The Saint Paul globe., 1898-02-15

Session.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1.-THE senate
devoted four hours, in executive ses-
sion today, to the consideration of the
Hawaiian treaty. During the session
Senator White (Cal) attempted to as
certain from Senator Davis, in charge
OF the treaty, whether there would be
an early attempt to secure vote upon
it. The California senator stated his
opinion that there ought to be at least
three weeks notice of a time for a
vote for the arrangement of pairs. He
stated that he would be compelled to
be absent from the senate for the next
three weeks, and expressed desire to
know something of the plans as TO
bringing the discussion to an end.
In reply. Senator Davis simply stat
ed that he could not at present say
when the debate would cease or when
the senate would be prepared to take
a vote.
The principal speech was made by
Senator Pettigrew, this being the third
installment of his remarks upon the
subject
Senator Pettigrew devoted himself
today largely to the administration of
President Dole and to a presentation
of his views of this governments par
tlcipation in the revolution. He con-
tended that the downfall of the queens
government was due to a conspiracy
on the part of Minister Stevens, rep
resenting the United States, and a few
citizens of Honolulu, of whom Presi-
dent Dole was one, who were backed
by the marine from a United States
battleship.
international Crime.
He argued that, at that time, there
was no armed force on the island
To he
cept the United States marines; and"
said the senator "if the islands were
as rich as the dream of avarice and
their acquisition as desirable as that
OF Louisiana, We could not take title
from government set up there by
ourselves. without submitting the ques-
ton of annexation to d vote of the
Hawaiian people,
ITO do this" he continued, with en-
pEaSiS, would be an international
crime which would place us on level
with Great Britain in her subsection of
the weaker nations of the earth, which
would be an abandonment of the posi-
tion and policy of our government from
it's earliest history
government, ne said, which de-
clareS, as does this government in its
constitution that "all government de-
rives its just powers from the consent
of the governed" could not afford to
Gepose a friendly government, set up
uSurping government in it's place
and then acquire title to the country
without first obtaining the consent of
the people of that country
Mr.. Pettigrew also contended that
the passage of the Mckinley tariff law
had been the direct cause of the reyo-
luton by which the queens govern
ment had been overthrown, the mo-
tive being to secure the bounty of 2
cents per pound on domestic sugar
which that law provided.
Four Points.
Summing up, Mr.. Pettigrew said that
the opponents of annexation claimed
to have established four points. They
had, he said, shown, first, that the
route to the Orient via the Aleutian
islands was LOCO miles shorter than
via Honolulu; second, that a battle
ship, coaling on the Hawaiian islands.
would be an element Of weakness
rather than of strength, which was in
opposition to the theory that the ISL
ands were necessary to defense; third.
that the commerce of the islands,
which had been claimed to be one i'm
portant reason for their annexation.
was constantly declining and was less
than that of an ordinary county of
the United States; fourth, that one of
the Aleutian islands would afford a
more secure footing and be a shorter
route for a cable to Asia than would
the route via Honolulu.
AT the close of his three days speech.
Senator Pettigrew was cordially con-
graduated by many of the senators,
including some of the opposition, upon
the thoroughness with which he had
gone into the subject and the ability
with which he had presented the oppo-
Sition to annexation.
Following Mr.. Pettigrew Senator
Teller made a brief statement, calling
Mr.. Pettigrew's attention TO the fact
that the United States minister was
not the only representative of a for
eign country who had recognized the
Dole government.
Mr.. Pettigrew replied that this was
true, but that the recognition of the
other governments had not come until
the day following the queens abdi-
cation, whereas Minister Stevens rec
ognition had been before that time.
Senator Proctor (Vt.) followed with
a brief speech in favor of annexation.
He devoted himself exclusively to the
military phase of the question.