The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-12-19
a NATIONAL. NOT PARTISAN. CUES
TTON.

As time draws near FOR congress TO act
upon the Hawaiian question. the interest
of the Pacific states has Intensified. But
there is. perhaps. greater anxiety felt in
the east than elsewhere. The following
from the New York Tribune presents the
matter in a somewhat new light
In advocating the annexation Of Ha-
vail President Mckinley should no, be
supposed 10 act from partisan motives.
Addition to the territory d the United
States should never be partisan meas
ure. Since the whole nation must be
called upon 10 defend an acquisition if II !
ever needs defence, and must share the
burdens II any are involved and also all
the benefits that may accrue. it is pc
culiariy desirable that annexation OF ter /
ritory should always be considered and .
decided upon purely non-partisan grounds I
Were the question one Of party IT might
be pertinent 10 ask whether those VINO
opposed the acquisition OF California or
Texas or Louisiana or Florida ever gaIzed
anything in public estimation But every
such question ought TO be treated on a
higher plane. No partisan advantage can
be suggested which the annexation of Ha-
wall could secure. nor is there a reason
for supposins that opposition to I, win {
benefit any par5y.
When Captain Mahan wrote so strongly
Of the immense superiority which posses
sion Of the Hawaiian Islands would give
to naval power in the Northern Pacific
he was not inspired by blind and big :
Oted partisanship His impressive state
ments. the truth Of which has been rec
ognized by the ablest tacticians Of all IA /
tions. 90 far TO explain the antagonism C
10 the Hawaiian treaty which is found a
working underground at Washington. not =
openly, because it would help the treaty
IL the exertions Of certain foreign powers Z
against It were known, but mainly under t
pretence of anxiety about national ex-
penditure. or elevation Of citizenship, or
particularly the sugar interest. To put
the latest pretext aside, it is CROUCH to a
say that the rapid development Of sugar a
beet culture in the Pacific states. al
though in direct competition With the
eoolie labor which has been employed in q
Hawaii. but could not be under United 7
States laws, sufices TO prove that sugar
production in the islands without that
advantage could not embarrass the iadus-
try in this country. Tne hands are hose
of Esau, but the mind behind them is a
that Of a foreign power.
It is childish to ignore the fact that
every addition Of territory involves some
possible cost. Tnis year the United States ,
is for the first time called upon to pay I
something for the maintenance Of gov Z
srnment in Alaska, although the pur-
chase from Russia by Secretary Seward
was in its day denounced with extreme
bitterness az wanton waste Of public p
money, and as sure to involve incalcul-
able expense thereafter The nation he
sins to pay something Of consequence for
IT'S far-off possession when that pos
session comes TO be Of value. The Ha-
Waiian Islands are not ice-bound, nor can
their acquisition be derided as an act Of
folly They are already productive with
put the advantages which would attract
settlement and enterprise. But
,he main question is whether It would
not cost more every year not to have
hem in expense OF fortifcauons and ma
ral defence Of commerce on the Pacific
,oast than i. would cost to accept, forury
md defend them as American territory
II is a Pity that there should grow up
lnything like partisan antago to
his measure. When some Of the aolest
md most jealous democrats are fore