The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-11
REASONS AGAINST ANNEXATION
Joel Benton of Poughkeepsie.)

1, Because it would be q complete and
Immediate surrender of the Monroe doc
trine That doctrine has for its preamble
distinctly expressed, that we Will not
take part in European or Asiatic land
grabbing, or seek conquest OF non-con-
tinuous territory.
2, Because the ratification of treaty
of annexation would be the attempt to
govern people against its consent, which
is monstrous violation of the principle
upon which our government is founded.
3. Because the conspirators, who are
moving with ''abhorrent forces to con-
summate their crime against an innocent
people, have constantly admitted that
the people cannot govern themselves.
4, Because they do not only admit
this, but show it to be true, since only
5000 voters out of over 100, 900 possible
voters in tina islands are allowed to vote.
5. Because we have no government
machinery fitted to take up, absorb, and
continue an oligarchy, and because the
absorption of the islands would practical
~ make for us, in spite of Lincoln &
emancipation proclamation, slave state.
6. because the subterfuge of saying
you can take it as raw territory, never
to be an organized territory or a state,
will not, and cannot. bind any future
Congress which chooses to make it COM
monwealth or give 1T statehood.
z. Because two more United States
senators of the twild and woolly" kind.
and full of all varieties of rotten economic
doctrine, are not needed to SILK the
United States Senate lower.
s. Because it's frail and baleful vote
as a state might be the turning point in
heated presidential election.
o. Because its admission by Congress,
in spite of court decisions hitherto ex-
Gliding the Chinese from citizenship,
would admit them to 1t.
10. Because prime element IN our
strength as a nation, and our impregna-
bility, rests upon our contiguous and
compact area. Stealing group OF islands
over 200O miles away would destroy this
element Of strength.
II. Because the wicked connivance OF
United States marines, in the deposlng OF
the rightful queen and government,
ought not to he condoned by any further
barbarism for which our government Will
be responsible.
70. Because President Mckinley said
in his message: ~ speak not of forcible
annexation, for that cannot be thought
of. That, by our code of morality, would
be criminal aggression" 1t is true Fiat
the President wasispcaking OF Cuba when
he said this: but it is equally true-in
fact. # ia overwhelmingly true that these
words fit the case of Hawaii exactly.
10. Because 81 900 native Hawaiians
protest against this annexation in an i'm.
pressive petition, to which no reply can
be successfully made.
IA. Because thu claim that Hawaii is
"a "key" to enything the United States
needs is utterly false. A "key" 1000 miles
away from its "Iock'-if it was q "key'
would be worthless.
| IS. Because an overwhelming majority
of our citizens are against annexation
so many, indeed, that not one of our
states could get popular vote in its
favor.
| 49, Because, when President Grant
wished to annex St. Domingo-a nearer
country-and the promoters of the scheme
argued for the possession of it, they used
the precise scare arguments that the new
annexstionists use now-not one of which
has a scintilla of truth to stand on. The
chief one was that England or some Other
bogey would get the island if we refused
| it, This was nearly 80 years ago; ant
| this lie, along with the others, is nc
nearer true than it was then.
II. Because we have perpetual gran
of Pearl river harbor there as a naval an(
coaling station, which is all we want
and which cannot be taken away from
| US.
| 18. Because the mixed Portuguese
| Chinese. Japanese and Hawaiian people
are most undesirable addition to fret
government.
| H. Because our wishes in respect t.
Hawaii's belonging TO ITSELF Will be re
spected by other nations.
20. Because the ownership of the is
lands would imply an enormous enlarge
ment of the navy to hold them, and {
equally expensive and portentous enlarge