Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-22
55th CONGRESS.
=
Hawaiian Annexation So Ger
tain that Interest Lags.
After Usual Set Speeches Senate Will
Be Ready to Vote.
House Considers Claims for Property Des-
troyed by Coniederates.


discussion of Hawaiian annexation,
which is proceeding in the Senate N
the Senate. already has begun to lag.
Early in the present session the Sen
ate debated the question behind closed
doors for six weeks. During that time
a majority of the speakers We're ac-
corded close attention. 1t is evident
from the proceedings, today, that the
senators will not become enthusiastic
over arguments which are not new to
them.
Mr.. White Dem, Cal, the leader of
the opposition. spoke for So hours.
His argument was skilful and was pre-
scented with oratorical ability, but It
failed to command the attention from
senators it really deserved. Mr.. White
had not concluded his argument when
the resolutions We're laid aside far the
day He Will resume his speech, to-
morrow.
Mitchell, Dem, Wis, opened the dis
cussion, today, With brief speech in
opposition to the resolutions.
Among the bills presented was one
providing several penalties for the ma
licious injury or destruction of sub
marine mines, torpedoes, Qualifications
or other coast defences.
Almost Immediately after the SEN
ate convened the resolution for the an
nexation of Hawaii was laid before IL
Pending its consideration. Roach. n
D., who had been quoted in Il Wash
ington paper as favorable to the an
neXation of Hawaii. rose to a question
of personal privileges, He said he had
not made the statement attributed to
him, and, as 4 matter Of fact. was OPP
posed, and always had been. to thr
annexation Of Hawaii:
Mitchell. Wis, delivered d speech in
opposition to annexation. In the
course of his address he declared that
the nation just now was .shorn of is
judgment. He thought the seizure OF
Hawaii would remove all doubt as 10
our land grabbing intentions. He de-
clared that the annexation project was
a clumsy cover for the sugar magnates.
from around the edges Of which the
saccharine juice dripped to the adVa-
tage of all who cared to avail them
selves Of it.
At the conclusion of Mitchell's speech
White. Cal. the leader Of the oppo-
nents Of annexation. took the floor. y
call for Il quorum by Jones'. Ark, deVeI-
oped the presence OF 81 senator's.
White. in beginning, maintained that
the question pending was not only of
vital Importance, but the issues pre-
scented with it deserved and ought t.
have the careful consideration of all.
Some. h. thought. had been carried
away by he excitement Of the moment
and had been swept along by existing
conditions. But. said he, if this body
is too impotrnt to carefully consider
this question, it has failed Of its pur-
pose it has not responded 10 the idea
of the trainers Of the constitution.
white yentured the opinion that it
would not hasten constellation of the
Hawaiian question that. in the Senate,
no reasons were to be assigned for lc-
ton upon 1t. He declared that while
territory had been acquired by treaty.
in no ease had territory been acquired
by such a monstrous piece of folly
and contradiction" rs was the pend
ing resolution.
The resolution. he said declared thai
there had been a session which Con
gress was to accept ratify ana coA-
firm He demanded to know what
cession had been made and what law
yer in the Senate Would state that
there had been a cession. He main
tanned that there had been no cession
as there could not have been without
the concurrence of both parties.
Referring TO the possibility of annex
alton Of The Hawaiian islands by EX
ecutVe action. White coutrnded that
the Executive would be justified in
taking possession of the foreign terri
tory only as an act OF war and only
from the enemy. White gave some al
tcntinn to the possibility of Hawaiian
islands becoming q state of the Union
in case of their acquisition and con-
graduated the country upon the fact
that no one had bean found to contend
Tor the right. He characterized the
conditions on the island as a "hetero-
geneouS compound of manifest neffi-
cheney"
lie contended that there We're other
questions than the ANNEXATION Of Ia
W1ll involved in the present discussion
II" referred to the assertion that the
American flag when once unturled in
country could not he taken down and
SAID whether this We're true must de-
pend upon the circumstances under
which it was raised. 1t must depend
upon whether it is justly or unjustly
raised. If planted as result of I'M
called for invasion and in a spirit of
conquest and If rapne and murder. ii
could not be maintained but if planted
ON foreign soil under proper and pat
fl"tc circumstances it must be MAIN
tanned there if to do 50 should cost the
country its greatest strength: it's most
powerful effort and the best blood OF
the nation