Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-12
IN THE SENATE.
Senator Davis Makes a Strong Plea for
Annexation.

Washington, JAM 1.-THE senate de-
voted almost an hour Of the first part
Of the executive session today to a
wrangle over the recommittal of the
nominations of one or two of the minor
officials confirmed yesterday, and did
not take up the Hawaiian treaty until
about 20 minutes of three o'clock.
Senator Davis took the floor at that
hour, and proceeded to deliver set
speech in support of the treaty. He
represented the majority of the COM
mittee on foreign relations. and his
speech was accepted as practically the
committees report upon the treaty.
Senator Davis, in his speech, con-
suned considerable time in a general
presentation of the reasons for annexa-
tion, saying that these were both com
mereial and strategic. Referring to
the commercial reasons for controlling
the islands in the interest of this coun-
try he called attention to their location,
and said that any one with half an eye
to the importance of the trade of the
orient, could discern that they must cut
very important figure in controlling
that trade for the future. AS for their
military Importance, it had already be-
come evident that the opening of the
new century which is now so near, must
mark the opening of new condition OF
affairs in the east, He referred to the
operations of the European powers in
x China. predicting that the time was not
far distant when the great nations OF
4 Europe would, if they were not
checked. control the entire Asiatic sea-
board.
Taking up the question of the rela-
tions between Hawaii and the United
States. he presented very thorough
review of the efforts which had been
~. ,auf+ RI the Islands.
and presented quotations from many
eminent statesmen of former times, to
show that the best American thought
always had favored this policy. He re-
ferred at some length to the Marcy
treaty, showing why it had not peen
perfected as he did also to the treaty
(which was made during President Har-
rison,s administration He also quoted
many of the utterances of Secretary
Marcy, and also Of Daniel Webster, and
complimented both in high terms. In
deed he said. with the single exception
Of the administration Of Mr.. Cleveland,
lit has been the avowed and consistent
purpose of all parties, in all admlnistra-
lions in this country, at the proper time,
to make the Hawaiian Islands part
of the United States.
He commended that their history was
the result of American enterprise and
energy, and said the islands belonged to
this country by virtue both of sentiment
and geographical location,
Indeed" he continued, lin view Of
ali, the aspects which the case presents
fhe United States cannot afford, either
in its own interests or in the interests
OF the Hawaiian people, to allow this OPP
poiNllnity to gain control of them to
pass Suppose we should not ratify the
present treaty, could we consistently
continue to exercise the right to prevent
other nations from assuming the con-
troll which we decline 70 take?"
He said that up to the present time
we had assumed to exercise a sort of su-
pervision over the Islands under the
guise of asserting the application Of the
Monroe doctrine; but under the circum-
stances it would be a bold man, indeed,
who would consider that doctrine APP
phcable in the future, in view of our
failure to take advantage Of this oppor-
tunity to make the islands our own.
'In case asked Senator Gray, "the
Islands should be annexed, is it the poll
cy to have them admitted as a state Of
the union with their present mixed pop
ulation?"
"Such l do not believe to be the pur-
pose Of any one" replied Senator Dav-
is.
81. myself freely admit that the popu-
lation of Hawaii is not such at the pres
ent time as would be desirable In an
American state, and for myself, I may
say, consider the character Of the pop
ulation to be one of the objections to
annexation. But the advantages so far
outweigh this one element as to render