The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-10

favored IL. with the exception of Gro
yer Cleveland. In this connection IL is
well to remember that more than half
the people OF the world are to be u
west of our Pacific coast. 1t is in that
direction that all Europe Is looking
for an extension OF its trade and COM
merce, and for a market for its surplus
products.
Owing to the inventive genius Of the
American people and the wonderful
strides we have made in recent years
in industrial progress, we are produc-
ing along many lines much more than
we can consume and are ourselves look
ing for markets to supply. Naturally,
in common with Europe, we are look
ing to the orient, with its hundreds OF
millions of people. who are far behind
us in Industrial progress. 1t Is in that
direction in the future that our trade
and must be extended IL ex-
tended at all. We have the advantage
of being more favorably located than
our European competitors with regard
TO the great eastern empires. At pres
ent we have but about 5 per cent of the
two billions. five hundred millions OF
this trade. To my mind the acquisition
Of the Hawaiian group, affording, as 1t
will. a resting place for our commerce,
will be a tremendous aid in the foster
ing and developing of our trade in this
direction. | am well aware that in re-
spect to distance II is much nearer 10
Japan. China and the Philippines by
way Of the Aleutian islands than ii Is
by way of Honolulu. But there lis a
practical side to this question so far as
distance Is concerned, and the fact that
a very large majority Of the ships that
sail To the Orient go by way or Homo
lulu is, To my mind. determinative OF
the fact that this Is the most desirable
route. Otherwise they would not take
4. fla -, thnGn xgnll tnfnrmP1
on the subject that while there are safe
harbors on the Alaska coast which al
ready belong to us. they are not utl-
lied because IL is impracticable to use
them. Ii is said that the cold. icy winds
coming down from the north and meet
ing the warm current which comes
from Japan produce a continuous fog
along that coast which most Of the time
is impenetrable, and renders navigation
difficult and dangerous. Hence the
southern route is preferred, even
though II be longer.
'.The main objection which ! have
found against the annexation OF the Ha-
waiian isles has been the character OF
labor employed there, which Is admit
tedly of an inferior kind. This labor.
as is well known. is utilized In the
production of sugar. Under the pro-
vision of our treaty with the Hawaiian
stands, sugar comes into our ports
free of duty. Hence, our producers of
sugar are right now i'm direct competi-
ton with this cheap contract labor of
the Hawaiian islands. The annexation
OF the Islands annot therefore make
the conditions worse In this respect. On
the other hand, they will, in my judg-
ment, decidedly Improve them, for the
reason that now that Hawaii is part
of the United States this contract la
Dor will not he permitted and it's fur
Their information will be at once
stopped. n there can be but little
doubt but as times passes and the laws
and customs and usage Of this
country will prevail. the labor condi-
lions will be very much improved.
Hence in this view OF the matter.
which | believe is correct. our sugar
producers will be benefited instead Of
injured by the change of ownership OF
the islands. OF course. the sugar pro-
duced in said islands at this time is
but an insignificant part of what we
are compelled to import to supply our
deficiency. The islands are said to be
especially adaptable To the production
of tea and coffee, and there is no doubt
but that these will be developed to the
utmost extent, thus supplying us with
articles which we cannot ourselves
produce.
The Strategic Aspect.
"Of course, the strategic aspect of the
situation cannot be overlooked. IL is
said we already own Pearl River har-
Dor. which we undoubtedly do, and thai
we do not therefore require anything
more. But as IT would require as much
expense on our part to maintain Pearl
River harbor as to own and control
the entire group. this latter would
seem to be the wiser proceeding. The
question Of the admission of the Ha-
/ klaiian islands AZ "a state with their
present population need not be con-
sidered at all. That will not he done
until the character of the people AMI
their intelligence and resources fully
warrant II.
LAS my distinguished friend and col
league. Mr.. Hartman. said in his able
and eloquent speech here In Butte the
other day, there has been no petition
in the Hawaiian question. None of
the party platforms have said anything
about IL, and while IL Is true that a
majority of democrats voted against II
and a majority Of republicans voted
for IL. there were yet many exceptions.
For instance. in the case of Justin Nor
rill. the oldest republican senator and
father Of the senate who spoke and
voted against 1t, while John r. Nor
gan. the oldest democratic senator and
one of the oldest sta esmen in the and
was earnestly i'm ave ri ~s-nexation
and urged 1t with great force and abil-
lily, as did also Senator Henry NJ. Tel
Ter. Four silver republican senators
voted for annexation; Teller, Cannon
Jones of Nevada and myself. while onn
Senator Pettigrew. voted against II.
The bill relating to the holding o'
, terms Of the federal court was At
!. tached as an amendment 1,
the deficiency at the last mo-
) ment and became "A law. Hereaftsi
terms will be held at Butte and Hell
: ena. as now. but the division lines arr
wiped out and litigants may bring sui
= at either point To suit their convenience
We failed 10 receive a complete revo
p cation of the forest reservation ORDER
made by Cleveland. the house refusin!
to concur in senate amendments bu
2 We effected a compromise by adding
= another amendment to the deficienc,
p bill appropriating more money and pro