The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-07-11

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 1O-
Speaking OF the value OF the Hawaiian
Islands to the United States, in the ac-
QUESTION of which he had much to do,
Senator Elkins said to the Intelllgencer
correspondent:
.sThe real question at issue IN the
consideration OF the resolution of an
Hexatlon was whether or not the islands
would be beneficial to US. II was claim
ed by those opposed to annexation that
the territory would be more harmful
than beneficial. cannot understand
why such argument was made. Those
Islands are needed for purposes Of de-
Tense, to furnish base of operations
for us in time of war, and beyond this
preventing any other county from
holding them In time OF war against US
as base OF operations.
i'They are also needed for purposes OF
extending and expanding our commerce
and trade which in the next fifty years,
will be greater with the orient than
with Europe. The United States must
control the largest part OF this COM
merce. as well as do most OF the carry
ing trade.
"Then. again, after the building OF
the Nlcaraguan canal, they Will be the
only point at which ships can touch az
ter leaving our country or Europe on
the way to the Philippine Islands, Chi.
ma or Japan. II a ship carries coal
enough TO take II across the Pacific, It
can carry but little freight. II Is there
fore necessary to take coal at Honolu-
III, on the way to the orient, in order to
carry freight,
"These islands are needed for another
snurpose. They furnish natural sta
ton Eos cable lines, which have become
Indispensable in carrying on commerce.
and are necessary, as well, IN time OF
war Cables cannot be operated sue
cessfully for a distance OF over seven
thousand miles. To develop and main
tain our trade and commerce with the
orient we must have cable c0mmunica-
tion with the nations which compose 1t.
We will also need cable connections to
reach our war vessels In Aslatic waters
and the Pacific ocean.
"Without these Islands we should
have to cable by the way OF Europe,
both for war and cor Nercia. purposes.
unless we were to depend upon the
pleasure OF the government that should
own and control Hawaii. The present
war and operations In the Philippines
emphasize this. Following the battle at
Manila, our government would have
given million dollars to have heard
directly and Immediately from Deweg."
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
"senator, gou mentioned the Nlcara-
guam canal a moment ago What pros
apects is there FOR Its construction"
the correspondent inquired. @s "a
'.The building of that canal seems
certain. The people, regardless OF party,
all over the country, favor this great
enterprise. and demand that It be con-
summated at once, The Hawaiian Is.
lands lie In the track or highway OF
commerce between the United States
and Europe, and the orient by way OF
the NfcaraguaH canal With Porto Rico
belonging to the United States In the
South Atlantic, and the NicAraguan ca
nal built, Hawaii becomes a necessity to
fhe United States IN the Pacific. II the
United States is to control the com
.merce and shipping Of the Pacific and
become the leading maritime power OF
the world, 1t will heed coaling and ca
bic stations sGletching around the
globe, beginning at the Mediterranean,
thence by way OF the Canaries, Porto
Rico Cuba, Nlclraguah canal, Hawaii
aud the Phlllpphes These stations. by
the way, will come to US as the result
OF the present war, the passage We'd
nesdaV, OF the annexation resolution be-
ing one step"
1But, senator, what about the alleged
departure Of this country from Its pre-
.vIous national polIcy?"
'As the result OF this war, the United
States Is Obliged to fnaugurate new
foreign policy unknown to Its tradl-
lions and history. This cannot be
avoided. and this policy must be In line
with that adopted by other nations. We
acquire Hawaii practically without out
lay: without danger OF war or foreign
considerations OF any kind. The Islands
were offered to US almost us a free gift.
NO nation ever had such opportunity to
annex valuable territory"
'What OF the constitutional
"Come, now; know what You would
INQUIRE about 1t was admitted that to
annex the Islands by treaty would be
constitutional, and the claim was made
that Il is only by treaty that the United
States can acquire territory. All terri
tory except in one instance, heretofore
acquired has been by treaty. The ex-
ceptlon was In the admission OF Texas
into the Union. In oil cases other than
that Of Texas a treaty was necessary
because in each but part OF the ter
ritory, country or state making the
cesslon. was yielded up. The treaty was
necessary because each power-the
limited States and the ceding govern
ment--hnd to be bound By certain con.
akftOuftAng md TIu1nTtnt inUg
But there is nothing In the constitution
which says territory shall be acquired
only by treaty. In the case of Texas,
there was no treaty-no necessity for
treaty-because by annexation, the
whole OF Texas came into the Union
and then and there ceased 10 be an In
dependent government. Under the
same conditions we absorb the Ha-
wailan islands and extend our govern
. ment over them.
"Thc fact TINT Hawaii. ia not admit
ted into the Union as state makes no
difference. so far as the act OF nnncSn-
ton is concerned The question OF how
the Islands are 90 be governed-whether
as.d territory or colcnF--must be left
to the wisdom OF Congress, which has
supreme power and Jurisdiction.
THE CASE OF TEXAS.
"Now, It is true, In one sense. so far
as absolute ownership Is concerned, tina;
when Texas was admitted into the I'm
Ion. she retained control OF all lands.
hut IN o broader sense and for certain
purposcs- pnrtiCulnrly respecting our
relations with. foreign countrles-TeTas
ig n part of the United States, over
which tine national government exnr-
cIses sovereignty for certain purposes.