The morning news., 1898-06-17
Dole and Company Successful.

There is no longer any doubt that Hawaii
wiz be annexed TO the United States. The
decisive vote by which the annexation res
olution passed the House makes that GER
tain Dole and company will have the
satisfaction Of seeing their conspiracy a
success-a conspiracy which had its birth
during the administration Of Gen. Harri-
son. If Gen. Harrison had been reelected
it is probable that Hawaii would have
been a part of our territory long before
this. His defeat interfered with the plans
of the conspirators because Mr.. Cleve-
land was against annexation, and used all
the influence of his great office to defeat it.
The Republican leaders-at least the ma
jority of them-and the Republican press
did all that it was possible TO do to break
down his opposition, but without success.
The fight he made against annexation
would have permanently defeated the con-
spirators in all probability, if war with
Spain had not been declared The battle
Of Manila afforded the annexationists a
strong argument in favor of annexation
because of the necessity for having
coaling station at Hawaii for our ships
bound to the Philippines.
The annexation of Hawaii is going to be
the source of trouble at no very distant
day. There will be complex questions
growing out of the government Of the ISL
ands. and the annexation of them will
strengthen the tendency towards terrific
rial aggrandisement. The resolution of an
nexation does not undertake to settle how
the islands shall be go erned. 1t simply
recites that they shall be a part of the
United States, and that the United States
shall assume the Hawaiian debt to the ex-
tent of 100000. The question, as to how
the islands shall be governed, whether as
a territory, as a colony, or as a state hav-
ing representation in both the Senate and
House, viii have to be settled at no very
distant day. The differences in respect
to that question are certain to be radical
and may cause new arrangement of par
ties.
But it is probable that we could take
care of Hawaii and its debt of 100000,
without bringing about any radical change
in our foreign policy if the annexation of
that alleged republic were not intimately
connected with the policy of still further
territorial expansion We shall have
hardly taken possession of Hawaii before
we shall have to settle the squestion as
to what shah be done with the Philip
pines, and 1t may be we shall have to
consider the advisability of annexing the
Caroline Islands and Porto Rico.
1t can readily be seen therefore that In
annexins Hawaii we are taking a step
which is certain to have a very great in
fiuence upon the future of the country.
Within a year or two's time our whole
foreign policy may be changed-so radical
ly changed that it would bear no resem-
blance to the foreign policy under which
the country has become great, rich and
prosperous.
The greater part of the votes in the
House for the Hawaiian resolution were
Republican. 1t can therefore properly be
called a Republican measure, particularly
as 1t has the support of the administra-
ton, but the ablest of all the Republican
leaders-Speaker Reed-voted against it,
He clearly sees that the resolution is
trouble-bearing one. not only for the
country, but also for his party. Most of
the Democrats voted against it, and they
will have occasion to rejoice often for hav-
done so.