The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-09
The True Mission
OF This Republic
From the New York Tribune.

Il lOHl lit New 1OTk lflDune.
IA MONG the opponents of an American
JIM policy in Hawaii there is no one
j5\ more worthy of respect than Pro-
II u fessOr Edward Won Hoist. His es-
timable character and scholarly attain
ments invest his utterances on any sub
ject with "A title to respectful considera-
tion. In the present case, moreover, he
at least is free from the suspicion of sell
fish and ulterior motives which unavoid-
ably falls upon some of those who are
loudest in opposition to the annexation
of Hawaii. lie is not interested in the
Sugar Trust. and there is no reason to
suppose that he is working for the ad-
vantage of the commerce of any alien
nation. The salient points in his recent
argument against annexation, which is
being widely exploited as a perfectly un-
answerable and final word against the
pending treatY, are therefore to be ser-
ously considered.
From the military point of view, he
thinks, annexation would be a bad thing
for the United States, since the possess
sion of the islands, entailinS fortification
and protection of them, would be
source of weakness. But in the very
next breath he says that the reason why
Hawaii has not been grabbed by some
other power is that all the world knows
the United States would not be an in
different looker-on. Exactly. But is it
supposable that the United States would
become Indifferent the moment it annex
ed the islands? Would It's attitude of
protection be any less u restraining force
then than now? If covetous powers have
kept their hands off Hawaii in its inde-
pendent state, simply because they fear
cd the United States would resent their
aggressions upon il. is it supposable that
they will rush to seize the islands when
hnU nra IA pt nf 10 nd DC
certain that any attack upon them will
mean war with the whole power of the
United States?
From the diplomatic point of view, al
SO, Professor Won Hoist objects TO annex
alton, 1t would entangle this nation with
the politics of the rest of the world. If
that We're true, it would be a potent OBJ
lection. But, with all respect to Profess
Sor Won Hoist, ii is not true. On the con-
trary, annexation would free this country
from such entanglements and from the
danger of them. For fifty years the
United States has had to engage in per-
iodical disputes with various European
powers to keep them from selling Ha-
wall. On more than one occasion 1t has
had almost to threaten war to make
them relinquish the hold actually fasten-
ed upon the islands. Year by year the
danger of such complications increases,
unlDDIODIlHleu
and the number of small and therefore
spoilable states decrease and the rivalry
, among undertaking powers consequent
ly becomes more intense. The semi or
tri protectorate over Samoa is an exam
pie in point. 1t has for years been in
Volving this nation in disagreeable II not
dangerous controversies with a European
power. But once Hawaii is annexed OUT
right to this country all such troubles
and the danger of them will cease. There
are no wrangles over our ownership of
Louisiana. Possession of Florida in
wolves us in no entanglements nor broils
%
The annexation of Hawaii means the
| temptation to still further anneXations
| says Professor Won Hoist; especially the
| annexation of Cuba, which, as he truly
adds, has been under consideration much
| longer than the annexation of Hawaii
| 1t is probable that Cuba will some day
be annexed. There is no Disgusting that
| fact. 1t has been regarded as inevitable
ever since the foundation of this Repub-
lie. But the United States does not
mean to grab Cuba. On the contrary, It
| has at no little danger and expense to
| itself been preventing the grabbing of
| that island by various other powers. Its
consistent contention has been that Cuba
must continue to belong to SPAIN or be-
| come an independent state, or else be an
neXed to the United States. That is the
American attitude today This country
will never voluntarily interfere to take
| Cuba from Spain. If ever Spain wishes
to transfer the island to the United
States, the United States will consider
the proposition. If ever the island wins
it's independence and then makes over
| lures for annexation, the United States
| will consider the proposition. That is
| all. That is what the foremost states
men of this union have had in mind for
a hundred years That is all the terri
| BILE temptation" amounts TO.
%
Professor Won Hoist devotes an olo-
quent peroration to "the glorious mission
which Providence has intrusted to this