The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-26
TELLS WHY TREATY SHOULD BE
ADOPTED.
The Hawaiian Islands are Necessity
So Says the Veteran in Letter to
Senator Morgan.

WASHINGTON, January 1j-Among
documents being sent out by the an
ti-anneXation lobby, which is flooding
congressman with pamphlets, is one
entitled Hawaiian annexation scheme
Ga sugar trust ploD exposed by Gen.
Schofeld." In fact, there is nothing
in the pamphlet which was written by
Gen. Schofield, except a short abstract
from a report written by Schofield in
1873, in which he said many planters
then favored annexation that they
might get their sugar in free, that
being three years before the reciproc-
ity treaty was framed. Schofield then
was reporting upon his examination
of Pearl harbor. Gen. Schofield re-
sents the apparent endeavor to place
him in false position, for he is an ar
dent anneXationist.
A letter from the general to Sena-
tor Morgan received today shows how
the former head of the army feels. He
says in part: "From the time, twen-
ty-fve years ago, when ! made per-
sonal examination for the purpose of
ascertaining the value of those islands
to this country for military and naval
purposes. have always regarded the
ultimate annexation of the Islands to
this country as a public necessity. I
have likcned Pearl harbor to com
manding position in front of a defen-
sive line which an army i'm the field
is compelled to occupy. The army
must occupy that advanced position,
and hold it, at whatever cost. or else
the enemy will occupy it with its ar
tillery and thus dominate the main
line.
"If we do not occupy and fortify
Pearl river harbor our enemy will oc-
cupy it as a base from which to con-
duet operations against our Pacific
coast and the Nicaragua canal. which
must. of course, i'm due time. be con-
structed and controlled by this coun-
| try The possession of such a base at
a convenient distance from our Paci-
| fic coast would be "A great temptation
to an unfriendly nation to undertake
| hostile operations against the United
States.
| "One of the greatest advantages OF
| Pearl river harbor to the United
States consists in the fact that no ma.
Wy would be required to defend it. II
is deep, land locked arm of the
sea, easily defended by Notifications
placed near the mouth, with its an
chorage beyond the reach of guns
| from the ocean. Cruisers or other wal
ships which might be overpowered al
sea, as well as merchant vessels would
| find there, behind land defenses. alb
solute security against "A naval at
tack. a moderate garrison of regll-
lar troops with the militia of the Is.
land would give sufficient protection
against any landing parties from a
| hostile fleet
| "Of course an army on transports
! supported by powerful fleet, could
| land and capture the place. But that
would be an expensive operation, one
much less likely to be undertaken thar
! the occupation of an undefended har
| Dor, as necessary preliminary to ar
attack on our coast or upon our com
merce. The value of such place OF
refuge and of supplies for our mer
chant marine and our cruisers in {
time of war can hardly be over-esti
mated. Yet the greatest value to II.
of that wonderful harbor consists il
the fact that its position and adequat,
defense by the United States prevent!
the possibility of any enemy using /
! against the country