The San Francisco call., 1898-02-08
ADVOCATES NOW
 ADMIT WEAKNESS.
Senators May Soon Have to Abandon the Treaty of AnneXa-
 finn


 WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Just before the Senate went into executive session to-day Morgan of Alabama proposed the following amendment to the resolu- tion of White of California concerning the country's attitude toward Hawaii:
 That the republic of Hawaii, established in and based upon its present constitution, Is d rightful Government and has been and stIll Is recognized as such by the United States of America and by other great powers without any question by any nation of its rightful and sovereign independence; and said constitution Is the true and recognized authority that fixes the measure and the distribution of the rights and powers of government in that republic while said constitution remains in force.
 That in conformity with the existing constitution of the republic of Hawaii, and so long as the same is in force, the powers of government reside in and are to be exercised by the incumbents of the departments, tribunals and offices created by said constitution and filled in pursuance of law, and the lawful electors under said constitution who qualify as such by the taking of allegiance prescribed therein are entitled to share in the government of Hawaii according to the rights secured to them in said constitution and to the extent and in the manner therein pro- vided, as long as the same is in force.
 And said Government of the republic of Hawaii, having in due form signfied it's consent in the manner provided in it's constitution that the Hawaiian Islands, with all the territory appurtenant thereto, over which said Government now claims to exercise sovereign jurisdiction, shall be annexed to and become part of the territory of the United States of subject to the national power and sov- the national and sovereign juris- acted and declared that such concession IS accepted. ratified and confirmed, and that said Hawaiian Islands are annexed as part of the territory of the United sovereign dominion thereof.
 Davis of Minnesota. chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, moved that the resolution of White and the amendment thereto proposed by Morgan be referred to the Foreign Re latiOns Committee, and after a brief coIloquy between White and Morgan the resolution and amendment were so referred. On motion of Davis the Sen ate then went into executive session.
 Teller of Colorado occupied the entire four hours of the executive session in discussing the Hawaiian annexation treaty. During the course of his speech Teller took occasion to say that he should have been glad to discuss the treaty in open session and to the re- mark he added the opinion that the time had almost come when the uues- ton of annexation should be debated on bill looking to legislation by both houses Of Congress rather than on the basis of the treaty. While he thought there might be a bare possibility of se- curing the sixty votes necessary to ratify the treaty, he conceded that un- der the present circumstances this was exceedingly doubtful and he thought the sooner the fact be recognized and a change of front made the better it would be from all points of view.
 There were some Interruptions at this point and it was suggested by some Senators, after the close of the execu- tive session, that the Committee on Foreign Relations would consider the adYlsability of making this change of policy at it's next meeting. to be held on Wednesday of this week
 The statement was, however, made by Senator Davis, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. that there had been no intention of attach Ing the treaty to one of the appropria- ton bills as an amendment as had been stated was the case in some of the newspapers. He made this state ment in reply to a question put by Senator White of California.
 senator Teller advocated the ratifica- ton or the treaty, basing his reasons for this position upon the ground that the annexation of the islands was in the interest of our commerce and in line with our national policy for the past half century. He devoted himself very largely to replying to the objection that mad been raised to acquiring the islands because of the domination of the native race. He undertook to show that there was no foundation for this criticism or If there was suth foundation now 1t need not, he said, long continue to be an essential factor of the situation. He based this statement upon figures which he produced to show that the na- tiyes, or kanakas. were rapidly dying off as result of their commingIing witt outside races. He contended that tbf islanders could not long remain to dis pute the supremacy of some other race and what race that would be depended largely upon the present action of the United States Senate. If we should elect to make the islands a part of the United States the American people would at once become the counseline element in Hawaii but if we should fai