Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-08
ADVANTAGES OF ANNEXATION.
Senator Teller Discusses the Proposed
Treaty With HaWaii.


The four hours executive session Of the
Senate yesterday afternoon was occupied
by Senator Teller of Colorado in discuss
ing the Hawaiian annexation treaty.
During the course of his speech Mr.. Tel
Ter took occasion to say that he should
have been glad to discuss the treaty in
open session, and to this remark he added
the opinion that the time had almost come
when the question of annexation should
be debated upon bill looking to legislat ton
by both houses of Congress rather than
upon the basis of the treaty. While he
thought there might be a bare possibility
of securing the sixty votes necessary to
ratify the treaty he conceded that under
the present circumstances this was exceed
II gly doubtful. and he thought the sooner
this fact should be recognized and a change
OF front made the better it would be from
all points of view.
There was some Interruptions at this
point, and 1t was suggested by some SEN
ators after the close of the executive ses-
sion that the committee on foreign rela-
tons would consider the advisability of
making this change of policy at it's next
meeting to be held on Wednesday of this
week The statement was, however, made
by Senator Davis, chairman of the COM
mite on foreign relations, that there had
been no intention of attaching the treaty
to one of the appropriation bills as an
amendment, as had been stated was the
case in some of the newspapers He made
this statement in reply to a question put
by Senator White of California.
In the Interest of Our Commerce..
Senator Teller advocated the ratification
OF the treaty, basing his reasons for this
position upon the grounds that the an
nexation of the islands was in the interest
of our commerce and in line with our
national policy for the past half century.
He devoted himself very largely to reply
ing 10 the objection that has been raised
TO acquiring the islands because Of the
domination OF the native race. He I'M
uertook TO show that there was no founda-
Ilon Tor this criticism or If there was such
foundation now 1t need not he said long
continue TO be an essential factor of the
SITUATION. He based this statement upon
figures which he produced to show that
tne natives or kanakas were rapidly dying
on as result of their commingling with out
sac races He contended that the island
ers coulo not long remain to dispute the
supremacy of some other race, and what
race that should be would depend largely
upon the present action of the United
States Senate. If we should elect to make
the islands part of the United States the
American people would at once become
the controlling element of Hawaii, but if
we should fail to take advantage of the
opportunity now offered some other people
"ouiu III all PROBABILITY assume the posi-
ton of control which naturally and ira
dltlonally belongs to the United States.
Popular Sentiment.
Taking up this line of argument he said
that ever since the days of Webster and
Marcy a majority of the people of this
country had believed that the Hawaiian is
lands should and would some day become
an integral part of the United States.
With the fierce struggle that was about
TO begin in the orient for the possession of
rev territory among the European powers
1t was indeed a shortsighted man, he
stated, who would contend that Hawaii
occupying so important location as it
does in the middle of the great Pacific
ocean, would be left untouched by some of
the land-grabbing nations of the old world
Under the present circumstances IL was
absurd Tor this government to try to MAIN
tain system of control without taking
actual possession.
He controverted the position of Sena-
tors Pettigrew and White that the Ameri-
can could not labor in the Hawaiian Is
lands. He quoted weather statistics to
show that the temperature of the island
coasts ranges from Sc to SO during the
year, which he said was far from being an
oppresslvely hot climate. Farther inland
it was still cooler, and on the mountains
frosts were not frequent. If the white
man OF this country should not be i'm
pressed with the islands, Mr.. Teller
for the colored people of the United States
who might desire to leave the present ter
ritory of this country, and who would find
congenial employment in the sugar plan
tations and coffee fields of Hawaii
Mr.. Teller also discussed the contention
that the Hawaiian group was not on the
most direct line of travel between the
western hemisphere and China and Japan.
Any vessel which might come around the
Horn or cross the Isthmus of Panama in
case of the construction of canal would
almost certainly take these islands in on
its way to Yokohama, Shanghai. or any
other far eastern port. Furthermore the
Islands We're a great convenience as a
coalng and general supply point to vessels
plying the Pacific ocean.
Defense Of the Islands.
Taking up the question of the necessity
for the defense of the islands and of the
maintenance of a large fleet in their waters
in case of annexation, he said that this
was mere bugaboo and was without
foundation in fact. All that would be
necessary would be to fortify Pearl Har-
Dor for the protection of coal and military
stores in times of hostility. With all of
our stores Of this character located at one
spot. as they could easily be and that par
ticular spot strongly intrenched and well
armed, there would be no need to guard
other portions of the islands, for it was
not to be supposed that any hostile nation
would for mere sentiment send fleet
thousands of miles across the waters in
order to attack and destroy any defense
less communities there simply because they
were SUBJECT to the government of the
United States.
Mr. Teller went extensively into the his
tory OF the islands from 1880 to 1850 TO
snow that both Englishmen and French
men had forced treaties of concession ont
of the rulers of the islands
senator Teller was frequently inter-
rupted during the delivery of his speecb
by Senators White, Pettigrew, Gear and
others.
The Senate adjourned at sos o'clock