The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-14
Hawaii. a New Dennrture.

Hawaii. n New Departure.
Some OF the newspapers which claim to
be democratic are eritcisng democrats in
congress for opposing the Hawaiian an
nexadon scheme They assert that The
record OF the democratic party is in favor
Of the scheme. and they base this asser-
ton upon the fact that the Louisiana pur-
chase was effected under democratic ad-
ministration. and that democrats annexed
Florida and Texas, the latter bringing
about the Mexican war which resulted
in the acquisition of California, Nevada,
Utah. Arizona New Mexico, and part of
Colorado. In 1853 under a democratic ad-
miuistration, large territory which he
came a part of Arizona and New Mexico
was purchased from Mexico.
The principle involved in the foregoing
acquisitions, however. was very different
from that involved in the Hawaiian
scheme. 1t did not commit the republic
to policy Of conquest and extension. 1t
was simply removing the barriers to our
natural development. The republic would
have been at great disadvantage if it had
failed to get control of the mouth of the
outlet on the Pacific coast. In the acqui-
sitions which were made no nationality
was destroyed.
But what is it that is involved in the &C
QUESTION of Hawaii? Is 1t not the destruc-
ton of a nation? Is it not conquest pure
and simple? Is it not an abandonment of
our long established policy of not acquir-
inc CHI
It is said by the apologists of the scheme
that Hawaii comes to us of her own will
That statement is not true. 1t Is a fact
of course, that the Hawaiian government
seeks annexation, but the government
doesn't represent the people. 1t is the pro-
duct of a revolution which was aided by
the United States navy. 1t wouldn't last
a day If our government should withdraw
from it its support. If, therefore, this
country annexes Hawaii it will do so prac-
tlcally by conquest because the great ma
jority of the people ire against anneXa-
ton. They don't want to give up their
national life. If we take Hawaii we shall
make a precedent which will make it less
difficult for us to take some other country
which speculator or a political party may
think we need for some purpose or other.
Having once entered upon a career of CON
quest ii would be difficult matter to say
where that career should end. 1t might
not end until the republic, owing to many
diverse interests, fell TO pieces.
The argument that we need Hawaii for
a coaling station and for the purpose of
defending our Pacific coast is not a strong
one. It is not strong enough to make us
abandon our wise policy of not going be-
yond our shores for territory. The argu-
Hawaii would be a source of great trou-
BILE and expense to us is a strong one.
1t is an unanswerable one.
We could not assimilate the
Hawaiians, the japanese and the
Chinese who constitute about eight-tenths
of the population, and the islands would
be a sort of perpetual blister on the body
polite. The natives would be dissatisfied
because of the blotting out of their ma
tional life against their will, and we should
have to keep a little army and perhaps q
couple of cruisers at Hawaii in order tC
maintain our authority there. Many Other
difficult questions would present them
selves in the event of annexation, ques
tons which would make our political af
fairs more complicated than they are. W.
have already as many questions to settle
as our statesmen can well attend 10. Oui
back population is giving US enough race
trouble without burdening ourselves witt
another race totally different in languag,
and religion.