The record-union., 1898-02-08
To Make the Hawaiian Islands a Part Of
the United States.
Replies to Questions That Were
Raised to Acquiring the Islands
Because of the Domination of
the Native Race, Showing There
Was No Foundation for Such
Criticism.

ICiIei Vi AUlUIdQO OCCupltu Tic cltlIS
four hours of to-day's executive ses-
sion of the Senate in discussing the
Hawaiian annexation treaty.
During the course of his speech Tel
Ter took occasion to say that he should
have been glad to discuss the treaty
in open session, and to the remark he
added the opinion that the time had al
most come when the question of an
neXation should be debated on a bill
locking 10 legislation by both Houses
OF Congress, rather than on the basis
OF the treaty.
While he thought there might be
bare possibility of securing the sixty
votes necessary to ratify the treaty, he
conceded that under the present cir
cumstances this was exceedingly doubt
full, and he thought the sooner the facts
be recognized and a change of front
made, the better it would be from all
points of view.
There were some Interruptions at this
point, and it was suggested by some
Senators after the close of the execu-
tive sessions that the Committee on
Foreign Relations would consider the
ACCESSIBILITY of making this change OF
policy at its next meeting, to be held
Oh w euIleSOdy Oh TINS week.
The statement was made by Senator
Davis, Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, that there had been
no intention Of attaching the treaty to
one of the appropriation bills as an
amendment. as had been stated was
the case in some Of the newspapers.
He made this statement in reply to a
question put by White of California
Teller advocated the ratification of
the treaty, basing his reasons for this
position upon the ground that the an
nexatiOn of the islands was in the
interest of our commerce. and in line
with our national policy for the past
half century.
He devoted himself very largely to
replying to the objection that had been
raised to acquiring the islands because
Of the domination of the native race.
He undertook TO show that there was
no foundation for this criticism, or if
there was such foundation now, it need
not, he said long continue to be an es-
sential factor of the situation. He
based this statement upon figures
which he produced to show that the ma
tives, or Kanakas, We're rapidly dying
off as a result of their commingling
WITH the OutS1Qe races.
He contended that the islanders could
not long remain to dispute the suprem-
acy of some other race, and what that
race should be would depend large
ly upon the present action of the United
States Senate.
If we should elect to make the islands
a part of the United States, the Amer
lean people would at once become the
counseling element in Hawaii, but if
we should fail to take advantage of the
opportunity now offered, some other
people would in all probability assume
the position Of control. which naturally
and additionally belongs to the United
States.
He controverted the position of Petit
grew and White that the American
could not labor in the Hawaiian Isl
ands He quoted weather statistics TO
show that the temperature on the ISL
ands coasts ranges from 56 to SO dur
ing the year. which he said was far
from being an progressively hot climate.
Farther inland it was still cooler. and
on the mountains frosts We're not infre
quent. If the white man of this coun-
try should not be impressed with the,
islands. Teller thought they would
Iitdht an HAttil6Dl IotdllOIl LOT the COZ
ored people of the United States, who
might desire to leave this country. and
would find congenial employment in the
sugar plantations and coffee fields of
Hawaii
Teller also discussed the contention
that the Hawaiian group was not in
the most direct line of travel between
the Western Hemisphere and China and
Japan. Any vessel which might come
around the Horn or cross the Isthmus
of Panama in the case of the construc-
ton OF a canal would almost certainly
take these islands in on its way to Yo-
kohama, Shanghai or any other far
Eastern port Furthermore the ISL
ands We're a great convenience as Il
coaling and food supply point to YES
seis plying the Pacific Ocean.
Taking up the question of the neces-
sty for the defense of the islands and
of the maintenance of the large fleet
in their waters in case Of annexation.
he said that this was mere bugaboo,
and was without foundation in fact. All
that would be necessary would be 10
fortify Pearl Harbor for the protection
of coal and military stores in times OF
hoStilitieS.
Teller was frequently interrupted dur
ing the delivery of his speech by White,
Pettigrew, Gear and Others.