The San Francisco call., 1898-02-01
THE WEAK WAR ARGUMENT.

H ERHAPS no proposition to abandon a historic k0 policy and step outside the constitution has ever before received as much assistance from circumstances as the proposed annexation of Hawaii
 Everything has happened that can happen to blunt and dull the sentiments of justice consistency and humanity by appeal to the thirst for glory which in fighting Ike is often mistaken for pa, triotis. The islaud ogarchy understood the stua- ton perfectly and proceeded to intrigue for an issue with Japan Tn the hope to nag that Iuculent nation in;o demonstration that would fire the American heart. But Japanese statesmen through the pur- pose Of the ol:garchy and conducted themselves with remarkable fcr ear'nce and commenGable prudence S that fire died out. Next came the European de- monstratons the of China and these seemed certainly to be worth the half dozen votes which the treaty lacks in the Senate But to the sober minds of thinking Americans, "the events in the far East did not change right and wrong at home They did not make good policy that which before was bad They did not make constitutional that which before had been unconstitutional They served rather to prove the strength of declaration that governments derive their just powers from the con sent of the governed It was observed that this de claration was brought into planer view by the acts of the predatory nations, forcing upon the Chinese government by invasion and without their consent In vain was the military argument used "The key of the Pacific" unlocked no new reason for this un- safe departure. The possession of naval frontier 2ooo miles away, to be utilized all only by send ing coal that long distance to fall prey and become the prize on deep water of any naval power with which we may be at war; seen to mean the weak ening of defensive force rather than its re-en- forcement
 It IS apparent to the merest yro in strategy that Hawaii must itself be defended and that it cannot de- fend we take for military r,,,c+ he fortified supplied with great guns and munitions of war garrisoned and patrolled by feet Its fortfi- cation alone will cost our taxpayers more than the protection of all continental seaports To properly garrison 1t will demand large increase in our stand ing army and to patrol it like enlargement of our navy.
 Our people see in this definite acceptance of the policy of the predatory nations. They acquire far lands and expand their military systems to defend and hold them. Spain once led the world in this policy She seized the richest islands and prncpalities on continents and fourished while she dreamed of uni versa dominion. But fate has forecosed its moral mortgage. One by these possessions slipped away until only the Philippines and Cuba remained and now Spaln bankrupt Tn trying to restrain their attempts to escape
 It IS useless to say that there IS preserving salt in our institutions to protect against these conse- quences, for entrance upon such a policy is in defiance of those institutions
 Hawaii furnish nothing in her own defense She has coal. Make her independent and neutral No other nation can make coaling station there A local supply imported cannot be taken by man. of-war in neutral port, for coal is contraband of war and cannot be supplied by neutral to bel. ligerent. With coal mines Hawaii is better de- fense to us independent and neutral than she can possibly be under flag and loaded with coal to tempt the enterprise of any naval power with which we may be at war.