The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-05-28
HAWAII MUST BE ANNEXED
Or Dewey Ordered Home Henry WatterSOnS
Eloquent Address to Kentucky Troops
Holland Solves the Problem of
Blowing up Spanish Fleet.

out OF the action Of the Hawaiian gov
ernment in allowing the United States
TO make Honolulu a base OF supplies and
naval operations in the Pacific. Your cor
respondent Is informed on the highest au-
thority that France and Germany through
their consular representatives in Honolulu
have taken action which Is construed 70
indicate their displeasure at the course
Of Hawaii They have not entered any
formal protest, but have inquired OF the
Hawaiian government what its attitude
will be during the war. What reply II
any. the Hawaiian government made TO
this inquiry Is not yet known at Washing
ton. II Is known. however, that the
government in the island will not main
tain neutrality. but will allow the United
states TO use its territory and harbor at
Honolulu as freely as II they were part
OF the United States. BY 80 doing the
Hawaiian government takes the position
Of being practically an ally Of the United
States and takes upon itself full response
bllity for this attitude. The Spanish
consul in Honolulu still maintains his re-
!ations with President Dole's govern
ment. but when the cruiser Charleston
and the transports bound for Manila take
on coal and provisions at Honolulu 1t Is
believed he will protest emphatiealy
against ii. and upon his protest being
disregarded will sever his connections
with the government and demand his
passports. -
President Mckinley realizes that II the
Spanish consul should be Joined in his
protest by the representatives Of other
/ European governments there would be
grave complications with those nations
/ and the president is more than anxious
! that congress should lose no time In for
mally annexing the islands to the United
States so as to give Spain and other ma
tions no ground on which to base their
protest. President Mckinley has been
strongly urged TO take possession OF the
islands as Il military necessity and II
/ congress was not in session 1t Is probable
he would do so. He is reluctant to take
any such action. however, while congress
| is in session and while the question OF
annexation is pending in that body. the
military necessity exists, however and
/ the administration will avail itself OF
privileges granted by the Hawaiian gov
ernment to use the islands as a military
! and naval base. There is no escape from
doing So in fact, and II the facilities for
coaling and provisioning the vessels are
not used at Honolulu the administration
would practically bo compelled to aban-
don the Philippines and call Rear Ad-
mlral Dewey home. regardless Of the
fact that by so doing it would leave
condition Of affairs that would be certain
| to bring on a European war; SPANS
power in the Philippines is broken. Rear
Admiral Dewey and his fleet represent the
supreme authority there now. Should they
| be withdrawn condition Of affairs would
! exist which would lead to the landing OF
forces of the warships of European pow
ers. Clashes of authority would ensue and
a conflict might break out which would in
volve all Europe. This being the case, the
administration must reinforce Dewey and
in doing so the Hawaiian islands must be
used as a base Of supplies.
Some of the presidents military and