The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-23
Mr.. johnson of Indiana Speaks
in Opposition.
SAYS OUR CUPIDITY
Is at the Bottom of the Whole
Question.
Warns Against Following in
England's Footsteps.

Washington, Feb. 23.-Washington's
birthday was celebrated in the house,
after motion of Mr.. Bailey to adjourn
had been voted down, with a vast deal
of political speech making and it was
also signalized by the firing of the first
gun in opposition to Hawaiian annexa-
ton. Mr.. Johnson, an indiana Repub-
Hcan, delivered a speech that electrified
the house and the galleries in denuncf-
alton of what he termed an attempt to
cut loose from the traditional policy of
the United States and enter upon a
scheme of colonization that had proved
the ruin of empires and of nations
Mr. johnson, in opening, referred to
the contest now on in the senate over
Hawaiian annexation, and said the
friends and supporters of the treaty
both inside and outside of the senate
were turning heaven and earth to Sc
cure its adoption, and that President
mckinley was labOring to change the
convictions of senatorial opponents of
the measure He discussed the recent
VlS1t OF President Dole, and suggested
that the Hawaiian nation, unlike the
United States, had everything to gain
and nothing to lose. He urged cOncen-
tratiOn of popular attention on the is
sue and the disabuse Of the minds of
the people Of erroneous Impressions and
asserted that once put to the test either
IN the senate or the house, the Ameri-
the danger involved and so condemn it
1t viii be buried he said, beyond
the possibility even of an ultimate res
direction.
I am opposed to the annexation of
Hawaii he continued, because I be
LeVe the people of Hawaii are opposed
TO It am not to be confused by this
special plea that the real sentiment of
the people Of the Sandwich Islands is
only to be obtained from the views of
nose VINO assume to govern them.
That, sir, is the merest technicality
Lhere is no room here for the apphca-
ton Of the narrow doctrine of estop-
pal''
Whether the present government of
Hawaii was a defacto or a dejur gov
eminent he declared that it misrepre-
sented the people of Hawaii whose
rights 1t was ready to proffer away.
hen 1t was charged, in 1898, at the
time when the republic succeeded the
monarchy, that the revolution was aid
ed by the interpretation of American
CITIZENS, did not believe it was true
said Mr. Johnson, and I denied it
very vigorously at the time but the
perslstency with which this treaty of
2nneNatlon IS being pressed gives color
10 the accusation then made, and which
L then so earnestly denounced
MI johnson, continuing, gave some
OF the reasons which impelled him to
opposition to atiOn-One was the
ignorance of the population of Hawaii
How long had it been, he asked. since
we had passed a bill to keep out the isr-
norance OF the old world, that we now
proposed to annex territory in which
ignorance was the rule, not the exceD-
ton We had passed the Chinese ex-
clus1on act, now it was proposed to an
mex territory which contained a large
CnlneSe population He did not favor
the holding of territory under the
shadow of the Amesrican flag. A colon
1al policy might be adopted by the ma
lions OF antiquity, but it would not do
Tor free country which derived its
p9"eIs from the consent of the govern
ed. 1t would be unwise and short
sighted, he said, if we should emf lOoSa
from all the traditions of the mast and
rashly embark upon the unknown sea
OF territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. We had
eOnLlhed our expansion to contiguous
territory in the acquisition of Florida
louisiana and Texas In 1883 11ndeT
E1IImOre'S presidency. we had been wise
enough and sensible enough to reject
these very islands. We had also re-
1ected the prOffer of the mob of ST
Ihomas, and under the administration
OF General Grant, congress had voted
down a proposition to purchase San
JomlnSo- Only once had we departed
from our rule-in the purchase of Alas
ka from Russia-and only the future
could determine whether that had been
a wise move.
Possession of extraneous territory
meant a constant source of irritation.
Inc history of the world proved this
A. was urged that the Sandwich Islands
were the key 10 the Pacific. It's strate-
gIc Importance was emphasized. as if
guns mounted there could command the
nicaragua canal and the Pacific coast.
thousands of miles away. The annexa
ton OF Hawaii would establish a had
precedent The appetite grew by what
IL red upon. Today the cry was: sCsiva
US Hawaii tomorrow it would be:
Give US Samoa"
These appeals would all be justified
Dy the pleasant SOphiStries which an
pealed TO our vanity and cupidity IN
til at last find
trleVably committed to a policy 11n0ac
essary to the material happiness of ON,
people, hurrying along a path which
was streWn with the wrecks Of empires
ana OF nations. He did not deny. he
said, that the acquisition Of foreign ter
rltory had added to the prosDeritv of
nations But history showed it to have
been ultimately a source of v-aa lyDass
Cupidity bred oppression if DiIed m
taxes, stirred up strife, it shed human
blood, 1t was the first step toward dis
memberment. Let the nations of the
world pursue this policy of aggrandize-
ment to their hearts Content: LET tbar,
saddle their people with debt. eouiD
armies and navies and shed oceans Of
blood
Let England boast, if she pIeases that
the sun never sets upon her territory
but let US remember that it never goes
down upon the misery her policy has
CIeateo- Her people starve in India
Let wars and rumOrs of wars bring
anxiety to the faces of her eoIOnfsts
but let the flower of her colonies which
broke away from her domination one
hundred years ago and which, by pur-
suing the opposite policy, has outstrip-
pea her, continue to stand as an ex
ample to the civilized world. While
others seek war and it's horrors. let us
soothe our people with enduring peace. |
peace has her victories no less re-
noWned than war" We are in the in
fancy of our resources, the morning of
our material development We will be
n rnx-a ,A.1,T
The internal reforms which our country
demand present a field broad enough to
enlist our best efforts. the publication
pf the ballot, the crushing of the rings
A...-.- :