The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-12
COL. ]. HAN LEWIS FlOPS
A FEW MONTHS AGO BITTERLY Or-
POSED ANNEXATION.
Hawaiian Policy Denounced In Sro-
kane-Now He Announces Himself
~ for lnaperiaIfxm-He II Soundiy

Special Dispa tch 20 the Pcst-lnte,hgencer.
SPOKANE. Aug. li.-The Daily Press. o;
Newport News. Of August 1. contains an
interview with James Hamilton LEWIS IN
which the congressman from Washing ton
is quoted as saying:
II am forced 10 take issue with Con-
gresham Bailey and Senator j. II. Jones,
what they term imperialism" for / atn
heartily N favor of annexation OF Porto
Rico. 1t ~ democratic, and IN keeping
with the views of the founders Of the
party. Thomas jefferson was an advocate
OF the annexation or Porto Rico. Judah
=. Benz amin advocated The purchasing OF
the island by iris government. In lss1
Porto Rico would have been a part OF
the territory Of the United states had
not Gen. Grant objected To Il. was
forced 10 differ with Congressman Bailey
on the annexation OF the Hawaiian isl
ands. for he opposed X. We need this
territory for business reasons. II from a
humanitarian standpoint we can extend
10 the negroes Of our own land the prIvl-
leges OF citizenship. certainly Ne can do
the same for the HawaiianS and Porto
klcans. Why should not they enjoy the
blessings OF our institutions when We. toe.
are to De benefited In granting the he
gro the right OF citizenship, We laid down
wide gauge. Under Il a citizen OF any
OF these islands may come 20 this country
ana become citizen OF any state.
Judging from the above Mr.. Lewis must
Fave experienced Il great change Of heart
since his last public appearance in this
city last fall. when he addressed a large
mass meeting In Muse hail. a, which time
he strongly denounced the proposed annex
alton Of the Hawaiian islands. Among
other unkind things he uttered against Ha-
wall was that the Islands were mainly pop
ulated by Chinese, Japs and negroes WAC
were utterly unfit 10 become citizens of a
civilized nation. and furthermore. ne said
the islands were Of no practical benefit 10
this country in any sense whatever. Many
strong annexationists Of this city, and
among them are number Of leading Dem
ocrats. became greatly incensed AT the con-
gressman's remarks and declared they no
longer had any further Use for him. Evil
IDENTIFY ]. Ham has leen feeling the pulse
of hts constituents since the passage OF the
annexation resolution taking in Hawaii.
Keeping Out of Harms Way.
Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Intelligencer
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1l.-Congressman
Lewis did not go to Porto Rico with Gen.
Fred Grant, as expected He is still n
Newport News. Whether he did not wish
to go. or whether the department is doing
its best 10 utilize his volunteered services
is not stated. Some here are SO unkind as
to suggest that some fighting is being
done in Porto Rico. il is safer at Newport
News
The current Issue OF the Army and Navy
Register says:
CONGRESSMAN James Hamilton Lewis.
that exuberant and laxative person is
still getting himself interviewed frequent
~. He is now devoting himself to an A.
tack on the naval administration. than
which there has been no cleaner. decenter
feature in this whole government. Lewis
is by far the cheapest of the noisy politi-
clans. He finds time To critiCise the con
duct of the war. but he succeeded in keep
Ing away from the front and has been
gathering a lot of the particular kind OF
cIap-trap in which he revels.