The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-03
The CnroIinian EnIivens the Hawaii
an Treaty Discussion by Injecting
Few Political Remarks.
SPEECH BY SENATOR WHITE
IN OPPOSITION TO THE ANNEXATION
OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Mr.. Pettigrew's Resolution Not to BE
Debated in Open Session-PrO-
ceedings OF Congress.

-A
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Senator White.
of California, continued his speech in oppo-
sitiOn to the Hawaiian annexation treaty
in the executive session of the Senate to-
day, amid many Interruptions and much
crossfire In the main, his speech was
continuation of the argument constitu-
tional lines, which was begun yesterday,
but he also took up questions of practical
purport in to-day's speech and undertook
to show that for reasons of commerce and
defense, the acquisition OF the islands would
be unwise.
Previous to Mr.. Whites speech the Senate
spent about three-quarters of an hour in
legislative session, with the doors closed,
trying to decide whether Senator Petit
crews resolution concerning the acquisition
of territory which it would require navy
to defend should be debated in open or ex-
ecutive session. When the vote was taken
the majority was found to be against the
proposition for open sessions.
When Senator White resumed the floor he
continued his citation of authorities to show
that the policy of this country in the past
has really been against the annexation of
the Hawaiian islands He reviewed most of
the documents quoted by Senator Morgan
as favorable to annexation of the islands
for the purpose of showing that they were
all favorable to Hawaiian independence, but
not to Hawaiian annexation. Senator
White then took up the contention that the
control of Honolulu was necessary to the
defense of the Nicaraguan canal and as
serted that there was no foundation to sup
port it and gave figures to show that In
case defense of the canal became necessary
by this country it would be defended from
either San Diego or San Francisco, and not
from Honolulu He said that no enemy
could use Honolulu as a base of supplies in
case of war with the United States, because
the modern war vessel does not carry
enough coal to make the round trip and to
delay for hostile purposes. He quoted Adj
miral Belknap to the effect that Honolulu
could be fortified effectually, and General
Schofield to the effect that it could not be
fortified at all by land defense. which shows
that the authorities differ. He contended
that if one of the islands should be fortified
all three of them should be. and that 1t
would require an immense navy to remain
there permanently, while the acquisition OF
this territory would not diminish the ex-
penses to Notifications and maintaining
navy at home. The senator challenged any
one to produce proof OF hostile intentions
on the part of England, Japan, Germany or
any other power and cited the declaration
of various statesmen from each country re-
pudiating any desire to interfere in any
manner with the United States.
The whole scheme of the annexation OF
Hawaii" he said is based upon sentl-
mentality and sugar, and, continuing tnls
line of presentation. he said that the sugar
people who were netting eight or nine mil
lion dollars a year under the reciprocity
treaty are back of the annexation pToJect,
with the hope of making the Dement'S now
derived from reciprocity perpetual. II "
were not, he said, for this condition of at
fairs the treaty would never have been
heard Of and hence he charged that the
patriotism of senators was being imposed
upon to consummate a most dlsgracetul
proposition.
QUESTIONS PUT AT MR.. WHITE.
Among the senators who interrupted Mr..
White were Messrs. Hoar, Teller, Morgan
Hale. Chandler, Wolcott and Tillman. Sem
ator Hoar's interruption brought on a quite
prolonged debate, in which several senators
participated and which for u time threat
ened to divert the discussion from the lines
which Senator White evidently desired 10
pursue The Massachusetts senator's ques-
ton related to the Japanese on the islands
and the complication growing out of their
presence there. To this Mr.. White replied
that the present Hawaiian government was
importing contract laborers under pro-
vision which goes to the extent OF permit
ting their Imprisonment. He asserted that
since the trouble occurred few months
since, which resulted in refusing permits
sion TO 200 Japanese to land on the islands,
over 2 600 had been brought in under con-
tract. This practice he denounced as hypo-
senator Tfllman, of South Carolina, came
into the debate making some assertions
which created breezy stir for few min
utes The South Carolina senator referred
to the recent Hawaiian revolution and to
what he termed the effort of the Republican
party to establish government IN the IN
&l,x ffn in hn X =
when they numbered only one out of thirty
of the inhabitants, and in this connection
referred to the reorganization OF party hnes
in the South after the war. 1--WE We're
then" he said, lin South Carolina attempt
ing to establish a white man government.
The Republican party interfered with US
then, or attempted to do 50, processing TO
hold opinions about the sacred rights of the
majority to rule. | should like to know.
he continued whether the Republican
party has changed its opinion on this sub
ject of the right of the white man To rule,
for if 1t has and will extend 1t to the South
ern States | will vote for the treaty"
THE distinguished senator from South
Carolina evidently knows all about the ef-
fort to re-estabIish the white mans party
in the South after the war and could doubt
less give us much interesting Information
on that point" said Senator Chandler
81 do know something about it" re-
sponded Mr. Tillman, and | know that
there was some cheating and some use of
the shotgun in those times, as there prob
ably WAS in Hawaii
ssIrhe senator from South Carolina would !.
] hardly think" interrupted Senator Hoar,
"say in open session what he has here
said"
Il am willing to say it anywhere" said
Mr.. Tillnan. ~ want the same policy all
along the line. Throw open the doors and
] will say what L have said before the en-
tire world.
Probably the most significant occurrence
Of the d;lv was the fact that Senator Nor
rill, who has. during his entire career, been
exceedingly conservative on the question OF
executive sessions of the Senate, took a
position to-day in favor of open sessions
on the Pettigrew resolution. He gave his
reason the fact that the speeches for and
against the treaty We're liable to be un-
from the session. Senator White did not
conclude and he will continue his speech
tomorrow.