Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-06-25
ISSUE ACCEPTED.
Opponents Of Hawaiian Annex
alton Are Determined.
will Talk Against Time; Outcome
Impossible of Prediction.

Washington, June 20.-The Hawaiian
question comes to the front again in the
senate during the present week, but un-
der somewhat different circumstances
from those which attended it's presenta-
tion ut the beginning of the session The
purpose was then, as it is now, to secure
the annexation of the islands to the
United States, but the effort at that time
was to secure this result by means of a
treaty, whereas the present course is
through the instrumentality of joint
resolution. On the first occasion the
matter was considered in executive ses-
sion with the public excluded, while now
the doors are to be thrown open and the
world invited.
What the outcome of the discussion
may be, or when a vote will be reached
nobody will undertake to say positively.
The leaders on both sides are full Of
prophecy, but there is such discrepancy
between their opinions as to render 1t
necessary to discard one in order to ac-
cept the other. The friends of annexa-
tion assert that there Is no possible
doubt of their ability to pass the resolu-
ton, as they have 46 senators, or one
more than quorum, pledged to remain
in the senate until the question can be
decided; the opposition leaders declare
that IS senator's have assured them that
they will vote to adjourn in preference
to remaining in session indefinitely for
the considera ton of the Hawaiian ques-
ton. The supporters of the proposition
express confidence that action will be
secured in 10 days, while the opposition
contends that it will be found impos-
sble to secure vote during the present
session of congress.
The advocates of annexation declare
they will make no speeches, leaving the
opponents to occupy ell the time to be
consumed by this means; the opposition
say they are willing to make the speeches
If compelled to do so, but If forced to do
this they will insist that the friends Of
the measure shall maintain constant
quorum in the senate chamber They
also predict that the anneXati tionists will
find themselves compelled to participate
In the proceedings, as they expect to ad-
vance points which will demand refuta-
ton or at least reply
In view of this generally contradictory
condition, one can only base prediction
upon general conditions. There is no
doubt, in the first place, that the an
nexationists have a majority in the SEN
ate If a vote can be reached. If vote
could be gotten now, the result would be
about 81 for annexation to 35 against it
In full senate. OF these 81 senators
there are. however quite number who
are not Jealous and in whose minds all
doubt as to the policy of the acquisition
of outside territory has not been over
come. The senators as rule are indis-
posed to remain in session for any length
of time during the whole summer months
to carry Hawaiian annexation. Most Of
the senators of this class are Republi-
cans. and there is probably a sufficient
number of them under normal circum-
stances to join with the Democrats to
force an adjournment They find them
selves confronted. however, with the re-
quest Of the administration to remain
and pass the resolution as a war meas
ure. and some are disposed to sink their
Cwn preference in obedience to the presi-
dental wish. The gossip as to the prob
ability of a postponement until fixed
day in the next session increases and
many persons are predicting that this
will be the outcome.