The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-15
Houston Post Bureau.
Sun building, 1871 r Street,
washinofon January 10.

today on the question or the haWhiHp
treaty. This operation will probably be re-
pcated every day for the next two or thres
weeks. and this question Is going to be
holly discussed from every standpoint
Senator Chiffon Is against annexation. and
knowing that tho people Of Texas would
like to read his views on the subject.
called him into the marble room today and
got him to talk. ! told him I understood
he was ''forninst" annexation and that
would like to give The Post the reasons for
the faith In him.
He said: There are powerful forces be-
hind the project Of anncxing the Hawaiian
Islands. and It is difficult TO predict the
fate OF the treaty now pending in the SEN
ate believe. however. 1t will be de-
featcd.
Among those forces is that tendency
which constantly exhibits itself among
certain OF our public men and people who
dread Great Britain and initiate her for
cign policies. Their reasoning is that Great
britain has an extended colonial empire,
therefore We should reach out Tor colonies;
Great Britain has a monster naval arma-
mcnt; therefore we ought TO cover the seas
OF the world with our battleships. Think
els and takers of this class forget that the
problem OF government in the British emf
pre is totally different problem from
that with which the United States have "
deal.
England proper. or the United Kingdom,
is small in territory. fully developed,
crowded with people. and by its situation
permanently fastened TO commerce as the
tfurht mn, ..f ;I,,, n,,I Gnt-
many are seeking to enter the same field
OF acquisition partly IRON the spirit OF
imitation to which | have alluded, and
partly also from n like pressure OF over
crowded population. Conditions in the
United States are totally dssimilar. We
have great undeveloped territory. Agrl-
culture has beensn the past and will again
be In the future an instrument to give US
worldwide power and general prosperity.
If the letters could only be taken off
American agriculture and all men left to
their natural opportunities on this CONT
nent. the Southern cotton raiser would be
the most comfortable laborer on the earth's
surface. What we need Is not policies TO
transplant American energy and enter.
prise into other parts of the world. but
policies which will enable our own people
TO develop at home those resources which
now lie at our feet in splendid but dor
mant profuson.
Another great force In connection with
Hawaiian annexation which always mani
tests itself in Washington with special
stress. Is the general disposition of army
and navy officers. their relatives and
friends, to fomeit schemes of daring and
foreign exploitation. Men
who belong to the military aud naval pro-
tha
and traditional conditions In the United
States their opportunities for advancement
are doubtful; but they know that il we
reach out to annex Hawaii we will need
4 still greater navy; they know that ever,
reason which calls for the acquisition of
Hawaii will call for more warships, morc
and more promotions; and
they know, too. that when the American
appetite for conquest ia once aroused 1t
will not stop with the insignificant islands
Of the Pacific which form the subject of the
sending treaty.
While the two great reasons which
nave suggested make large sections of the |
American people friendly to the scheme OF
Hawaiian annexation. the handspring of
he project is force stlll less lofty. The
real reason why the annexation OF Hawaii
was pushed upon this country in 1892 under
harrison and In 1897 under Mckinley is |
nothing more or less than a selfish design !
IN the rart of the Hawaiian sugar planters |
TO come within the boundaries OF the |
american republic so as to obtain the ben
lit of our tariff laws.
For many years there has been re- |
'ipiocity treaty between the government
Of Hawaii and the government OF the |
ln,ted states by which the sugar of the |
'andwich Islands should be admitted into |
his country free Of duty. When the Me- |
smiley bill was enacted In 1890 duty was |
AIKEN OF OF sugar, and, as n concession |
% the American sugar raiser, bounty |
VAS given in place OF il tariff. Under this !
condition OF affairs the Hawaiian sugar
planters possessed no advantage over the
ugar- planters of Cuba or any other coun-
ny. for the reason that all sugar was
admitted free, and hence the reciprocity
reaty discriminating in favor OF Hawaii |
was valueless TO them.
so they quickly trumped up a new gov
'rnment. dethroned the re!gning queen,
md before the balance of the world could
wink It's ewes had closed treaty with |
resident Harrison by which they could
nave come within the shaltering fold of
mr. Union and our sugar bounty law. Pres
dent Clsvelgnd WAS inauglmated how
Ner. before the rlot was worked out TO
nceess, and he put his big foot down on 1t.
So we heard no more of annexation until
resident Mckinley came into office. The
'ngicy bill was put upon the boards. A
1sh tarif on sugar was to be levied and
great many Northern as well as Southern
enators were In favor of repeating the
eeiprocity engagements which had been
Inferred into with Hawaii nearly quarter
y century AFRO ON the ground that they
we're one sided and against the interests OF
ne American people. II Was soon .discov-
Yea that There was strong likelihood
mar a clause to that effect would DC put
u the pinsley bill,
immediately the annexation fever broke
ut again. Everything worked with ljcht.
ing rapldlty, and before the Dngley iii i
's nnaiiy acted on full fifdged aan,Sa-
ION treaty was sent 10 he senate by m.
Incentive. Everybody recognized, OF course
nat II was idle u expend time IN tbe
lseussion OF reciprocity with Hawaii II
iaWait was to be Incorporated mo our
wh nationality, SO the temporary nun
ose OF the Hawaiian sugar planters was