Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1897-12-24
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION
Senator's and Representatives at
Washington Practically "a Unit
on the Question.

New York, Nov. 25.-A special to the
Herald from Washington says:
Hawaii will be annexed to the United
States during the coming session of con-
gress. This is one of the certainties of
the session. Senators and representa-
tives. both advocates and opponents, who
have thus far arrived in Washington, are
practically unanimous on the question.
President McKinleys message will
strongly urge upon the senator's the early
ratification of the annexation treaty, and
it will be one of the first topics brought
up in the legislative sessions.
Senator Caffery of Louisiana, who will
oppose annexation in any form, said: Il
am radically opposed to the annexation
of any more territory to the United
States. I think it was foreign to the best
policy we can pursue to extend the linz
its of our jurisdiction over regions of the
earth far remote from our national boun-
daries.
1.-The acquisition of territory now includ-
ed in the United States, excepting Alaska,
was the natural result of reasonable and
powerful impulse to extend our dominion
from ocean to ocean, between the British
possessions on the north and the Latin
people to the south. Now that this has
long been accomplished and the entire in
cluded region amalgamated with It's pop
ulation in intelligent sympathy with
the constitution and the institutions which
exist under it, the question of territorial
annexation should rest.
"I can see no reason or advantage in
reaching out 1900 miles into the Pacific 70
take in a little group of alien Islands
which are not geographically allied to
| this continent and the acquisition oil
which can do little for us beyond consti-
tuting an outlaying naval station which
we are already able to establish there
without annexation. That their territori'
| al extent Is small does not prevent thell
annexation from constituting danger
Gus precedent for the addition OF alleh
peoples.
"Cuba is so much nearer to US thar
| Hawaii that she is almost a part OF us
eeographically, but her people are az
alien to us as If they lived in the anti.
podes. The annexation of Hawaii woulo
| naturally serve as an argument Tor the
ACQUISITION of that island also. The an
| nexation of Danish America and more o.
Spanish America would then follow, al
of which is foreign to our policy, as
understand it. l acknowledge the exist
ence of a powerful element in the senate
in favor of annexing Hawaii, but can SCI
no reason in following its leadership.
Cockren and Fairbanks.
Senator Cockrell of Missouri, Is alst
ODDOSeQ to the treaty, lHou6h ic OchSN q
that Hawaii will be annexed by legisla
ton. probably during the next session
He said: 81 doubt very much If the nee
essary two-thirds of the senators Will b.
found in ratification of the annexation
treaty. when the time comes to vote. l ex
meet rather. to see the islands become ;
mart of the United States by an act o
congress in the same manner in which
we acquired Texas. An annexation treat!
could not be passed at that time, but leg
islation TO annex the republic was easll!
passed.
"The conditions appear to me to b.
similar in the case of Hawaii l do no
know lust in what political status Hawai-
NAV become a part of the Union. but sh
will probably be not endowed with state
hood Immediately. Provisional govern
ment of some kind will probably be es
tablshed first"
senator Fairbanks of Indiana, said
,.The ratification of the treaty Will b
accomplished during the coming session
without serious opposition. The whol
, subject is thoroughly understood IN al
tic nhases. has been thoroughly discusse
for wears. and there is practical unanl
= nifty of feeling, both here and In Hawal
: in favor of annexation. l anticipate IN
snaedv ratification of the treaty.
Senator Burrows of Michigan, express
I ed a belief that majority OF the seha
Y tors are ready to ratify the treaty an
, that annexation will be an accompilshe
fact in a short time.