The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-24
Scheme TO Annex Whether Sen.
ate Says Yea or Nay.
rwo.rmIRDs MAJORITY DOUBTFUL
II the Treaty Fails to Pass, the President
May Annex by Conquest Hawaiian Gov
eminent Approves the Pian-Adminis-
tration Does Not Fear War with Spain.

II
reached the chances are the friends of the
measure will fail to secure the necessary
two-thirds for ratification. The truth
about the situation Is that at the present
time the advocates of ratification lack
about three votes, and they do not wish TO
bring the question to an issue till they can
secure enough men to make up the def
cheney. In the nature of things they have
the matter in their control as to when the
| vote shall be taken. As soon as they find
they have enough votes to ratify, If that
time ever comes, they will ask to have the
roll called. Senators with whom I have
talked predict that the debate will continue
| for at least another month.
But there Is on foot movement which
| means the acquisition of Hawaii by the
| United States, no matter whether the sem
ate ratifies the treaty or not. l hear on
| good authority that IL worst comes to
worst President Mckinley will simply take
possession of the islands. Ordinarily this
would appear like conquest, and public
opinion would not support IL. But the ad-
ministration officials who are cognizant of
the plan say that it would not be conquest
in the proper acccptation of the term be-
cause the government of Hawaii is seeking
annexation 10 this country. Between ma
lions an existing government is the only
agency that has the power to speak for a
country. 1t is no concern Of other govern
ments whether that government is in pow
er rightfully or wrongfully or whether 1t
Is or is not supported by majority of the
people. So long as the government exists
it speaks to other nations with all the
force of the state behind it.
Hawaii Asks 1t.
In this view Hawaii asks for annexation.
II, therefore, the president were simply to
order one of our warships to land marines
and take possession, the act would be con.
quest nominally, but actually only an ex-
ira diplomatic method of arriving at re-
suit which is sought in other ways. The
president, of course, would infinitely pre-.
fer to annex Hawaii by the ordinary meth.
od-that is, by ratification of the treaty
or, this failing, by an act of congress- In
that case he would have the support of the
other and coordinate branch of the Amer
lean government, and the act when con-
summated, would be the act of the United
States. Not all the responsibility would
DO thrust upon the president.
But l am told that If these means fail
President Mckinley will see to 1t that
Hawaii becomes part of the soil of the
United States. He has the power as com
mander in chief of the army and navy and
could take in Hawaii by turn of his
hand. II he should be compelled to do
this as a last resort, 1t is probable there
would be howl of disgust from the people
who do not believe In the acquisition Of
Hawaii. 1t may therefore be considered
certain the president would not mediate
SO extreme an action unless there was
some great reason for his doing so. What
is this reasonp II Is a belief on the part
OF the president and his advisers that un-
less the United States does acquire Hawaii
the future Will bring us troubles over the
islands. In other words, IL we reject Ha-
walls offer TO become part of US, the
ruling faction In the islands will feel that
they must proffer themselves to some other
power. They will offer Hawaii to Great
Britain or Germany or possibly to Japan.
At any rate, they feel that they must find
some means OF escape from their present
situation. They do not feel secure They
do not know ut what moment revolution
may eDgulf them. As the chief owners OF
property, as the people with most at stake,
they want stable government, and this
Is the motive which impels them SO strong
ly to seek alliance with the United States
President Mckinley knows the people
OF the United States would never permit
another power to take Hawaii. That has
been our traditional policy for half cen.
tury or more. And, Therefore, as am ad-
vissd by members of his cabinet, he is do
Ing verything he can within reason to In
duce the senate to ratify the treaty. He
wants to make sure of averting possible
complications with another power. He Is
looking to the future For this reason
also he meditates the sensational act of
taking possession Of Hawaii by means of a
naval vessel II all other means of reaching
the desired end should fail.
No Fears For General Lee.
Members Of the cabinet tell me that
when the riots were on in Havana they
had no fear General Lee would be attacked
They never feared the Spaniards would as.
sail the consulate of the United States
They had much more fear that our min
lister to Madrid might be attacked IL there
should come crisis In the relations of
Spain and the United states. In Havana
they say, the United States Is not hated a.
1t Is In Madrid In the Cuban capital the
people hare bad close social and CONNER
cial relations " 18th this country for so long
tnat tney know US very we'll They do not
think we are ali pigs aai brutes. as they
do In Spain. Wherever there is n sign CT
trouble between t...s n:,;!on and Spaln the
Madrid mebs become very ugly toward ey
cry one and everything American
When Hannis Taylor. our former min
lister to Madrid returned to this country
q few months ago he called m Presideu,
mckinley aud told him there had h,e,
various moments when b. D lrei .h. iasn
ton would DO attacked lie l., more, In,
once been under [ oafd hy the Slndris po
lice, but even this rrccauiioa did no.
wholly relieve his fears lie painta f.
gloomy picSure of tho character -, the
mobs In the Spanish capital aud predict
that IL war does break OUT between the
two nations, or q serious crisis comes In
which war Is thought probable, there will
be the gravest danger OF an attack upon
our diplomatio representatives
Notwithstanding the exciting events NJ
the last few days, both In Havana and IN
Washington, find most of the officials Of
the administration inclined TO the belief
shat there will be no war between sna,n
and the United States They do behave.
however, that this NATHAN ,viII - a.