The age-herald., 1898-06-22
THE INTEREST
 BEGINNING TO FAC
 s Senators Far From Enthusiastic Oyer the Annexation Resolution. THE SAME OLD ARGUMENTS Mr Whitn 0nnnnind thn Tima nf tha 0an-
Mr. White Occupied the Time of the Sen-
 ate for Three and Half Hours.
WILL RESUME HIS SPEECH TODAY
A Bill Was Passed Providing Severe Penalties For the Malicious Injury of Submarine Mines, Torpedoes, Notifications
 or Other Coast Defenses.

Washington, June 21.-Interest in the dis cussion of Hawaiian annexation which is proceeding in the senate has already be- gun to flag. Early in the present session the senate debated the question behind closed doors for six weeks During that time majority of the speakers were ac- corded close attention. It is evident from the proceedings today that the senators will not become enthusiastic over arguments which are not new to them
 MT. White today spoke for three and one- half hours. His argument was skilful and was presented with oratorica ability but it failed to command the attention of sen- ators 1t really deserved. MT. White had not concluded his argument when the reso- lutions were laid aside for the day He will resume his speech tomorrow and prob- ably occupy the entire day.
 MT. Mitchell (dem., of Wis.) opened the discussion today with a brief speech in opposition to the resolutions. Among the bills passed was one providing severe penal- ties for the malicious injury destruc- tion of submarine mines, torpedoes, forti- ficatons or other coast defenses.
 Almose immediately after the senate con- vened the resolution for the annexation of Hawaii was laid before it. MT. Mitchell, of Wisconsin, was the first speaker. He de- clared that the nation just now was shorn of its judgment. The effort to establish our government in the adoption of policy of imperialism was evidence of that. He thought the seizure of Hawaii would re- move all doubt as to our land-grabbing in- tentions.
 Clumsy Cover for Sugar Magnates
 He deplarad tho appavot tio, nroiao+ clumsy cover for the sugar magnates, from around the edges of which the juice dripped to the advantage of all who cared to avail themselves of it.
 At the conclusion of MT. MitchelPs speech MT. White, of California, the leader of the opponents of annexation, took the floor.
 call for quorum by MT. Jones (Ark. ) developed the presence of sixty-one sena- tors. MT. White, in beginning, maintained that the question pending was not only one of vital importance, but the issues pre- sented with it ought to have the careful consideration of all. Some, he thought, had been carried away by excitement; others had been swept along by existing condi- tions; but, said he, If this body is intent upon carefully considering this question it has failed of its purpose"
 Mr. White ventured the opinion that ex- citement would not hasten consideration of the Hawaiian question that no reasons were given for nasty action. He declared that territory had been acquired by treaty but in no case had territory been acquired by such a "monstrous piece of folly and con- tradiction" as was the pending resolution. The resolution, he said declared that there had been a cession which congress was to "accept, ratify and confirm" He demanded to know what cession had been made and what lawyer in the senate would state that there had been cession. He maintained there had been no cession.
 q would be ashamed of this senate" de- clared Mir White, 'if 1t should pass the pending resolution containing contradic- ton of terms; should be ashamed of the senate if it should adopt a declaration of cesslon that did not exist"
 Constitutional Phase
 He then entered upon an extended dis oussion of the constitutional phase of the case.
 Referring to the possibility of annexation of the Hawaiian islands by legislative ac- ton, Mir. White contended that the United States would be justified in taking posses sion of foreign territory only as an act of war and only from the enemy. MT. White gave some attention to the possibility of the Hawaiian islands becoming a state of the union In case of their acquisition and con- graduated the country upon the fact that no one had been contending for this right.
 
 lands as a heterogeneous compound of manifest inefficiency."
 He contended that there were other ques- tons than the annexation of Hawaii in- volved in the present discussion. He re- ferred to the assertion that the American flag, when hoisted once over the territory, should there remain.
 He said whether this was true must de- pend upon the circumstances under which 1t was raised.
 MT. White read among other things an elucidation from the Monroe doctrine and said:
 f.In this mad race for power, in this mad race for conquest of territory let us con- slider most carefully the doctrine of Mon- roe. It is idle for senators to say we must extend our dominion all over the world Tn enunciating the Monroe doctrine we de- clared we desired no interference of Euro- pean powers with affairs in this hemis- phere, but by those who framed that doc- Urine 1t was in contemplation that we, our selves had no inteneion to interfere with the territorial possessions outside of this hemisphere."
 The Entering Wedge
 The acquisition of the Hawaiian islands would be the entering wedge of that im- perialistic policy which is as foreign to the purposes in view when this government was organized as are the purposes of the most