Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-31

!
moters OF the job. What we may term
the more recent Hawaiian annexation plot
dates back some six years. Ii Is ring
| scheme OF the worst kind. BY virtue OF
the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty the sugar
kings of the islands, who employ tho
lowest and most servile type Of labor at
starvation wages, have been receiving
| practically bounty OF millions of dollars
| per annum. But these worthless have real
lied that at any time the treaty might be
abrogated, thus cutting off the subven-
| ton, and they have been straining every
| nerve 20 secure a virtual permanent con-
| tinuance of the bounty through the only
means that would be left. that of making
| Hawaii an integral part Of the United
| States. Reduced TO its last analysis-that
is the true inwardness OF the whole an
nexatlon movement
In order to consummate the scheme the
promoters, as we know connived at re-
bellion on the islands; countenanced the
overthrow Of the constituted authorities.
and succeeded in dragging our navy into
the middle in a manner that redounded
In nowise to our credit. Failing how
ever, to get us so mixed up In the revolu-
ton that we could not avoid taking pos
session OF the islands, they next worked
"A series OF bugaboo arguments, Intended
10 influence public sentiment I'm favor Of
annexation. One after another foreign
Power was held up as having designs
upon Hawaii, which, according to the pro-
moters, rendered IL imperative that we
should hoist our flag over the group; but
on investigation the designs of none OF
these Powers showed the slightest evil
dence of being about to materialize. On
the contrary the more the designs were
agitated, the more apparent became the
disposition of foreign Powers to recog-
nize that Hawaii was covered by the
Monroe doctrine.
> The latest argument of the promoters
IS that possession Of the islands by US
is a military necessity, one contention
on which they lay particular stress being
that without coalng facilities at Honolulu,
the United States would have TO withdraw
from the Philippines and give up all the
results of Dewey's brilliant victory.
There has been danger that this pre-
sentation OF the case would influence
to champion annexation a great many |
persons hitherto opposed to it, But
there is really nothing in the conten- |
ton The distance from San Francisco |
to Manila is about the same as the |
distance from San Francisco to Hong |
kong. and steamships like the City of |
Pekin now engaged in transporting |
troops to the Philippines frequently |
make the latter trip without stopping |
anywhere for coal. AS to monitors on |
the Pacific coast, if we were to start |
one of them to Manila it would have to
coal from a collier anyhow. AS to any
other naval vessels, we have no battle
ships we could send to the Philippines
for some time to come, and it is we'll
know that our cruisers of the first
class, sailing under reduced rate OF
speed, and with a full supply of coal, |
are capable of steaming, not 1000, but
y ,OOO miles, without taking in a fresh
supply.
No, the miltary-necessity argument of
the promoters is no sounder and no
more entitled to consideration than any
other they have advanced. Yet look
ing at the question from the standpoint
Of their interests, we are not surprised
that they are pressing it with desperate
zeal Looking at it from any other
standpoint, the selfshness of their fight
oil ha oil ho nd Of |
war with Spain will place us practically
In control of Cuba and Porto Rico. If
these islands should be allowed to send
their sugar TO this country free, and
the Hawaiian reciprocity treaty should
be repealed, what would become of the
Hawaiian sugar kings? Need we go fur
Their?
AS we have frequently said, the time
may come when it will be necessary for
ls-when it will be good policy for US
to annex Hawaii. The policy we shall
determine upon regarding the Philip
pines may render annexation ne
But, apart from all else, an
nexation now might cause US to take
an unwise step in the far East. 1t would
have a tendency to en-
courage expansionists and the new
school of statesmen who think they are
wiser than were the fathers of the
SO it would seem well from
every point of view that the annexa-
ion resolution be allowed TO take what
ever course is best calculated to kill It
'or the present.
We are aware that not a few public
nen advocate annexation under the hon
st belief that it would be to the best in
erests Of the country. But the facts and
he logic are against them. AS the case
low stands the resolution is not only
oaded with disgraceful job, but with
menace to time-honored principle
,efore compromising which we should
hink long and deeply.
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A Chicago special says that at quar-
er past 1 o'clock to-day, the Letter
Wheat deal. which has been under way
WAR will cloSa II has bepp