The record-union., 1898-02-03

Luemy SOuA0 OSC l SAat - W ~>S
Base Of Supplies in case of
War With the United States.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Senator
White of California continued his
speech in opposition to the Hawaiian
annexation treaty in the executive ses-
sion of the Senate to-day, amid many in
terruptions and much cross-fire. In the
main his speech was a continuation OF
the argument on constitutional lines,
which was begun yesterday, but he also
took up questions of the practical pur-
port in to-day's speech, and undertook
to show that fer reasons of commerce
and defense the acquisition of the isl
ands would be unwise.
Previous to 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 acqui-
sition of territory which it would require
a navy to defend should be discussed in
open or executive 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
tc 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 an
nexation of the islands, for the purpose
of showing that they were all favorable
ind h1Ir nnt
Hawaiian annexation.
Senator White then took up the con-
tention that the control of Honolulu was
necessary to the defense of the Nicara-
guam Canal. and asserted that there was
no foundation to support II, 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 sup
plies 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 pur-
poses.
He quoted Admiral Beknap to the eff
'ect that Honolulu could be fortified eff
actually and General Schofield to the
effect that'it could not be fortified at all
10y land defense. which shows that the
authorities differ. He contended that if
enc of the islands should be fortified. all
three of them should be, and that it
would require an immense navy to re-
main there permanently, while the ac-
QUESTION of this territory would not di-
ninish the expense to Notifications and
maintaining a navy at home.
The Senator challenged any one to
produce proof of hostile intentions on
the part of England, Japan or Germany
or any other Power. and cited the dec
laration of various statesmen from each
country denying any desire to interfere
in any manner with the United States.
The whole scheme for the annexation
Of Hawaii" he said lis based upon sem
timentality and sugar" and continuing
this line of presentation, he said that
the sugar people, who were getting eight
or nine million dollars a year under the
reciprocity treaty. were back of the an
nexation project, with the hope of max
ing the benefits now derived from reci-
procity perpetual. If it were not, he
said. for this condition of affairs. the
treaty would never have been heard of.
and hence he charged that the patriot
ism of Senator's was being imposed upon
10 consummate most disgraceful prop
osition."
Among the Senators who interrupted
White We're Hoar. Teller. Morgan, Hale.
Chandler, Wolcott and Tillman
Senator Hoar's interruption brought
or a prolonged debate, in which several
Senators participated, and which for a
time threatened 10 divert the discussion
from the lines which Senator White evil
IDENTIFY desired TO pursue. The Massa-
chusetts Senator's questions related to
the japanese on the islands and the
complication growing out of their pres
ence there.
To this Senator White replied that
the present Hawaiian Government was
importing contract laboTers under q
provision which goes TO the extent OF
permitting their imprisonment He as
serted that since the trouble occurred
a few months since. which resulted in
refusing permission 10 100 japanese &c
land on the islands. over 1000 had been
brought in under contract. This prac-
t!ce he denounced as hypocritical.
Tllman of South Carolina came into
te debate. making some assertions
which created a breezy stir for a few
minutes The South Carolina Senator
referred to the recent Hawa allan revolu-
ton. and to what he termed the effort
of the Republican party to establish 3
Government in the interest of the white
people in the islands when they mum
bered only one out of thirty of the in
habitants. and in this connection re-
ferred TO the reorganization of party
lines in the South after the war.
I'VE were then he said, lin South
Carolina attempting to establish 6
white mans Government. The Repub-
lican party interfered with US then
or attempted TO do so, processing Il
hold opinions about the sacred right.
OF the majority TO rule l should like
to know" he continued. whether tn.
Republican party has changed its opin
ion on this subject of the right of tn,
white man 10 rule, for If il has. ant
will extend it To the Southern States
will vote for the treaty"
.sThe distinguished Senator from
South Carolina evidently knows al
about the effort to re-establish the
white mans party in the South aftel