The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-01

Present Crisis Promises to Xiii
the Pacific Island Annex
alton Scheme.
There Is Also a Question as to
Whether the Cubans Would
Come Under Our Flag.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House,
Wa shingtOn, Feb. %.

Call Office, Riggs House,
Washington, Feb. 2S.
The Cuban problem will kill the Ha-
waiian annexation scheme. Hawaiian
annexation has been forgotten in the
overwhelming interest attaching TO the
Cuban crisis. But while Cuba has thus
for the time being displaced Hawaii in
popular thought and in Congressional
discussion, the two subjects are very
closely related and to an extent inter-
dependent. If Hawaii is to be annexed
il is hard to see how Cuba likewise can
long be denied admittance to the Union.
Cuba seems lost to Spain, in fact, and
as soon as the actual severance, how
ever brought about, becomes recognized
in treaty and in law, the question of
American annexation is bound to come
TO the front Some element in Cuba, 1t
NAV be counted on, will desire attach
ment with this country, and if such an
element can once get into control its
status would be similar to that of the
Hawaiian Government under President
Dole. now seeking annexation.
This close resemblance between the
Hawaiian situation to-day and what
seems destined to be the Cuban sftua-
ton at nc very distant day is having
an obvious effect upon the pending an
nexation controversy. When Con-
gresham is now asked if he believes in
annexation he will be dull indeed, If
both annexations are not suggested to
his mind The prospect of Cuban an
nexation raises the interesting question
of what might happen in case the in
surgent forces on the island, after COM
ing under the authority of the United
States Government, should decide that
they did not like it and rise in rebel
lion.
There is no evidence that the fight
ing bands in the interior of Cuba love
the Cover nment at Washington for its
own sake but rather as weapon
against their present foes. 1t might
happen that they would object to be-
coming a part of the United States, and
still if a minority who CHANGED to be In
power wanted annexation agreeable to
the Hawaiian precedent, we should
have to annex the island. 1t would be
possible that g. clique of cigar-makers
and sugar-planters in Havana and the
other sea ports might bring about an
nexation against the wishes of the very
forces that are now fighting the Span
ish.
This is one of the possibilities of the
troubles that might aff1ict US in event
question that the native races of Ha-
vail may at some time rise in rebel
lion. and nothing but the strongest mill
itary authority of the United States
Government would be sufficient to keep
them in subsection. 1t cannot be said
that none of the peoples we have an
nexed in the past have not desired to
get away from us .again-the Texans,
for instance. In the present compli-
Gated situation it is impossible to tell
how the House would now vote on the
question of Hawaiian annexation. AS
Stunning that the Speaker allowed the
issue to- come before the House, many
conservative Representatives are very
uncertain, and there is no telling what
influence may become operative when
the subject actually reaches the front
It would not be a difficult task to de-
feat it, and many Congressman seem
greatly influenced against any kind of
annexation because of the Cuban diff