The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-23
johnson, of Indiana, DeuOunces An
nexation Scheme.
CONTRARY TO OUR TRADITIONS.
Once Begun, He Does Not Think the
Ind of Such a Colonization Policy
Can BE Forcsecn Dangerous
TO the Nation.


had been voted down with a vast deal
o. political spcech-making. and 10 was
also sienaiizcd by the firing Of the first
eu in opposition 70 Hawaiian anneNa-
ton.
Mr Johnson. an Indiana Republican,
deliveries speech that electrified the
House and the galleries in denunciatiOn
of what he termed an attempt 10 cut
loose from the traditional policy OF the
United States and enter upon a scheme
of colonization that had proved the ruin
OF empires and of nations. The speech,
coming entirely unheraldcd. produced d
deep impression.
Tho general debate on the sundry civil
oil was concluded to-day and tomorrow
ono uill viii be taken up FOR amendment.
AIR Johnson delivered his speech dur
iug thc debate on the sundry civil bill
POWERS AT WORK.
sir. Johnson IN opening referred TO the
very contest now on I'm the Senate over
hawaiian annexation and said the friends
ana supporters OF the treaty both inside
aud outside of the Senate were turning
Heaven and earth 20 secure its adoption,
and that President Mckinley was labor
ing 90 change the convictions OF the SEN
aforial opponents of the measure. He
discussed the recent visit Of President
Dole and suggested that the Hawaiian
everything 10 gain and nothing 10 lose.
He urged concentration OF popular at
teniion on the issue and the disabuse Of
The minds Of tho people Of erroneous
impressions and asserted that once put
10 che test either I'm the Senate or the
House. the American people would he
quick 10 discover the danger involved
and so condemn H.
"ft will be- buried" said he beyond the
raHf rt.ff etselIT "a Pc
ZION. / am opposed to the annexation OF
Hawaii" ne continued. because believe
the people of Hawaii are opposed TO II.
am not 10 be confused by this special
plea that the real sentiment Of the people
of the Sandwich Islands IS only 10 be OBJ
tanned from the views OF those who as
stunned 10 govern them. That, sir. Is the
fnorest technicality. There IS no room here
for the application OF narrow doctrine OF
estoppcl
when Il was charged in 1893 at the
time when the republic succeeded the
monarchy. that the revolution was aided
bv the interposition OF American cu-
zens. / did not believe II was true. said
Mr. Johnson. land / denied it vigorously
at the time but the persistency with
which this treaty Of annexation is being
pressed gives color % the accusation then
made and which ] .hen so earnestly
denounced
\ COLONIAL POLICY.
, I. did NOT favor the holding Of terri
tory under the shadow OF the American
f8g. colonial policy might he adapted
10 tho nations Of antiquity. but II would
not do for free country which derived
its power from the consent Of the gov
cucd Or would be unwisc and short
sighted. nc said ST. we should cut loose
from ln the traditions Of the past. and
rashly embark on tho unknown sea or
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Possession ~ tNtrancOus territory
meant constant source of irritation
The history OF fne world proved this. II
was urged that the Sandwich Islands
were tho key to the Pacific It's strategic
Importance was emphasized as If guns
mounted there could command the Mica
Sd qua Canal and the Pacific coast thou
sands of miles away.
The annexation of Hawaii would estab-
lisl a bad precedent. which we would be
urged 90 follow at am carly date The
appetite grew by what It fed upon. To-
day the cry was GIVE us Hawaii" to-
morrow IL would be Give MS Cuba" and
the next day GIVE MS samoa These
appeals would am bee justified by the
pleas and sophistrics which appealed 70
our vanity and Cupidity until at last we
would find ourselves irretr vably COM
terial happiness Of our people hurryine
along q path which was strewn with the
wrecks OF empires and Of nations. Gu
pldity bred oppression. 50 piled up taxes;
70 stirred mp strife; ii shed human blood
50 was the first step toward dlsmember-
ment
"PEACE."
"I.et the nations Of the old World pur-
sue This policy Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT 10 their
hearts content: LET them saddle their peo-
ple with debt. equip armies ana naVles
and shed oceans OF blood. Let England
boast If she plcascs that the sun never
sets upon her territory, but let MS re-
member 70 never goes down upon inc
misery her policy has created. While
others seek war and It's horrors let MS
soothe our people with enduring peace
Peace hath her victories no lesa renowned
rhan war
eve are i'm the infancy OF our resources.
tho morning of our material Development
We viii Doc wise 90 develop our maichless
country. The internal reforms which our
country demand present hcld broad
enough 10 enlist our best efforts, the
nurifcaticn Of the ballot. the crushing Of
rho rinrs and trusts which plumber our
people without stint. the restriction OF
immigration. the establishment Of FIX
cd ana stable standard OF value and the
reform OF our banking laws shord work
Tor us o. do.
Let a. not be known and eXecrated as
The Fostering bullies OF the western hem
ispbere Our country IS all-powerful, the
world comedies our strength
PROUD. But APPRENTICESHIP.
while I am proud OF our navy. con-
tinued Mr. Johnson. mprcssively, Il
sometimes think that tho powerful bat
fleships we have built have bred feelings
~ intolerance and insolence IL IS not
more true that plcthoric treasury breeds
public plumber than that "a well equipped
army and navy rashly leads 10 friction
and war Let cur equipment insure peace
rather than provoke war. While IL may
seem that these remarks are premature
and that ] have taken too firm a grip on
the forelock OF time Il Is my purpose
20 sound the alarm that the House and
the country may understand the charac-
ter Of the proposition pending In the
Senate.
my information Is that the treaty vii
fan ln the Senate bat 81 viii be supplant-
ed by Joint resolution providing for
the annexation of the islands Z do not
doubt SIS passage 10y the Senate. and that
. will come here. II the Senate fails
20 do its duty. let us. fresh from the peo-
pie. exercise our high provocative ano
send n 20 It's doom. I trust God II VIII no'
be made a party measure. If we turn
from this temptation now and adhere to
"a N