Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-13
SENATOR DAVIS ARGUMENT
Concludes in Speech in Favor of Anne1a-
ton.
Strategic Importance of Holding
Hawaii Pointed Out-Mr. Allen
Speaks Briefly In Opposition.

In the executive session of the Senate
yesterday Senator Davis continued and
completed his speech on the Hawaiian
treaty, and was followed by Senator Allen
of Nebraska. who spoke in opposition, as
Was told in yesterdays Star
Mr. Davis requested in the beginning
that questions should be asked during
the presentation of his argument, as he
preferred. he said. not to have the contin-
rity of his thoughts broken. His speech
yesterday was devoted largely to presen-
tatIon of the strategic features of anneXa-
ton He displayed chart in front of the
presiding officers platform, showingt h.
location of Hawaii relative to this country
and Asia One of the points brought out
With considerable elaboration was the
probable effect on the Nicaraguan canal of
the occupation of the islands by some
foreign power. He illustrated by refer
cree to the map showing that Hawaii was
in straight line between the western
terminus of the canal and Japan and
China. The nation. he said. which controls
Hawaii will control that great gateway of
commerce, az the guns planted upon Ha-
wall would be pointed directly at the
mouth of the canal
Key to the North Pacific.
He also devoted careful attention to the
Importance of controlling Pearl Harbor.
that the nation which maintained posses
sion of this great harbor would hold the
key to the military situation in the North
Pacific He read extracts from reports by
engineers and others in confirmation of
this statement and in support of a state
ment which he made as to the character
OF the harbor, which was that it was safe
and "ommodious and could be easily de-
Tended. He also presented the necessity
for controlling Hawaii as base of sup
plies in case of hostilities. saying that it
was almost necessary to control it for this
reason on account of the impossibility of
warships crossing the Pacific without
replenishing her coal supply.
Japan's objection.
Mr. Davis ridieuled the objection made
ty Japan that the addition of Hawaii as
United States territory would work a vio-
lation of Japan's treaty rights in the is
land. He said in reply to this objection
that all rights would doubtless be protected
and instdnced the creation of the German
empire showing the effect of annexa-
ton upon the treaties of various countries
which enter into consolidation. Natural
iy, he said. the treaties of the various
countries forming the union had been alb
rogated by the consolidation. but under
such circumstances all rights fall under
the protection of international law which
is of general application to all situations of
dispute. between nations. He regretted
he said. that any foreign nation should feel
called upon to enter its protest and he
maintained that there was no occasion for
objection in view of the historical fact
that for half a century it had been the
avowed policy of this country to ACQUIRE
the islands. The Hawaians he said want
10 come to us, and We want them. Their
fathers were anxious for this union as our
fathers were. furthermore We want the
islands in self-defense. and under that ples,
the question of precedent and all other
questions are settled. Under that plea of
of lau
naUght, and even at times all questions of
right are disregarded. though happiIy in
TINS instance there was no necessity for
u1sreSdrding the rights of any one He
argued that the alliance was a most nat
ural one. and in polite language described
the lSlardS as d meteor ready to fall into
Inc larger body where nature by the bow
er OF attraction, had fixed its resting place
He SAID the union would be also for the
political benefit of both the Hawaiians ana
the people of the United States He refer
ied 10 Japans protest an indication of
natural tendency 10 capacity. and said that
the government of that country should
nave been satisfied with the territory
~rested from China instead of waning tn
gorge herself by the addition of Hawaii
Influence on the Orient,
Mr. Davis called attention to the appar-
ent cordial relations existing between Japan
and China manifested by Japan's offer
10 lend her fleet to the English in their
operations IN Chinese waters, where he
said, the greatest naval demonstra ton OF
history was about 10 be made. He did not
Indicate belief that immediate war would
~ 'he result oil the European competition
over Chinese territory. On the contrary
he called attention to the fact that flags Of
Great Britain. France, Germany and Rms
STA were floating side by side in the oriental
waters. neither power being apparently
anxious TO disturb the other so long as
mere was prospect of eacn power getting
mllGh "A he nj hers
only way in which the United States could
protect itself against this division of
territory would be to control the Hawaiian
1slandS. In CO sc We should fail to do this
there was CANCER of losing very imnortanr
trade advantages which were rapidly de-
velopinS in the far east. He referred to the
iihptoveHeht OF the commercial outlook
between the United States and China and
instanced the fact that OF Minnesota firm
h..d exported Il half million dollars worth
of -four to that country
The last half nour Of Senator Davis,
speech was devoted to a reorganization of
the subject. in which he dwelt at consider
a'ie length and portrayed in strong lam
Suase the origin and close of great wars
which was Intended TO illustrate the prof-
able ultimate result of present operations
in Chinese waters. He closed with III, re-
mark That while brillian Mt craftsmanship
demanded that We should look out for tn
morrow. il WIS still more brilliant STATES
manship to take into consideration the ,Iay
after tomorrow. He declared that modern
a revolution that Honolulu is in effect no
farther from Washington today than was
Ne" orleans at the time of the acquisition
OF Louisiana, and therefore contended that
Inc distance between the two countries was
no bar to their unity.
When Senator Davis took his seat he was
congra tuldted by almost every senator
present upon the force Of his argument the
ihorouShness Of his research and the bril-
Earcy Of his presentation of the facts
BOTH Senators Hoar and Mason were heard
10 remark that il Il great pity that
the rules of executive sessions of the SEN
att prevented the publication of the entire
document.
senator Aliens ,Opposition.
Senator Allen (NebJ followed with a
speet n in opposition to the treaty. which
wIs comparatively brief. He called attcn-
tion to the distance of Hawaii from our
own shores, referred To the necessity we
should be under of defending Inc islands
III case of war. and claimed that on this
account II would ne Necessary for the
nj srI.= II.