Evening star., 1898-06-15
A Reason for the Acquisition of
Hawaii.
HOSTILE PACIFIC FLEETS HARMLESS
Arguments of Messrs. Hamilton and
Hiborn.
SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE

mace Drle1 speech advocating Hawaiian
annexation. He was followed by Mr. Ham
ilton of Michigan, who in the course of his
remarks said:
This question has resolved itself practi-
caIly into this, whether this government Is
willing to receive a conveyance in fee SIM
PIE Of the Hawaiian Islands without money,
price or conquest.
Il predicate no argument upon territor-
ial acquisition. These islands are small.
Their extent of territory is inconsiderable.
We have much unimproved territory, many
overgrown ferce corners to clean out and
much water power running to waste.
In my opinion the most powerful argu-
ment in favor of annexation is that we
thereby pre-empt the only anchorage
of supplies from which hostile fleet could
make descent upon our western coast and
to which it could retire England, France,
Germany, Japan and Russia all have pow
erful squadrons in the Pacific and each of
these squadrons is stronger than our own.
The chairman of the committee on for
eign affairs reports that it is estimated that
Pear. Harbor could be fortified at cost of
s5OO,OO0 to resist the attacks of fleets far
stronger than our own. Holding this all
important strategic point, the enemy could
not remain in that part of the Pacific, thou
sands of miles from any base, without run
nlng out OF coal Su11lClenl 10 get DdCh u
their own possessions.
Sugar Trust and Annexation.
Mr.. Hamilton gave some interesting facts
regarding the relations of the sugar trust
to annexation. He said:
THE gentleman from Georgia states in
effect that annexation would operate in
the interests of the sugar trust. The sugar
trust is engaged in the business of refining
in raS
upon the raw product as the Standard Oil
Company operates upon oil and the coffee
trust upon coffee.
Under our reciprocity treaty with Ha-
waii only raw sugar is admitted duty free.
The trust buys the raw product of Hawaii
at a somewhat less figure than it buys raw
sugar elsewhere, because the longer car
riaSe to other markets and the comparative
nearness of the American market compel
Hawaiian sugar producers to take this low
er price. The trust does not own an acre
of sugar-producirg lands in Hawaii. 1t
converts the raw sugar into the granulated
or refined sugar, making its money in the
process of refining and in the magnitude of
its operations.
ith annexation all grades of sugar.
refined and unrefined, could come in free.
The Hawaiian producers would speedily
erect their own refneries and compete with
the trust in our markets for the sale of
their own refined product. / would be glad
indeed, sir, if we could annex conditions to
nation ever gaining control of Hawaiian
sugar. AS to this country, 1 look forward
to a time when the beet-Sugar industry will
make sugar beets the common product of
our farmers, giving them another staple
product besides wheat. The policy of en-
couragirg and fostering the beet-growing
industry in this country under wise republi-
can legislation is the most splendid policy
conceivable at present for the practical ben
eft of American agriculture
Il call attention to the following statis-
tics on this subject
Worlds production of sugar. crop of
1867, 1851 600 tons: sugar consumption of
the United States for 1896. = 2tl3 600 tons:
sugar imported from Hawaii 1896 176 900
tons; sugar imported from countries other
than Hawaii in 1896 ia 500 tons: cane
sugar produced in United States in 1886.
269,oDo tors: beet sugar produced in United
States in 1896, A 800 tons
United states treasury statistics for the
last twenty-three years show that the av-
erage annual increase of sugar consump-
ton in the United States has been Il per
cent.
If the increase for 1895 is up to the aver
age. il will amount to nearly 300 600 tons
making total consumption of approx,
mately 2,550.OuO tons for the year.
II the increased consumption should
amount 10 only one-third the previous aver
age, say 100000 tons per annum the United
States consumption in ten years would
amount to 100000 tons per annum
average size of beet-sugar factory ca
paclty for producing $500 tens of sugar
per crop-Average cost of such factory
S5o.ooO; amount CT sugar imported from
countries other than Hawaii during 1896.
i'h49oo tons; to produce this quantity
n,o Woulu n require 5o6 factories, costing s177-
pppo; II the annual increase in consump-
tlon or sugar in the United States is only
Fer cent instead of u per cent. as II has
been for the last twenty-three years. there
WnI De required each year forty-two addi-
dlonal factories, costing each year, s14. 100
Vo' thus In the next ten years 1t will re-
quire at least 42O additional factories to
supply the annual increase in consumption
alone. costing S14I0UO,OOO.
Until the present amount imported and
an the increased consumption IS supplied
py 3eet sugar there will be no Competition
by Hawaii in sugar
with every farm growing itc cron ~
beets for this mighty home consumntion
the sugar trust will no longer be a FACTOR
Tor consideration. 1t has been suggested
5hat py annexation We annex a sugar-pro-
ducing area that will injuriously compete
with our own home producers This is a
View 1ndustriously fostered, 1 am told. by
the sugar trust at some expense
But to say that the small Hawaiian pro-
uuct could appreciably affect the general
sugar market here would be like saving
mat carload of wheat shipped in the
northwest could modify the general price
of wheat f1' 1'>e
The People of Hawaii
Inc controlling intelligent forces of Ha
wan are pohe OF our bone and flesh of our
hesh- In the annexation of Hawaii we
merge no alien nationality We annex
american institutions, American HOLIDAYS.
american courts and American laws
americans now own approximately three.
lourths OF all the property in Hawaii
americans consume IS per cent of their ex
Ports. Americans furnish IS per cent of
thelr imports. And IS per cent of their for
elgh trade Is carried in vessels flying the
American flag. e
Ihe people are American in symnatbv
ana lately Hawaii harbored and is still har
poFihs our vessels on their way to Manila
IN deiance OF the law of nations which
1orDlds neutral power to harbor aid or
support belligerent in time Of war These
lslands nave been repeatedly seized by other
powers, but have hitherto ESCAPED con-
quest. But without invasion without con-
quest and without force the old stars and
stripes went up there four years ago snon
taneously. as emblematic of a government
already American from choice. Some one
nauled them down then, it Is true but WILL
ing hands are still waiting to haul them up
again and nail them there, to flap for ali
time in the winds of the Pacific" (Ap-
plause.)
Mr.. HilbOrn for Annexation.
At the evening session of the House Mr..
Hilborn Of California spoke in favor of an
nexation. He said:
Mr. Speaker. one Sunday morning, only