The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-14
A BETTER ISSUE THAN 10 TO L.

The Democrats in the House seem to be
determined to make an issue against an
nexation as a general policy of the eoun-
try. All the speeches of the Democrats de-
lvered thus far on the Hawaiian resolu-
tons in opposition, and it is announced
that caucus will be held to make an eff
fort to bring the whole membership into
line against the resolutions. This may be
difficult, since several Democratic members
of the House have been advocating the an
nexation of Hawaii. In the Senate, Senator
Morgan, of Alabama has been one of the
most strenuous advocates of the acquisition
of Hawaii. The New York Journal, the
most prominent Democratic paper in the
East in harmony with the Democrats in
Congress on general issues, is one of the
most persistent advocates of annexation.
One of the leading objections to annexa-
ton is that it will bring into the nation
large alien population who know nothing
of our institutions and government. Jeffer-
son was probably the most extensive an
nexationist this country has ever had. He
was so anxious to acquire what was known
as the Louisiana purchase that he did not
wait for Congress, but assumed the respon-
sibility of closing the deal. When he was
assaled by the Federalists on the ground
that the Constitution provides for no such
extension, Jefferson acknowledged that such
is the case in one of his private letters. as
follows:
The Constitution has made no provision
f@r hold f,1rr
for incorporating foreign nations into our
Union. The executive, in Selling the fugi-
tive occurrence which so much advances
the good of their country, has done an act
beyond the Constitution. The legislature, in
casting behind them metaphysical subtle
ties and rislxing themselves like faithful
servants. must ratify and pay for it, and
throw themselves on their country for do
ing for them, unauthorized, what we know
they would have done for themselves had
they been in situation to do it.
The Louisiana purchase gave the United
States all of the territory west of the Mis-
sissippi river, which a dozen populous States
now cover, with it's alien and mixed popula-
ton. If Jefferson had listened to the men
who now object to the acquisition of Hawaii
the United States would not now stretch
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
California came to us in 1s4S by conquest
1t was then a foreign country, inhabited
principally by an alien race, speaking a
foreign language. True California is a part
of the continent, but at the time of it's ac-
QUESTION 1t was as far removed from what
was at that time the United States as are
the Philippines at the present time
The annexation of Hawaii has been adj
vocated by leading statesmen for years. In
the estimation of these men we need II
as an outpost. The annexation of the Phil
ippines is another matter. Our present half
possession of the islands is one of the 'fugi-
tive occurrences of Mr. Jefferson. We
have sent military governor there as we
did to California when it was taken by
conquest. What disposition shall be made
of it is question of the future The same
is true of Cuba, and it is equally true of
Hawaii. The question will, not be disposed
of by opposing annexation. We shall have
these islands on our hands at the close of
the war. Will the Democratic leaders de-
clare that 1t is our duty to abandon Cuba
and the Philippines as soon as the Spanish
are-beaten? If not, what policy have they
TO propose? Still. general anti-annexa-
ton policy is a broader one for a party
than the free and unlimited stamping of
40 cents worth of silver bullion as one dol