Evening star., 1898-06-13

with an increasing japanese popula ton,
revolution and japanese control are immi-
nent.
To insist on the Independence of these
islands. in case Hawaii should be willing to
seek the support of some stronger power.
would be insufferable arrogance on our
part after having refused their annexation.
A protectorate would be impossible, for
that would incur the obligation of protec-
ton, but without the power to control the
action of the people protected. Such action
might involve serious international comp;i-
cations. through the possible arrogance or
indiscretion of the Hawaiian people. Nor
could we guarantee their independence un-
less they wished to maintain it, and this
would be doubtful in view of a possible
conflict of internal forces.
Simply Treaty Right.
Every administration since the time of
Pierce had recognized the relation of the
Hawaiian Islands to our coast defense and
to cur commerce. The exclusive right for
our ships to enter Pearl harbor and eXclu-
sive right to improve same had been Sc
cured by treaty. Yet the treaty right was
termlnable by either party. No jurisdc-
ton given, not a foot of ground was
secured to build forIhcations on. The laws
of Hawaii would be enforced there, and not
these of the United States.
The advantage of owning Hawaii was
that it served not only for naval defense,
but for commercial expansion. Such eX-
pansion need not be either colonial or ter
ritCria but the Importance of Hawaii as
the halfway station in the Pacific ocean,
between the orient and the iSthmian canal
and between the orient and San Francisco,
could hot be denied. The expansion of our
merchant marine meant peaceful and con-
servative expansion. 1t involved the en-
largement of our navy for its protection,
and this made a coaling station such
Hawaii. indispensable. The position of
Hawaii was so unique as to make its pos
sess ion essential to the control of the COM
of the Papifip which before
years would surpass in Importance the
commerce of the Atlantic.
Philippine Question.
MI. Newlands objected to yoking the
Philippine and Hawaiian questions together.
He said this was attempted by those who
tho ught that Hawaiian annextion involved
colonial eXpansion-that il was the begin
ming of the end-that the rise and fall of
nations was marked by Capitalization of
power and expansion of empire, followed
by decentralization and decay. Others
urged postponement until the close of the
war, in order to consider the Philippine
question and the Hawaiian question to-
gether. If the Philippines were to be ac-
quired it was clear that Hawaii was abso-
lutely necessary, but Hawaiian annexation
die not rest upon the question of colonial
expansion. The wisdom of colonial expan-
sion was to be doubted.
The doctrine Y hich sought to confine the
growth of this county to continental ana
contiguous territory must necessarily en-
brace adjacent islands, reeded for The de-
fcnse of our coast line. The fortunes Of
war had thrown the Philippines under our
control. Their invasion was no part OF our
plan of ca'npajgn, which involved simply
the occupation of Cuba and the destruction
OF the Spanish navy as the only means or
resisting such occupation. Dewey's was
brilliant victory, and he was true to the
military instinct in holding on to the en-
emy's territory as a pledge of peace. Wise
craftsmanship would be required to settle
the Philippine question. but IL had no Con-
neotion with Hawaii The Philippine ques-
t;cn was one of war, conquest and possibly.
colonial expansion; the Hawaiian question
was one of peace and defense of the con-
tipental territory now owned by us. The
Philippine question was new and must be
tkreshed out: the Hawaiian question was
old, and Hawaiian annexation was simply
the final step in a gradual process of evo-
luton.
Mr. Newls nds stated that he was not a
believer in colonial expansion. Our coun-
try was large enough. We have a country
large enough to support 1.OOO, 100000 people.
Our problems of internal development
would be sufficient to engross our atten-
tion.
1t was not necessary to reach out for ter
ritory or to add to our dominion simply for
the purpose of acquiring new territory.
Our policy should be to perfect what We
had to secure scientific boundaries that
would diminish the chances of hostile az
tack, minimize our military and naval ex-
pendtures and at the same time secure to
US our rightful commerce. Hawaii was an
outpost in the Pacific ocean essential to the
protection OF our defensive coast line and,
in addition. it offered great commercial ad-
vf.ntages which wise craftsmanship could
not disregard.
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