The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-05-12
FOR ANNEXATION
Argument Used By Senator LODGE
on the Subject.
ISLANDS NEEDED BY AMERICA
Would Be Valuable as Base of Sup
plies for Operations in
the East.
ISLANDS NEEDED BY AMERICA


Washington correspondent telegraphs:
Rear Admiral Dewey's gallant
achievements of yesterday and the able
and courageous support given him by
the officers and men of his fleet render
it imperative that the Government
should not hesitate moment to send
supplies to him by the feetest ships
that sail out of San Francisco. This
is no time to speculate what eastern
ports may be open to our ships or in
dulge in what might have been" dis
cussions in the event of the annexation
of the Hawaiian Islands. The prompt
and vigorous action of Rear Admiral
Dewey in front of the Spanish fleet in
spired the Secretary of the Navy to
take immediate measure to relieve our
fleet in the Pacific Ocean of any en-
barrassment it might feel for want of
coal.
Accordingly, orders were telegraphed
to San Francisco this morning for the
Government authorities to select two
of the swiftest ships at that port, load
them with coal and dispatch them at
once to the relief Admiral Dewey's
fleet.
1t was during the consideration of
this subject that the question of an
nexing Hawaii forced itself to the
front. Senator Lodge of Massachu-
setts, Senator Frye of Maine and Sen
ator Gray of Delaware, three of the
ablest and best-informed members of
the Committee on Foreign Relations,
were at the Navy Department and dis
cussed the proposition with Secretary
Long. Senator Lodge said he regret
ted very much the failure of the Unit
ed States to annex Hawaii several
years ago.
I'VE never needed it as much as we
need it today, added the Massachu-
setts Senator, with great earnestness.
"It would be an invaluable piece of
property at this moment and to my
opinion the United States should not
hesitate a moment longer about ac-
cepting the generous and thoroughly
business-like proposition of the Ha-
waiian Government.
Some of the wise men of this gen
eration," continued Senator Lodge,
were shrewd enough to appreciate
the necessity of the acquisition of Ha-
waii by the United States. If our peo-
pie who were opposed to annexation
would throw aside political and per-
sOnal considerations and look at the
situation from an international stand
point and as a plain, practical, busi-
ness proposition they would insist on
the immediate ratification of the treaty
now pending before the Senate. Take
existing conditions into consideration
and any reasonable man will be struck
at once with the Importance of the
United States having a base of sup
plies in the Pacific Ocean. Here is our
gallant Asiatic squadron fighting sue
cessfully to uphold the national stand
ard in that far away eastern country.
We have no means of knowing at the
present moment what injuries our
ships and crews have sustained in yes
terday's conflict. We are also in the
dark as to the supply of coal the fleet
has at its diposal. With all foreign
ports closed against us our only re-
course is to ship a coal supply from
San Francisco.
How different would be the condi-
tions if Hawaii had been annexed to
the United States before this war with
Spain came on. With cable communi-
cation between Hawaii and San Fran
cisco we could relieve Rear Admiral
Dewey's fleet from any embarrassment
it may be subjected to for want of
coal. Consider the difference in the
number of days it takes to go from
San Francisco to Manila and that Ha
waii is more than half way between
those points. and it is at once appar-
ent that Hawaii would be of inesti-
mable value as part of United States
territory
A Washington dispatch of May to