The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-03
WHITE IN OPPOSITION
Acquisition of the Hawaiian Is
lands Would Be Unwise.
HE HAD HIS AUTHORITIES
The Control of Honolulu Not Necessary
for the Defense of the Nicaraguan
Canal = Sentimentality and
Sugar the Base OF 1t.

| OF California continued his speech in
| oposition to the Hawaiian annexation
treaty in the executive session of the
senate amid many Interruptions and
much cross fire. In the main his speech
was continuation of the argument on
constitutional lines, which was begun
| yesterday. but he also took ND ques-
tions of practical purport in to-day's
| speech and undertook to show that
| for reasons of commerce and defense.
the acquisition of the islands would be
| unwiSe.
Previous to Mr.. Whites speech the
| senate spent about three quarters of
| an hour in executive session. with the
| doors closed, trying to decide whether
| Senator Pettigrew's resolution concern
ing the acquisition of territory which it
| would require navy to defend should
| De debated in open or executive ses-
| sion. When the vote was taken the
majority was found to be against the
| proposition for open session.
| When Mr.. White resumed the floor
he continued his citation of authorities
to show that the policy of this country
| In the past has really been against the
| annexation of the Hawaiian islands
he reviewed most of the documents
| quoted by Senator Morgan as favor
able to annexation of the islands for
| the purpose of showing that they were
| all favorable to Hawaiian independ-
| ence, but not to Hawaiian annexa-
| ton.
Senator White then took up the con-
| tention that the control of Honolulu
| was necessary to the defense of the
| Nicaraguan canal and asserted that
thefe was no foundation to support it
| ana gave ngureS to show that if the
| defense of the canal became necessary
| by this country, it would be defended
| from either San Diego or San Fran
n1,,J., "A
| that no enemy could use Honolulu as
a base of supplies in case of war with
the United States because the modern
war vessel does not carry enough coal
to make the round trip and to delay
for hostile purposes. He quoted from
Admiral Belknap to the effect that
Honolulu could be fortified effectually
| and General Schofield to the effect that
| 1t could not be fortified at all by land
| defense. which shows that the author
| tiles differ. He contended that if one
of the islands should be forfeited all
three of them should be. and that it
would require an immense navy TO re-
main there permanently, while the ac-
QUESTION of this territory would not
diminish the expense of Notifications
and maintaining navy at home
The senator challenged any one to
produce proof of hostile intentions on
the part of England, Spain or Germany.
or any other power, and cited the dec
laration of various statesmen from
each country denying any desire to in
terfere in any manner with the United
States.
The whole scheme for the annexa-
tion of Hawaii he said, lis based upon
sentlmentality and sugar, and con-
tinuing this line of presentation he said
that the sugar people who were get
ting $S.000000 to $4,000, 900 a year under
the reciprocity treaty were back of the
annexation project, with the hope of
making the benefits now derived from
reciprocity perpetual. If it were not
he said. for this condition of affairs,
the treaty would never have been
heard of, and hence he charged that
the patriotism of senators was being
imposed upon to consummate most
disgraceful proposition"
Among the senators who interrupted
Mr.. White We're Messrs. Hoar, Teller,
Morgan Hale, Chandler, Wolcott and
Tillman.
Senator Hoar's interruption brought
on a prolonged debate in which several
senator's participated and which for a
time threatened to divert the discus
sion from the lines which Senator
White evidently desired to pursue. The
Massachusetts senator referred to the
japanese on the islands and the COM
plications growing out of their presence
there. To this Mr.. White replied that
the present Hawaiian government was
importing contract laborers under a
provision which goes to the extent of
permitting their Imprisonment. He as
serted that since the trouble occurred, a
few months since. which resulted in
refusing permission to 700 Japanese to
land on the islands. over 1000 had been
brought in under contract. This prac-
tiee he denounced as hypocritical
Senator Tillman of South Carolina
came into the debate. making some
assertions which created a breezy stir
for a few minutes. The South Carolina
senator referred to the recent Hawaiian
revolution and what he termed the
effort of the royalst party to establish |
a government on the islands when they
numbered only one out of 50 inhabit- |
ants, and in this connection referred 10
the party lines in the South after the |
war. We were then" he said. lin |
South Carolina attempting to establish |
white mans government. The repub- |
lican party interfered with us then. or |
attempted TO do so. processing to hold |
opinions about the sacred rights of the |
majority to rule. ! should like to |
know" he continued. whether the re- |
publican party has changed its opinion |
on this subject of the right of the white |
man to rule. | will vote for the treaty"
The distinguished senator from /
South Carolina evidently knows all |
about the effort to re-estabish the |
white mans party in the South after |
much interesting information on that |
point. said Senator Chandler
1 do know something about it," re-
sponded Mr.. Tillman. .and | know that |
there was some cheating and some use /
of the shotgun in those times, as there /
probably was in Hawaii
Tine senator from South Carolina |
would hardly think" interrupted /
Senator Hoar. say in open session
what he has here said
Il am willing TO say il anyw here"
said MIR. Tiilman. I want the policy
all along the line. Throw open the
doors and | will say what ! have said
before the entire world"
Probably the most significant occur
renee Of the day WAS the fact that Sen
ator Morrill,. who has. during his entire
career, been exceedingly conservative
on The question of executive sessions Of