Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-06-10
OFFICIAL PAPER BuRLEIGH co.


HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION.
The war with Spain has given an adj
ded interest to the subject of Hawaiian
annexation and while there are some
arguments made against the idea, it
would appear that the weight of reason
was on the side of annexation. Present
indications favor the early annexation
of the island republic, and the argu-
ments advanced by Representative
Newlands of Nevada are interesting.
He says:
Annexation is the last step in the pro-
cess of evolution which has been going
on for years and which has already
practically made Hawaii Il part us. The
Hawaiian islands are offered to us.
They constitute the, strongest natural
defense for our entire Pacific coast,
which is much more extensive than the
Atlantic coast. They have Il unique
position in the Pacific such as is not en-
joyed by any group of islands in the
let them drift into the possession of
either a hostile or neutral power. Be-
fore long China will be dismembered,
and great powers of England, Germany,
France and Russia will face us on the
Pacific, as well as the rising power of
Japan. The Hawaiian islands consti-
tute the only place from the Alaskan or
Aleutian islands to the tropics, from
San Francisco to Hong Kong, where a
loaf of bread, a glass of water, or a
pound of coal can be obtained. The
little Hawaiian republic is incapable of
repelling aggression. With it's small
but increasing Monaghan population
revolution and Monaghan control are
imminent. These islands must fall into
the hands of some strong power. Can
we afford to let them drift under the
control of any power but our own? A
protectorate is impracticable, for that
involves the obligation to protect with
out the power to control the action Of
the people whom we protect. If we
hereafter attempt control will not that
involve practical conquest?
There is only one harbor capable of
defense in all these islands-Pearl Har-
Dor. Gen. Schofeld declares it to be
an Incompatible harbor. Naval and
military expert say that Notifications
costing half a million dollars would pro-
tect it against the navies of the world.
No nav would be required to defend it.
1t is admitted that if a strong naval
power should take possession of these
islands it could harass our entire Pacific
coast and entirely destroy our merchant
marine. We have seen the Spanish
feet recently with the Canary and Cape
de Verde Islands as a base of attack
harassing our navy and delaying the
movement OF our troops in Cuban
waters, and yet those islands are no
f,,rfhar Iicfort frDp, -, A k1,r+i1 oo,o%
than Hawaii is from our Pacific coast.
We have begun to realize that an at
lacking fleet need not be so strong as a
defensive fleet, for the attacking fleet
knows where 1t is going to attack and
the defensive fleet never knows and con-
s%equently has to guard an entire coast
line. IT there were but one group of
islands in the Atlantic ocean like the
Hawaiian in the Pacific, controlling our
Atlantic coast line, would we hesitate
about their acquisition if they were
freely offered to us. The Atlantic ocean
if narrower than the Pacific. Even
were there no islands in the Atlantic
ocean the European powers could reach
U coast with their navies, but the Pa
clflc ocean is more than twice as wide
and an attack upon our Pacific coast
from the Asiatic coast would be impos-
sible unless the Hawaiian island were in
the possession of a hostile power.
The fertilization and defense of the
Hawaiian Islands would not cost as
much as a single battleship. How man
battleships and Notifications would be
required on the Pacific coast during
either peace or war il some foreign power
held this stronghold in the Pacific
Ocean?
The minority of the foreign affairs
committee admit the Importance oil
Pearl Harbor by recommending an ap'
preparation for it's improvement and for
LITIGATION, and yet the only rights that
we have at Pearl Harbor are contained
in a reciprocity treaty which can be ter
minated by either party. No jurisdic
laws of Hawaii will be enforced there
Not a foot of ground is given us from
which to build Notifications. We have
simply the exclusive right for the entry
of u vessels and the use of the harbol
as long as the treaty is operative.
But 1t is said that all we need is Pear
Harbor, and that we do not need the
islands. Hawaii offers US four islands
OF which Pearl Harbor is a part. Sup
pose we say mo, we won't take these
islands, but we will take your incompar
able harbor." Will Hawaii give us every
thing that is valuable when we discard
the rest? And if she should be so &C
commodating, would it be wisdom K
take a single harbor and run the risl
afterward of having a hostile population
grow up around it, subjectine US in cas-
of an attack from the sea to the doubl,
danger of an attack from land?
Much could be said also as to tn,
commercial advantages Of holding tn,
only halfway station Of the Pacific, bu
I do not propose to 60 into the Hawaiia,
question. I simply contend that it hal
nothing to do with colonial expansion
and should not await the settlement O
the Philippine question.
The distinction should be kept il
MIND. The Philippines mean conquest