Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-17
UNSUITABLE FOR STATEHOOD.

In the course of the debate a few
days ago in executive session of the
senate on the Hawaiian annexation
treaty. Senator Davis, chairman of the
committee in foreign relations, was
asked whether III case the islands should
be annexed it is the policy to have them
admitted as a state of the union with
their present mixed population. Senator
Davis stated in reply that he did not
believe such to be the purpose of any
one and said: 81 myself freely admit
that the population of Hawaii Is not
such at the present time rs would be
desirable in an American state and, for
myself | may say that l consider the
character of the population to be one OF
the objections to annexation, but the
advantages so far outweigh this one
element as to render it of comparative
insigniiicance." The advantages re-
ferred to are strategical.
This admission of one of the foremost
advocates of annexation that the popu-
lation of Hawaii is not such at the pres
ent time as would be desirable in an
American state ought in itself to be
sufficient to defeat the treaty. If the
Kanakas and the Asiatics who consti-
tute nearly the entire population of the
islands are not now desirable as Ameri
can citizens. who can say when, if ever,
they would become so? Possibly in the
course of n generation they might be
educated to some understanding of our
institutions, though it Is hardly con-
ceivable that they could ever be made
desirable citizens. But in any event
it Is clearly unwise to take under our
care and make part of our population
confessedly undesirable people and
assume the task of fitting them for
citizenship. Mr.. Davis is doubtless sin
cere in the belief that it is not the pur-
pose of anyone to have Hawaii admitted
to statehood in the event of annexation,
but Mr.. Dole and his associates might,
if they were candid in stating their eX-
pectations, disabuse his mind in this
respect If these schemerS are success
full they will seek the fullest political
find a party willing TO give it to them.
What assurance can be given that If
Hawaii is annexed it will never become
state of the union? 1t is conceivable
that at some time when party feeling
was high Il majority. alarmed at the
prospect of losing power, might rs a
last recourse to save itself confer statc-
hood upon Hawaii, enabling that remote
people 10 determine by their vote the
choice of n president of the United
States. But If Hawaii should never be
admitted to statehood, what form of
government would be provided for itI
This is question which the annexa-
| tionists have made no serious attempt
| to answer There have been numerous
suggestions. but none of them in accord
with the constitution and the funda-
mental principles of our political sys-
| TEN. 1t would be distinctly in violation
of these principles to establish colonial
| system of government there and the
only legitimate course would be to pro-
vide n territorial government. This
| would mean representation in congress,
| the right of suffrage for the people OF
Hawaii who now enjoy it and the same
| political privileges that are possessed
| by the people of existing territories.
No American senator ought to be willing