The herald., 1898-06-12
ONLY A SAMPLE OF ORATORY
TO COME
ARGUMENT OF ExPEDIENCY
Opposed by Assertions Of the Illegal
ity of Annexation by Joint
Resolution of Congress
Associated Press Special Wire

speeches were made, covering generally
the contention of the support and opposi-
tion to the resolution providing for an
" nexation. Hitt Republican, of Illinois, and
Dinsmore of Arkansas, the ranking Repub-
lican and Democratic members respectively
OF the committee on foreign affairs, opened
the debate for and against annexation.
Clarke, Democrat of Missouri, spoke in
opposition and Walker, Republican, of Mas
sachusetts, Alexander, Republican, of New
York, and Gillette, Republican, of Massa-
chusetts, in advocacy of the proposition.
There was good attendance In the gal
leries but hardly a quorum was at any time
on the fl oor.
The debate will continue Monday, Tues
day and Wednesday, and probably forty
members will make speeches
Today's session was devoed debae
upon the Hawaiian resolutions. Proceed
ings began with a mutual withdrawal by
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio and Mr.. Swanson of
Virginia Of ''uncomplimentary and injuri-
Gus" language used by them relative to
each other in the heat of debate Thursday
night when the revenue conference report
was under consideration.
The Senate amendments to the bill or
ganizing the naval hospital corps were con-
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
then was recognized to begin the Hawaiian
debate advocating annexation. He re-
viewed the provisions of the Newlands
resolutions, being practically identical with
those of the treaty before the Senate. and
with the one which was negotiated five
years since. Thus, he said, the question
was an old one, annexation met with the
vi Of ba To nd
there was nothing of constraint suggested
by the resolutions. The only question to
be considered was whether it would be wise
for this government TO take what was Of
fered. Referring to the strategic import
ance of the islands, he said they constituted
a small territory, but nevertheless niueteen
great powers kept constantly there their
representatives to protect their interests
because of their peculiar location. Mr..
Hit quoted many naval authorities in as
serting the possession of the islands was of
great importance, and pointed out that no
fleet would come from Asiatic waters to
operate against the eastern coast without
touching at Hawaii for supplies and recoal-
ing. The control of the islands would be
practically an effectual barrier to attack
upon our western interests.
AS Illustrating the value of the islands,
he spoke of the recent victory of Admiral
Dewey and the necessity of sending REIN
forcements to him. This work of reinforce
ment could not be accomplished without the
American ships putting into Hawaii 10
recoal.
Referring to the present attitude of Ha-
wall in its open friendship and the aiding
of America, involving the violation of the
neutrality laws before the whole world,
Hit contended that Spain would have just
and enforceable claim against the Ha-
waiian republic for all damages done to her
by American forces aided by Hawaii in
violation of neutrality. This country should
not hesitate to relieve Hawaii of the pros
pective burden and to show appreciation of
The friendship manifested by those in con-
trol of the government, given in defiance of
the entire world and all neutrality laws.
In this connection Hit read from dis
patch of recent date from Minister Sewall,
In which he said:
''The strongest influence has been brought
to bear upon the government to urge 1t TO
declare neutrality"
Hit paid a tribute to the character of
the Americans who have established re-
public in place of a monarchy in Hawaii
and who now dare to act independently of
the world in time of the Spanish-Americau
war.
After reviewing other revolutionary
movements, Mr.. Hit said: 'They are the
same men who took worthless queen and
threw her from her throne when she at
tempted to disregard property rights and
ignore the constitution wrung from her
predecessor" Mr.. Hit spoke not quite an
hour, much of the time being occupied with
Interruptions by members asking questions
Mr. Dnsmore, the ranking Democrat upon
the committee of foreign affairs opened the
debate in opposition. He declared his be-
lief that no constitutional power existed to
annex by joint resolution, as was proposed
and opposed annexation as being undesira-
BILE. 1t would be, he said, the first step
upon policy of colonial aggression. in an
lagonisn to the established rule of the gov-
.rnment, and he added that the reaching
out into foreign lands and the establish
ment therein of American institutions would
necessitate the abandonment OF the Mon
roe doctrine. Logic would dictate it and the
world would demand it. Amerio. could not
interfere in other lands and prohibit for
eign interference in affairs of the North and
South American continents.
Mr.. Dinsmore launched into long discus
Non Of the illegality of annexation by reso-
luton, reading from many legal works to
show that no power existed thus to annex
Replying to those who contend that Hawaii
Is a commercial and naval necessity as a
mid-ocean supply station, he declared there
was already route to Yokohama, Hong
Kong and to Manila from San Francisco
by way of the Aleutian islands, American
possessions, 800 miles shorter than the Ha-
waiian route. The Aleutian route, said he
Is open the entire year and the coolest
weather on record at the Aieutians was
seven degrees above zero. He argued that
hostile ships, with the aid of coliers, could
operate against the western coast. The
holding of Hawaii would necessitate the
keeping of powerful force there, and
would not relieve in any sense the necessity
tor keeping great force at the seaports
Of the western coast. Speaking of the sug-
gestion that Hawaii would be essential to
the control of the Nicaragua canal, Mr..
Dinsmore said San Francisco was 1000 miles
aearer the proposed mouth Of the canal