The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-10-15

~ ratify the Hawaiian annexation treaty
next December.
For fifty years past the policy of the
United States has been to exclude other
nations from the political control of Hawaii.
Secretary Of State Webster said:
trust the French will not take possession
(of Hawaii; but II they do, they will be
dslodged, If my advice Is taken, il the
whole power of the government is required
| to do 1t.
Since the days when Secretary of State
Webster uttered these words, and President
Pierce and Secretary of State Marcy nego
tiated treaty of annexation, down to the
present treaty of annexation by President
Mckinley and Secretary Sherman-duripg
this long interval we have seen democrats,
wings, republicans, populists, gold standard
men and the friends of free silver, regard
less of party, all advocating American con-
troll in Hawaii. Nor Is there now any indi-
cation of divergence from this truly national
policy. 1t was, in fact, emphasized by the
republican party In their national platform
at st. Louis in 1896, In the following words:
The Hawaiian Islands should be con-
tr0lled by the United States, and no foreign
power should be permitted to interfere with
them.
This was the true democratic doctrine
before the republican party existed. 1t is
distinctly an American and not party pol.
Icy. 1t is policy that has been championed
by Pierce, by Marcy, by johnson. by Grant.
by Arthur, by Seward, by Fish and by
Blaine. Today this policy is advocated by
gold democrats like j. r. Proctor and
Thomas T. Bayard; by silver democrats
like Senator Morgan, of Alabama and Sem
ator Rawlins, of Utah; by gold republicans
like Senators Frye, Lodge, Davis and
Thurston; by silver republicans like Senator
Teller; by populists like Senator Stewart
of Nevada and Senator Allen of Nebraska;
by Senator Kyle, the independent. 1t is
advocated by such radically antagonistic
newspapers as the "Herald," Tribune"
"Sun" and journal" of New York. 1T is
advocated by such men as ex-Secretary
Foster, General Scho6eld, Admirals Bel
KNAPP and Walker, and by Captain Mahan.
1t is common ground upon which all can
come together because Hawaiian annexa.
ton is policy as broadly national as the
Monroe doctrine.
The reasons for the adoption of this policy
are self-evident. Hawaii is the only spot
in the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator
that is near enough to the Pacific coast to
be used as base of naval operations against
US. A foreign power, in possession of
Hawaii, would be within four days
steamDg distance Of San Francisco. Shut
out from Hawaii, foreign nations would be
forced back the entire width of the Pacific,
a distance prohibitive of effective Daval op.
GRAFTON because battle ships cannot carry
coal enough to steam that distance.
A foreign power in possession Of Hawaii
would compel the elaborate forti6cation OF
every port on the Pacific Coast in order TO
afford protection to our people and property
out there. With all foreign powers exclud-
ed from Hawaii, our people and property on
the Pacific Coast would be comparatively
free from foreign danger. If we do not an
mex Hawaii some other country will, and 1t
is more economical for us to fortify one
point in Hawaii than 20 points in Cali
fornia, Washington and Oregon.
We need Hawaii far more than Hawaii
needs US. We need it as England needs
Gibraltar, not so much for its territory nor
lis commerce, but for its location. We
need 1t, not for aggression, but for the pro-
lection of the interests that we have there
and for the protection of our people and
upon the Pacific Coast.
Another, and subordinate, reason in
favor of annexation Is because Hawaii lies
In the direct track OF all Trans Pacific
trade. With one exception, all of the
seven different steamship lines that cross
the Pacific stop at Honolulu. All the
China and Japan trade, to and from the
Nicaragua canal, will subsequently do the
same. Hawaii has been rightly termed the
commercial crossroads" as well as the
strategic key" Of the Pacific.
Hawaii, although but partially developed,
Is rich and prosperous country. 1t al
ready consumes more of our United States
products than any other country bordering |
upon the Pacific. Under annexation we
shall not only protect this trade, but we |
will multiply it ten fold through the result |
Ing development Of Hawaii. Through a
personal residence during several years on
Hawaii we know that 1t can easily support |
q million people.
Hawaii produces sugar, coffee and banan-
as, all Of which we buy largely from for
eign countries. BY annexation we will |
produce these articles for ourselves. The |
acquisition of the Hawaiian sugar lands |
will the sooner relieve us Of our dependence |
upon Germany and other European coun-
tries as the base of our supplies OF sugar.
Jo a>.xIl al A.