The San Francisco call., 1898-02-23
JOHNSON
 STRIKES AT
 ANNEXATION First Gun for the Opposition in the
 House. Appeal for Adherence to Traditions of the
 Nation. Protests of the Indianan Against a Surrender to
 Cupidity. WANTS NO MORE COOLIES. Outbursts of Tremendous Applause Attest the Sentiment of His
 Auditors.
WANTS NO MORE COOLIES
Outbursts of Tremendous Applause Attest the Sentiment of His
 Auditors.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,

day, opposing the annexation Of the Hawaiian Islands, is the talk of Wash ington tonight. It was brilliant ef- fort and created a sensation. He was not only applauded by members of his own party, but when he had concluded the Democratic side (almost a unit in their opposition to anneXation) as well as a goodly number of Representatives on MT. Johnson's side of the House, arose and cheered wildly. He aroused the members to a high pitch of en- thusiasm. His speech is justly re- garded as one of the most brilliant that have ever been delivered in Con- gress. His delivery was as rapid as usual, and he maintained his reputa- tiOn as the fastest speaker Tn congress.
 Thoughtful Republicans see that they are forced to abandon the annexation scheme. It is stated by conservative members this evening that the treaty will be abandoned by the Senate within the next ten days, and they admit that annexation by joint resolution, in view of the pending Spanish troubles, is very doubtful, if not hopeless. The speech of Johnson in the House is taken as a warning. The scheme need not look for support by fair and patriotic men in that body if attempted by joint legiS-
 
 lation.
 Johnson's clear and emphatic de- nunciation of annexation fell like bombshell upon the annexationists in the House. He has been the recognized supporter of the administration in all its policies in the past. Always a clear and convincing speaker, to-day John son astonished all who heard him by the force and emphasis of his argu- ment. The crowded galleries broke into frequent applause and members Of both sides crowoed about him to hear his remarks and encourage him to con- tinue.
 The reason for leading Republicans abandoning the administration on this issue is well understood. They feel there will be enough coast to defend along the Allan -ic, Pacific and Gulf States in the near future without un- dertaking a patrol of islands 2O00 miles out in the Pacific. To guard Hawaii in case of hostilities would be to divert from important duty battle-ships that will be none too numerous and effect i've for protecting our present posses SionS.
 The Republicans acknowledge the force of this argument, and in the face of impending trouble with Spain shrink from undertaking more work than will be forced upon them under existing conditions.
 Republican Senators admit that the treaty cannot command two-thirds Of the vote of that body, and are urging Chairman Davis to bring the debate U an end by recommitting or abandoning it. They know that joint resolution for annexation would bring endless de- bate in the open Senate.
 In the House it would meet with the opposition of Reed as well as many Re- publicanS who realize the burden 1t would be to take care of Hawaii under the difficulties now menacing this coun- try.
 Morrill, of Vermont, the oldest member of the Senate, created great surprise when he spoke against annexation, but the speech of Johnson to-day has de- moralized the supporters of the scheme in the House. Some regard 1t as evil dence that the administration is willing to see the scheme defeated, and all ad- init there will be a large falling off in the vote which they have counted on In the House for securing annexation by joint resolution.
 When Johnson finished he was con- graduated with great earnestness by Bailey and many members Of the Dem ocratic side. and the heartiness with which he was applauded by members of his own party showed very clearly that his speech had carried conviction there also.
 Johnson, in opening, referred to the contest now on in the Senate over Ha- waiian annexation, and said the friends and supporters of the treaty, both in- side and outside of the Senate, were turning heaven and earth to secure it's adoption, and that President Mckinley was laboring to change the convictions of Senatorial opponents of the measure. He discussed the recent visit of Presi- dent Dole and suggested that the Ha- wa1ian nation, unlike the United States, had everything to gain and nothing to lose. He urged concentration Of popu- lar attention on the issue and the dis abuse of the minds of the people of err roneous impressions, and asserted that, once put to the test either in the Sem ate or in the House, the American peo- pie would be quick to discover the dan ger involved and so condemn 1t.
 Tt will be buried" he said, beyond the possibility even of an ultimate res urrection." Applause
 II am opposed to the annexation of Hawaii he continued, because l be- l1eve the people of Hawaii are opposed to 1t. am not to be confused by this special plea that the real sentiment of the people of the Sandwich Islands is only to be obtained from the views of those who assume to govern them. That, sir. is the merest technicality. There Is no room here for the applica- tion of the narrow doctrine of estop- | pal''
 Whether the present Government of Hawaii was de facto or a de jure Government, he declared, it misrepre- sented the people of Hawaii.
 When it was charged, in 1893, at the time when the republic succeeded the ] monarchy. that the revolution was aid- ed by the interposition of American cit 1zens, l did not believe 1t was true, '' said Johnson, "and I denied it very vigorously at the time, but the per s1stency with which this treaty of an- nexation is being pressed gives color to the accusation then made, and which l then so earnestly denounced Johnson, continuing, gave some of l the reasons which impelled him to op-