkey, Mr.. Fosters words
carry great weight, and are attracting
much attention throughout the world.
Mr. Foster spoke of the changed rela.
tions of the Pacific ocean TO the outside
world during the last generation. Within
our recollection the great empire Of China
was practically closed 10 foreign commerce.
Japan was hermetically sealed against the
outside world. Australia had hardly
emerged from a convict colony. Poly
nesia was still in barbarisn, and the whole
coast of northwest America contained but
few thousand inhabitants.
The Whirligig Of Time.
"Our day" said Mr.. Foster In that
broad, generalizing way which Is so fas
cinating, "has wrought a great change
throughout the Pacific and its shores. The
Anglo Saxon has leaped the barriers of the
Rocky mountains. A network of railways
has followed in his train. Flourishina
cities have become the seats of mighty
commerce. The ocean Of the west is GOV.
cred with ships. Great states, both Amer
lean and British, have been called into ex.
istence. Our country has added to its sea
coast, stretching away toward the north
pole, many thousands Of miles. Australia
has become n great empire. Polynesia
has become the theater of colonial compe
tition between the three great nations OF
Europe The fleets and armies OF France
and England have opened up China Com
modore Perry of our own navy, by more
peaceful methods, broke down the barrier.
in Japan, and the development of that
people has been the marvel of the world.
"Since the war with China new and dis
turbing influences are seen in the east,
continued Mr. Foster. Il remember that
General Grant, writing from Peking near
ly 90 years ago, said the time would com,
when the world would be complaining OF
the too rapid advance of the Chinese.
Nor must we forget the great advance
which Russia Is making on the Pacific in
northeast Asia. With an open water port
and fortified naval station on Chimes
territory and a transasiatic railway reach
ing back to IA military population Of 100,
600, 600, we must reckon with another i'm
portant element in the political and com
al - 81 d.. n.
Japan's Eye on Hawaii.
After describing the islands and theii
people and giving rapid account Of THEN
remarkable history Mr.. Foster called the
attention of his audience to the predictions
made by distinguished Americans that il
the United States does not annex Hawaii
japan or some other nation will. Among
those who have made this prediction are
Admirals Walker and Ammen and General
Schofield. Mr.. Foster pointed out the rapid
increase of the japanese population i'm Ha
waii in recent years and said it was surely
a menace TO the future of the islands. 9Th
question of annexation is thus forced upoL
u.s." said General Foster, "and we must
meet it. 1t is question which cannot be
postponed. If we do not take Hawaii ia
pan will"
Mr.. Foster quoted from innumerable po
litical, naval and military authorities t.
show that IL has become the established
policy Of this government not permit tht
Hawaiian islands to fall into the possession
of any other power. 1T is a military and
political necessity that we have control OF
those islands. No mere technical ques
tions of procedure should be permitted t.
interfere with our action. In our past his
tory we have never displayed any great Gu
riosity as to the perfection of the title OF
owners from whom we have acquired ter
ritory. We took Louisiana by purchase
from monarch who had not only ques
tionable right To its transfer, but who had
usurpod power by revolution and held IL
by force of arms. Florida came TO us from
a sovereign who was ruling in defiance OF
the constitution and against the wishes OF
his people aud was kept upon the thron.
by foreign powers. We acquired California
and all that vast region from Mexico
through a treaty made with government
which had n few months before seized gov
ernment by means of pronuncanento
and in little while was driven from pow
or by another.
Touched by Our Civilization.
"we have an equitable right to Hawaii"
said Mr.. roster. Our citizens have con
tributed millions upon millions of dollars
TO the development of the islands. We have
raised the country from barbarism. We
have given that people civilization, n writ
ten language, schools, government. We
taught their kings the very art Of govern
ment. We have given life and prosperity
to those islands IL Is today virtually an
American colony. The paramount influ
enoe is American. Four times in its past
history has foreign flag floated at Homo
lulu-flrst the Russian. then the French,
afterward the British and again the French
Any one of these powers would gladly as
sumo sovereignty again, and TO them is to
bc added as a menace the rising power of
japan.
"1n my opinion, we should not admit
Hawaii as state, but as n part of the ter
ritoTy OF the United States 10 be organized
I'm such way as congress may afterward de-
When the annexation OF Louisi. !
ana was first suggested, Mr.. Jefferson
thought IL could be accomplished only bya