The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-14
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
Annexation Favored by Messrs. Stew
art. Frye and Morgan.


art, Frye and Morgan.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The Senate did
not make great progress with the Hawaiian
annexation treaty to-day. Several speeches
were delivered, but in every instance the
speakers announced that to-days remarks
were merely preliminary to what they
should say before the close of the debate
The executive session opened shortly after
l D. M. with Senator White on the floor.
but Senator Stewart interrupted, and 9TH
ers cut the California senator out of the
discussion Those who spoke were Senators
Stewart, Frye and Morgan.
Senator Stewart supported the treaty and
was the first senator to discuss the ques-
ton of sugar in connection with the sub
ject He said all the sugar lands were now
occupied and that little was left except
land available for the production of coffee.
He asserted that the Importation of sugar
to the United States from Hawaii would
not be increased to any perceptible extent
because the islands had reached their limit
in the production of that article. For this
reason the producers of beet sugar and or
cane sugar need not be alarmed. Senator
Stewart eulogized the natives as intelligent
and docile He said there were many of
them in California and that they were well
to ask why, if the Kanakas were so well
thought of, they had not been consulted on
the question of annexation. Mr. Stewart
replied that throughout their history, up to
recent years, they had been anxious to have
their country become a part of the United
States.
Senator Frye spoke on the commercial
and military aspects which annexation pre-
scented in favor of the United States. He
called attention to the fact that some sena-
tors complained because no one stayed in
the chamber and listened to the debate
upon this important subject He remarked
that it was no wonder that senators fled to
the cloakrooms and committee rooms when
long speeches were read which contained
much dry detail and were not arguments on
the question before the Senate. The sena-
tors should consult together and discuss
the matter debate and advise, and then
there would be full Senate at all times
and the information sought would be
brought out. Upon the merits of the case
he considered Hawaii as necessary to the
commerce of the United States. He de-
voted considerable time 10 review of the
Importance of the control of the Ntcarag guam
canal, which could not be maintained I'M
less Hawaii was ours. Senator Frye thought
this was an important epoch in our history,
and If we did not annex the islands now we
could not complain if they were annexed
to any other nation or If any other nation
should take them.
Senator Morgan. of Alabama. made the
principal speech Of the day and occupied
the time of the Senate until il adjourned
He will continue tomorrow The senator
began by referring 10 suggestion made by
Senator Hoar that the committee on for
eign relations had made no report. and ne
(Mr. Hoar) was without sufficient informa-
ton concerning the subject of Hawaii and
annexation. Senator Morgan then piled
upon his desk numerous printed volumes,
including reports before various congress
sional committees, reports OF the officers of
the Hawaiian government and other docu-
ments relating to Hawaii. THE senator
from Massachusetts. said Senator Morgan
''is welcome to these documents IL he will
give them the attention which he usually
gives to public questions, and he will have
all the information necessary on this sub
jeat.'
Senator Morgan then went into detailed
history of the Hawaiian islands from the
time OF their discovery 10 the present. He