Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-23
Or the Annexation OF hawaii.

The House hayine under consideration
the annexation OF the Hawaiian
islands. Rep Showalter spoke in favor
Of it. and after quoting historical pre-
cedents and naval authorities, conclu-
ded as follows.
From the coast of Japan and China 10
tba Golden cate. from Alaska to the
equator. there is but one place IN the
Pacific where food, water and coal can
be obtained: that place is Hawaii. Inc
roads of the Pacific with HAWAII are ours,
our Pacific coast can be protected easier
than without them. 1t has been repeat
edly officially stated by naval authon-
ties that the trans Pacific countries ana
islands with the exception or Hawai-
are so far distant from the American
coast that unless the ships OF such na-
tions can recoal at Hawaii il Is lmpossl-
BILE for them to get TO our coast Tor
effective military operations. II TINS Is
true-and who Is there To deny 1T
does not common sense dictate 10 us 10
possess, them 10 close Hawaii TO them
all. and thus make our Pacific coast TN
assallable?
1t is evident to everyone that the
Hawaiians are unable to MAINTAIN
themselves against any foreign power
They are weak and helpless They are
a tempting bait to the nations OF the
Old World. Let US remove this tempt
ing bait Let Us do il for our own pro
t3ction for the protection of helpless
friendly power and for the protection
of the future peace of the world
The possession Of these islands has
now become a military necessity; we
need them in our business. The nag OF
the Republic now waves over Caylte,
in the harbor of Manila. The unparal-
leled victory Of Commodore Dewey and
his pallant officers and men has made
plain our duty. We owe II 70 these
dauntless American heroes, whose
bravery, courage, and skill have added
luster to our flag and imperlshable non
or. glory, and fame to the American
Navy, to at once annex these lslands.
We owe it TO the Government at homo
lulu, that has steadily proven It's friend
ship, and his thrown itself ilable ior
heavey damages by thus breaking the
laws of neutrality, to annex them ana
thus secure and protect them. II
WoiiTd be an act or cruel injustice and
one the America people would never
condone should we refuse to do so
Mr.. Speaker. faom the day that our
noble battleship with her 266 brave sea
man went down to death in the dark,
sullen, and mysterious waters of HaF-
ana Harbor, victims Of cruel, treacher-
Gus Spanish hatred, | kpew, every one
who felt the public pulse knew, that
nothing but armed Intervention In the
affairs Of Cuba to the end that the strug-
Cling patriots fighting for liberty and
independence should triumph, would
appease Che Just and awful wrath of an
aroused, awakened American eonscl-
ence. Mr. Speaker, we have entered
upon a war for humanity, the most
holy war ever waged. We have enter
ed upon a struggle to rescue and succor
starving childhood and outraged
womannood, over 100000 Of whose
starved and outraged bsdies have en-
riched the soil Of Cuba in the last three
years.
That we did right every liberty-lov-
ing. patriotic citizen believes. We eX-
pected no recompense except the APP
proval of Of our own conscience and the
smiles Of an approving God. That we
are TO be recompensed by the acquisition
of valuable territory il nov apparent.
That the results of this war VIII be of
inestimable value to us as nation Is
now a certainty That it will result IN
a wider, fuller, and better knowledge
of us and our institutions by the civil
zed nations Of the world is also GER
tainy.
When we have fought this war to a
glorious finish and the Stars and stripes
wave proudly over Cuba, Puerto Rico,
Hawaii and the Philippines let us build
a navy that will have no equal upon the
seas. Let ur take our place as the
greatest maritime, power upon the
earth. Let us foster our merchant mar
inc, our shipbuilding interests, until
their numbers become as countless as
the stars in the blue vault of heaven,
sailing every sea. aud commanding the
commerce of every zone.
Let us build the Nicaraguan Canal,
connecting the Atlantic and Pacific,
which will unite nations OF the Western
Hemisphere in one indlssoluble bond OF
commercial and trade relations, giving
us the supremacy not only in the trade
Of these countries but also in the trade
with Japan and the countries OF the
Orient How necessary y becomes,
then from a trade point Of view that
we should own the Hawaiian Islands;
that this crossroads Of the Paclhc
should belong to America; that our ships
srUrH nave W. sare. lfr1entry MIRROR m
their long voyages across the Pacific
a home harbor. where all their neces
sites may be supplied agd where they
may be welcomed under the EtaIs and
Stripes
Mr. Speaker, the guns OF the immJr-
tai Dewey and his brave men have
doomed in the dawning Of new day,
when American ideas, American civiliz-
alton and Commerce, and American
Christianity shall permeate and influence
every section of this old earth Of ours
and viii hasten the coming Of that glad
day yet hidden IL the gnmb Of time, to
which faith looks forward with ardent
Joy, when war shall be no more, when
one law shall bind all nations Tongues,
and creeds. and that i-.w shall be the
law Of universal brotherhood