The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-27
BRANTLEY ON HAWAII.
What the Congressman Has to Say
About Annexation.

About Annexation.
Brunswick, Ga, June 26.-The effect of
Congressman Branuey's speech at East
man on Wednesday last in regard to the
annexation of Hawaii, Cuba or any other
country, or portion of country, has been
to cause much discussion throughout the
Eleventh district. To more fully set his
views before the public, I to-day asked
him for an interview on this important
subject and in it he said:
THE proposition to annex the Hawaiian
Islands passed the House by an over
whelming majority and has majority in
the Senate favorable to it whenever a
vote is reached.
ut is charged that the annexation of
these islands is but the beginning of a pol
icy of imperialism. A distinguished Re-
publican speaker, on the floor of the
House, recently said, that these islands
would be for us but a stepping stone in
the path across the Pacific to our more
distant possessions in the Orient.
There seems to be a growing sentiment
i'm favor of the annexation of not only
the Hawaiian Islands but as we'll the
Philippines, Porto Rico and Cuba.
IN the war resolutions passed by the
present Congress, there is a clause, in
pect to exercise any sovereignty or ju-
risdiction over the island of Cuba except
for the pacification thereof and when this
Is accomplished the island VIII be turned
over to its own people. Notwithstanding
this declaration, it is asserted, that il
would be no Inconsistency upon our part,
if, after Cuba is made free, the Cuban
republic should propose annexation to us
and we should accept IT,
'This question of ACKNOWLEDGMENT or
Imperialism threatens to become a very
live issue and many regard it already as
one of the most important issues now
before the American people.
IF this policy Is entered upon It will
overturn the traditions and policy of this
government for a century back. 1t is con-
trary to the teachings of Washington and
| Jefferson. II means the overturning of the
Monroe doctrine, because we cannot with
any show of consistency ask European
Countries to keep their institutions out of
our continent, and al the same time set
up our republican institutions in the east
at is conceded that such policy would
require a vast increase in our standing
army and as well In our navy, and i'm all
likelihood woald enVolve us in European
discussions, from which We have uni
formly kept free
Elm our present detached situation we
are hardly in danger of any war, except
| such as we choose to declare We have
no segregated territory TO become a host
age to any foreign power with a stronger
navy than ours. No country could hope
TO gain any advantage by waging war
against us, because no country could hope
! to successfully invade our territory and
obtain any portion of it,
Under our constitution we cannot
maintain colonies. We can only add new
| territory by making new states out of It,
! Our Supreme Court so declared In the ia :
| nous Dredd Scott case. Any other ruling
1 would mean the overturning of the De-
! claration Of Independence itself in which
| our forefathers declared, that all men
| were created equal, and that all lust gov
| ernment derives its power from the con-
| sent of the governed.
so far as the Hawaiian Islands them
! selves are concerned, they are distant more
! than two thousand miles from our shores.
| They arc many hundreds OF miles out Of
! the track of steamers plying between san
! Francisco and Manila. If they are me-
cessity from a military or strategic stand
| point, as IS commended il is freely insist
! ed in reply that this necessity is met by
| our present treaty with the Islands, under
| which the exclusive control of Pearl River
! harbor is granted to this government dir
| ing the existence of the treaty This har-
| Dor Is said to be the Only one on the Islands
! that could be successfully and completely
| defended.
Notwithstanding the alleged necessity
! OF preparing these Islands for defensive
! PURPOSES no step has ever been taken 60
! equip or in any manner fortify this har-
! Dor
THE treaty referred to Is a reciprocity
! treaty, and under il we admit free of duty
! in this country the sugar, molasses and
| some other products Of these islands. The
| agures show Tint in the past twenty
! years we have RENTED duties amounting
! ia the aggregate to something like sixtv-
| Eve million dollars and that we have only
sold OF our products 10 the people Of these
islands sixty-seven millions of dollars.
This remission Of duties has Injured sole
] II to the benellt of the people Of the Ha-