Evening star., 1898-01-12
FOR HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION
Senator Davis Speaks at Length Upon Its
Advantages.
Resumption by the Senate in Execu-
tive Session of Consideration
of the Treaty.

EXCEPT 1Cr q rev minutes given TO
controversy over some minor post Office
combinations, the entire time Of the eX-
ecutive session of the Senate yesterday
afternoon was consumed by Senator Davis
of Minnesota IN a speech In support of
Hawaiian annexation. MIR. Davis Is chair
man CT the Senate committee on foreign
relations, and his speech was generally
accepted as the semi-official utterance OF
the majority of the committee. He spoke
for about two hours, and when the Senate
adjourned had not finished. The speech
was the first upon the merits of the treaty,
and this account and because of the
known fact that Senator Davis had made
a very careful investigation of the sub
tect. he received the undivided attention
of the members OF the Senate, regardless
of individual views. AS the speech was
delivered behind closed doors verbatim
report could not be secured.
The portion of the speech delivered yes
terday consisted Of review of the rela-
tionS between this country and Hawaii
during the history of these islands. and
was intended to show that the United
States had exercised a fostering and pro-
tecing care over them from the begin
ming with many evidences of the inten-
ton of ultimately making them an inte-
grail portion of the American domain.
Il approach this question" the senator
began with. l hope. a due sense of the
responsibility imposed upon me in begin
ring Il debate the result Of which may
be OF momentous consequence to the fu-
ture welfare of both this country and
the Hawaiian Islands.
The question:" he continued, as one of
Importance so vast that one must of neces-
sity approach 1t with certain degree of
t1midlty, because it was. he said very
difficult to present all the points involved
as they should properly be presented, how
ever much care and attention one might
have given to the subject.
Reasons for Annexation.
The senator, without further apology.
then launched into the presentation of
the subject before the Senate He con-
sumed considerable time in a general pre-
sentaticn of the reasons for annexation.
saying that these were both commercial
and strategic. Referring to the commercial
reasons for controlling the islands in the
interest OF this country. he called atten-
ton to their location midway in the Pa
cific ocean, and said that any one with
half an eye to the Importance of the trade
or the orient could discern the fact that
they must cut a very important figure in
controlling that trade for the future LAS
for their military Importance" said the
senator. 1T has already become evident
tnat the opening of the new century which
IS now so near must mark the opening
of new condition of affairs in the far
east. He referred then briefly to the
operations of the Eurc9nean powers in
China predicting that the time was not
far distant when the great nations OF
Europe would, if they were not checked
control the entire Asiatic seaboard
Attempts at Annexation
Taking up the question of the relation
ship between Hawaii and the United
States. Senator Davis presented very
thorough review of the efforts which had
| been made iE the past to annex the islands
and presented quotations from many emf
nent statesmen of former times to show
| IS he said, that the best American thought
had always favored this policy He re-
| ferred at some length TO the Marcy treaty
| showing why 1t mad not been perfected
as he did also to the treaty which was
made during President Harrson's admin
istration He also quoted many of the ut
tcrauces of Secretary Marcy and also OF
Daniel Webster and in doing so took oc-
casi"l to Commitment both in high terms.
,I1 Indeed" said the senator. with the
Mr.. Cleveland, it has been the avowed
and consistent purpose of all parties in
all administrations in this country to. at
| the proper time. make the Hawaiian
| Islands Il part of the United States"
He contended that their history. far
as they have a civilized history, Is the
| result of American enterprise and energy.
and said the Islands belong to this coun-
try by virtue both of sentiment and geo.
graphical location.
Indeed" he continued, "in view of all
tht dSpettS NlllcIl lne case presents, inc
United States cannot afford either in its
own interests or in the interest of the
Hawaiian people to allow this opportunity
| 10 gain control of them to pass Suppose
We should not ratify the present treaty
could we consistently continue to exercise
| the right to prevent other nations from
assuming the control which we declined
to take" He said that up to the present
| time we have assumed to exercise a sort
OF supervision over the islands, under the
| guise CT asserting the application Of the
Monroe doctrine. but, under the circum-
stances, it would be a bold man, indeed.
who would consider that doctrine aDplica-
BILE in the future. In view Of our failure
to take advantage of this opportunity to
make the islands our own.
Future of the Islands.
I'm case" asked Senator Gray, also a
member of the committee on foreign rela-
tions, 1.-The islands should be annexed-is it
the policy to have them admitted as state
of the Union. with their present mixed
porlation?'
Such l do not believe to be the purpose
of any one," replied Senator Davis. Il my
self freely admit that the population of
Hawaii is not such at the present time as
would be desirable in an American state,
| and for myself l may say that l consider
the character of the population to be one OF
the objections to annexation But the ad
vantages so far outweigh this one element
as to render it of comparative inSiSnif-
cdHCe duUeQ lnGl willie he not
believe it to be the purpose of any one that
the islands should constitute state of the
Union, that he would not attempt to say
anything that would bind future admins
trations in this matter.
One strong point which Mr.. Davis dweit
upon at considerable length was the de-
STABILITY OF these islands not only to this
country, but to all9 the leading powers of
the world.
We he said, should take the islands
while we have the opportunity; and if We
do not want them it will be very easy
matter for us to get rid of them on own
| terms" He showed that they would be
very important territorial acquisition to
| either Japan, England or Russia. and
pressed the opinion that either of those
powers would take the Islands off our hands
at any time We might make known our de-
sire to be rid of them. 1t would be easy
enough, he said, to turn them over to some
other country in case We find them to be
an undesirable acquisition but who will
say that 1t will be so easy for us TO take
them at some future time in case We vol
unfairly deprive ourselves of the present
opportunity? He therefore argued that the
experiment should be made at this time.
When Senator Davis concluded this por-
| tion of his speech, it was with the general
n &C q M inc thaH hn nnrfi