The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-12
SENATOR DAVIS ON HAWAII
FAVORS ANNEXATION OF THE IS
LANDS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

mercial Worth of the Islands to
This Countrywide Claimed That
the Wisest American Thought Has
Always Favored Annexation.
Washington, Jan. n.-EXcept for a few
minutes given TO a controversy over some
minor postoffice combinations, the entire
time of the executive session Of the Sen
ate to-day was consumed by Senator
Davis of Minnesota in a speech i'm sup,
port of Hawaiian annexation. Mr. Davis
is chairman of the Senate committee ON
foreign relations, and his speech was gem
orally accepted as the semi-oficial ut
terance of the majority of the committee.
He spoke about twS hours, and when the
Senate adjourned had not finished Tho
speech was the first upon the merits of
the treaty and on this account, because
of the known fact that Senator Davis
had made very careful investigation of
the subject, he received the undivided at
tention of the members of the Senate. re,
gardless Of individual views, As the
speech delivered behind closed doors a
verbatim report could not be secured
day consisted of a review Of the relations
between this country and Hawaii during
the history of these islands, and was in
tended to show that the United States
had exercised fostering and protecting
care over them from the beginning, with
many evidences of the intention to ulu-
mately make them an integral portion of
the American domain
II approach this question:" the senator
began, with the hope, a due sense of
responsibility imposed upon me in begin
ming the debate the result Of which may
be of moment consequence to the future
welfare of both this country and the Haw-
allan Islands
THE question of importance is so vast
that one must necessarily approach il
with certain degree of timidity, because
it was, he said very difficult to present
all the points involved as they should
properly be presented, however much
care and attention one might have given
to the subject"
The senator without further apology
then launched into the presentation of the
subject before the Senate. He consumed
much time in general presentation of rea-
sons for annexation, saying that these
were both commercial and strategic Re
trolling the islands in the interest of this
country, he called attention to their toca-
ton, midway in the Pacific ocean, and
said any one with half an eye to the i'm
portance of the trade of the Orient could
discern the fact that they must
cut very important dpure
in controlling that trade in the future.
AS for their military Importance said the
senator, it has already become evident
that the opening of the now country.
which is now so near. must mark the
opening of new condition of affairs in
the far east"
He referred, then, briefly to the opera
tons of the European powers in China,
predicting that the time was not far dis
tant when the great nations of Europe
would, II they were not checked, control
the entire Aslatic seaboard.
Taking up the question of the relation
snip between Hawaii and the United
States Senator Davis presented q very
thorough view of the efforts which had
been made in the past to annex the is
lands and presented quotations from many
eminent statesmen of former times TO
show as he said that the best American
thought has always favored this policy
He referred at some length to the Marcy
treaty showing why it had not been per-
fected, as he did also TO the treaty
which was made during President
Harrison's administration He also
quoted many Of the utterances of Secretary
Marcy and also of Daniel Webster and IN
doing so took occasion 10 compliment both
in high terms. He said with the single eX-
ceptiOn of the administrat ton Of Mr. CleVe-
land, it had been the avowed and consist
ent purpose of all parties in all admiustra-
tions in this country to at the proper time
make the Hawaiian Islands a part Of the
United States. He contended that their his
tory so far as they have civilized history,
is the result of American enterprise and
energy, and said the islands belonged to
this country by virtue both of sentiment
and geographical location.
Indeed" he continued, "in view of all
the aspects which the case presents. the
United States canpot afford either in its
own interests or in the interests of the Ha-
Waiian people to allow this opportunity 10
gain control of them to pass Suppose We
should not raufy the present treaty, could
we consistently continue to exercise the
right to prevent other nations from as
suming the control which we decline to
take?"
lie said that up to the present we have
assumed to exercise a sort Of supervision
over the islands under the guise Of as
serting the application of the Monroe doc
trine, but under these circumstances it
would be bold man, indeed, who would
consider that doctrine applicable in the
future in view of our failure to take ad-
vantage Of this opportunity to make the
islands our own.
I'm case" asked Senator Gray, also a
member of the committee on foreign Ie-
lations, "the islands should be annexed
is It the policy 10 have them admitted as
a state Of the union with their present
mixed population"
such / do not believe to be the pur-
pose of any one" replied Senator Davis.
Il myself freely admit that the popuia-
tion Of Hawaii Is not such at the present
time as would be desirable In an Ameri-
can state, and, for myself ! may say that
/ consider the character Of the population
to be one OF the objections to annexation.
But the advantage 50 far outweghs this
one element az to render IL Of
comparative insignificance'
lie added that while he did moi believe
Il to be the purpose Of any one that the
islands should constitute a state Of the
union that he would not attempt 10 say
anyhing that would bind future admins
trations .n this matter.
One strong point which he dwelt upon
al considerable length was the desirabiity
of these Islands not only to these coun-
tries, but to all the leading powers. I'VE"
ne said SHOULD take the islands while
we have the opportunity, and if we DO
not want them it will be a very easy