The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-08-18
Proposed Annexation Of Hawaii.
SPEECH
HON. JAMES NORTON:
In the House of Representatives.
SATURDAY., June IL, 1898.
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

Grafton the joint resolution (H'
Res. 259) to provide for annexing
the Hawaiian Islands to the United
States
Mr.. Norton of South Carolina
said:
Mr.. Speaker: We have listened
with attention to a great deal OF
learning upon the subject of the
principles which should actuate US
in our foreign relations, and it has
been with surprise that we have
heard it stated that the policy OF
the fathers of the Republic was
opposed to territorial extension.
One of the first acts after the Re-
public was an endeavor to induce
Canada to become a part Of the
United States. A few years later
we trebled our territory by the
purchase of the Province of Louis
lana, and a short time afterwards,
long before we had time to develop
the Province of Louisiana, we
bought Florida.
1t is contended that these were
all part of the main continents,
which, of course, is true. But as
early as 1909 Thomas Jefferson
wrote to President Madison con-
cerning the acquisition of Cuba:
1t will be objected to our recelV
ing Cuba that no limit canthen be
drawn to our future acquisitions.
Cuba can be defended by US with
out navy, and this develops the
principle which ought to limit oul
views.
When the United States was
too young and too poor to own a
navy, it was a wise policy that
limited our acquisition OF territory
to that which we could defenu
without navy. The early fathers
believed in an extension of terri
tory, but did not believe in adding
territory which, at that time, under
the circumstances, they could not
defend.
Those same early fathers fought
against popular demand for d
general pension system for the
soldiers OF the Revolutionary wal
and limited the roll from $4,000
W 100000 year. They fought
7 against all internal Improvements
on the ground that the States
would have to provide them. IL
was nearly forty years after the
establishment OF this Government
before dollar was expended upon
rivers and harbors. This polio,
OF paying no pensions ana making
no improvements was caused BY
exactly the same thing which
caused the policy of adding NJ
territory that could not be defend
ed without navy. The Govern
ment had no means of raising suit
hcient revenue. Jefferson wanteo
Cuba annexed because the Uniteu
States had a sufficient navy to
defend 1t, and Jefferson, ADAMS,
Monroe were the greatest lanu
grabberS this country ever HAD,
except possibly Jackson and Polk.
AS early as IS43, while the
Hawaiian Islands were very lack
ing in civilization and before W,
owned much Of navy, Mr.. Legare,
our Secretary OF State, said:
The HaWallan Islands bear such
peculiar relations to ourselves thai
we might even feel justified, con-
sistently with our own principles,
in interfering by force to prevent
their falling into the hands of one
of the great powers Of Europe.
Secretary OF State Daniel Web.
ster wrote to our minister to
Hawaii, Mr.. Severance, July Ia,
1885,.
The Hawaiian Islands are ten
times nearer to the United States
than to any of the powers OF
Europe. Five-sixths of their com,
mercial intercourse is with the
United States, and these considera'
tions, together with others OF a
more general character, have fixed
the course which the Government
of the United States will pursue