Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-11-19
HAWA|IMUSTC0hE N
Opinion Of Senator Morgan, Who
Has Been Investigating the
Proposed Annexation.
UNCLE sam Is BOUND TO HAVE HER

Great Advantage in Military Point of
View. and Also to All Concerned, Includ-
Ing the Kanakas Themselves, Who Are
Yearning To he American Citizens, Says
the Senator Release of the Competitor
Prisoners Announced.
Washington, Nov. Ex-senator Nor
gan, of Alabama. member of the COM
mittee on foreign relations, has reached
here on his return from Honolulu where
ne went to p9st himself on the annexa-
ton question For the first time he
submitted himself yesterday to an inter-
view on the results of his trip and said:
My conclusions based on my observa-
tons are only full confirmation OF
what had previously believed-that it
Is our national duty and will be in every
way advantageous to all concerned to
annex Hawaii to the United States. I
have studied the question from the
most authentic and reliable sources. the
establishment Of an outpost of the Unit
ed States within the tropics and 200
miles from our coast challenges the
Inquiry whether such action is neces-
gary to our national welfare. Our north
western possessions on the Pacific along
theAleutian archipelago are over LOO
miles west of Honolulu This gives us
control of practically the entire Amer
lean coast of the North Pacific.
Viewed From Military Standpoint.
The intervention Of the British pos
c-ff <vN. . L.
northern boundary of Alaska creates a
powerful reason for our OCCUPATION CT
Hawaii. Without imputing to Great
Britain any other motive than to ex-
tend her national policy of commercial
conquest 1t seems very obvious that IL
she should acquire dominion of Hawaii
and open anu fortify Pearl harbor, her
military fortress at Esquimalt on the
Island of Vancouver cooperating
would cut our coast line in two and
would leave US incumbered with a mass
OF territory in Alaska, whose defens,
would be almost impossible and tn.
enormous advantage OF which would be
lost to us. The Vancouver coal fields
would give the British navy almost ir-
resistible advantage in war and virtual
dominion Of commerce In time of peace.
What We Have Done by Way of Annexi
Beginning with Key West We have
annexed the entire gulf coast to the Pho
Grande by purchase OF territory and
extending up the Rio Grande across the
continent to the Pacific We have an
| nexed all the territory lying to the
north of that line and have annexed
the entire Pacific coast except the
| frontage Of GOO miles conceded to Great
Britain. This rapid and vast expansion
has contributed much to civilization,
| and In none Of the transactions have
we cause for regret. I have no fears ef
such expansion, especially es to posses-
| sions in the Pacific in those islands that
constitute TT OF the geographical and
commercial s! .em Of the North Ameri-
| can continent. There would not be
the slightest Gh2culty in the character,
condition or wishes of the 81, 0CO native
people of Hawaii. They are far better
adapted 10 American citizenship than
many millions of these whom we have
welcomed here from southern Europe
and better adapted than the Indians,
Mexicans and native Alaskans.
Thinks the People of Hawaii Arc Willing.
| Except among the few who expect
personal favors and advancement from
re-establishment of the royal govern
ment the general body of Hawaiian
population will rejoice in the honor,
safety. peace and prosperity which an
nexation will bring. Morally and prac-
tically the silent invasion of Hawaii
from the Orient (the Japanese) violates
all the declared policy and often ex-
pressed purpose Of the United States to
protect those people against foreign in
reference. The islands as a national
possession would richly reward us for
expenditure Of 0.oe0 30. The annexa-
tion would cost VI nothing and will
not at present excite the open opp PSI