Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-30
er considerations, whether Of commerce or
military and naval need


We have acquired. In one way and
another, great deal Of territory. Some
We conquered, some we annexed, and some
We bought. Lives there one American who
regrets any of these acquisitions, or would
not spill his blood in defense Of each and
every fraction of an inch of it all? Can any
one deny the great need and value of 1t ALL
and that to these acquisitions we owe our
present greatness, vastness and colossal
power? And yet there lived men who op-
posed these various additions to our coun-
try.
when Secretary Seward bought Alaska
asserted that he was in his dotage and
raised the bugaboo of non-contiguity.
Would any American surrender or sell
Alaska today? Has it not prevented the
nent? Has it not repaid US more than
twenty times over? Are We not rich In
its fish. lumber. furs and gold? And has
1t not opened up most important ana
profitable commerce? Has not its posses
sion limited, 'cribbed, cabined and con-
fined our great rival, Great Britain, on
this continent, and demonstrated the wis
dom and craftsmanship of Seward, who
will be remembered for this purchase for
ages to come with gratitude and profound
respect. He has them now; as time rolls
on and Alaska unfolds her resources, that
respect and admiration will increase. and
yet this purchase of Alaska was but his
preliminary step $50 he has told us). for
the acquisition of Hawaii when the fruit
fulness of time shall ripen the proposition
and evidence our need, imperative need,
of it's possession. That need our far-seeing
statesman-President sees. And so, unde-
TERED by schemers, gigantic trusts or In
terests of any kind other than those of
his country: from his high place, obedient
to his oath of office, with his keen sense
of honor. his pure patriotism and pro-
found craftsmanship, he tells the Amer
lean Congress and the American people
why We should have Hawaii and that our
honor demands II.
Anticipating just this. my son and other
young men have, as you know, become
part of the advance guard of Americans
to populate Hawaii, to help build 1t up
and fill ii with Americans. to develop Its
immense neglected and dormant resources
ard. as l firmly believe that coffee will
in the near future. far exceed in value the
output of sugar. j am equally sure that
Hawaii. will soon have hundreds Of thou
sands of American population.
Form of Government.
THE question of the form of government
to be given Hawaii after annexation has
interested some. If it's population contin-
ues as 1t is now 1 would suggest attach
ing 1t to California as county, if the
laws of California will permit that course.
1 have no doubt whatever that the people
of California would gladly welcome Ha-
wall, with its wealth and great resources.
But, as there Is no doubt at all that Ha-
wall will be promptly settled and flied
with Americans, it would seem just and
wise to give it such form of territorial
government as Congress may, in its wis
dom, deem appropriate and best.
Interested parties have sought in the
newspapers to create an impression that
the acquisition of Hawaii will bring upon
us 4 horde of cheap labor. The fallacy of
this argument is exposed when 1t Is an
sWered that. except the few Cinnamon
now in Hawaii, any and every laborer
there, Japanese and Portuguese, can come
to this country now. No law, nothing, re-
strains hnders their coming now If
they want to come. So far as the Chinese
are concerned, they are debarred at all
points, and their labor contracts with Ha-
waiian planters expressly provide and stip-
ulate for their return to China.
Labor will not come from Hawaii; it will
be just the opposite labor will go there
from here. YoA who have visited Hawaii
need not be told of It's beauty, fertility and
surprisingly superb climate. Labor will
seek it as the tourist does because of it's
wealth of attractiveness. great resources
and equable climate Hawaii produces, and
will produce, things which We need and
want, and do not produce ourselves. On
the other hand, Hawaii wants, and will
want much more in time, almost everything
list we produce and manufacture. In
nothfps does or will Hawaii compete with
our prodts.lon or labor. All the cane sugar
produced theirs is, and always will be- need
ed by u.s. no matter how much beet sugar
is grown in this country.
This is our golden opportunity to annex
these islands: to extend to or own people
there the protection for life ana property
which goes with our flag, which they so
earnestly want and ask for; to prevent Hs-
waits being constrained to go to some other
nation for annexation and thereby becom-
ing a menace to US hereafter; to forever
maintain and sustain there the Christianity
planted and taught by our own people, who
are now still, as they have been for years,
suppliants, begging to be taken by us; to
become part of US, and offering us, with
out price or any consideration whatever,
this priceless jewel, gateway, stepping
stone and future Gibraltar Of the vast Pa
citic.'