Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-01-14
-, Davis Final Argument
covers the Strategic Fea-
lures of the Subject.
Nation Which Controls
Hawaii Will Control the
Nicaragua Canal.
-, uarbor Also the Key to
,he Military Situation in
the North Pacific.

u,su,yGroN, Jan. Ex-senator Davis
.,,roed and completed his speech in
1. .yecutiye session of the senate dur.
1, me day on the Hawaiian treaty and
!, followed by Senator Allen Of
lraska, who spoke in opposition.
M Davis requested in the beginning
s,,po questions should be asked dur
1, the presentation of his argument,
he preferred, he said, not to have
4. nutinuity of his thoughts broken.
~ sueech was devoted largely to q
,sseptation of the strategic features OF
rus,ation. He displayed a chart in
tut Of the presiding officers platform
lovirg the location Of Hawaii relative
this country and to Asia. One OF
II points brought out with consider
sls elaboration was the probable effect
phe Nicaraguan canal of the
Occupation of the Islands
some foreign power. He illustrated
bsyeference to the map showing that
hvaii was in a straight line between
be western terminus Of the canal and
aan and China. The nation, he said,
sinh controls Hawaii will control that
rat gateway of commerce, as the
inns planted upon Hawaii would be
rnted directly at the mouth of the
nal
Hs also devoted very careful atten-
tn to the Importance of controlling
Aarl harbor, now owned by the United
Mates, saying that the nation which
antained possession of this harbor
sud hold the key to the military sit.
aion in the North Pacific. He read
rnactS from reports by engineers and
rherS in confirmation of this statement
Edln support of statement which he
fde as to the character of the harbor,
'leh was that it was safe and COM
adlOus and could be easily defended.
aalsO presented the
Necessity for Controlling Hawaii
tabase Of supplies in case of hostili-
saying that it was almost neces-
W TO control it for this reason on &C.
0snl Of the impossibility of a warship
ssSng the Pacific without replenish.
agAsr coal supplies.
~ Davis ridiculed the objection
ias BY Japan that the addition of
asall as United States territory
sMiu work a violation Of Japan's
saV rights in the islands. He said in
qyto this objection that all rights
.la doubtless be protected, and in.
sa'ea the creation of the German EN-.
rsa showing the effect of annexa.
upon the treaties Of various coun.
y which enter into consolidation.
s.sisfFed to Japan's protest as an in.
saOa M OF natural tendency to rapacity
~. Ala that the government of that
mh the 'oon '''AsAo"
territory Wrested From China
sssad si,o Of wanting to gorge herself by
H. aaitlon of Hawaii. The last half
s.a \ senator Davis speech was de.
~ ~ " recapitulation of the subject,
s,s1 saich he dwelt at considerable
e,Ss a and portrayed in strong Ian.
ss - .ne origin and close of great
which was intended to illustrate
e,ss vOaoie ultimate result of present
EaOns ESaO 8 IN Chinese waters.
\, WI W. senator Davis took his seat he
Aeaha hsoasratulated by almost every
'lnmap ~, present upon the force of his
|a,eI sn.' the thoroughness of his re.
|apss.a M and the brilliancy of his pre-.
|spS a'0f ' Allen Pop. Neb.) followed
ia,r ~ speech in opposition to the
+" which was comparatively brief.