The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-06-25
TERRITORIAL EXPANSION.
First Step in the Scheme to Reach
Out After Islands of the Sea.


venerable Senator Morrill,, Of Vermont, and
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, both spoke against
the resolution.
MR. MORRILL, OPPOSES ANNEXATION.
Mr.. Morrill, said he was unable to concur
with the learned committee on foreign reIa-
lions in regard TO the annexation OF the Ha-
waiian Islands, whether by treaty, by JOINT
resolution. by fragrant executive usurpauoh,
or in any manner which leaves an open door
for their admission into the Union as a State
1.-The undesirable character of the greater
part Of their ill-gathered races OF population.
gathered by contract to serve long year" Oh
semi-slavery by sugar employers, does not
warrant and never can entitle them to an
equal representation in the Senate OF the
United States with Virginia and Massachu-
sets. or with Illinois and Colorado, nor any
other State. A new member, as II business
matter. ought not TO be pushed into the Union
without the consent OF all the present mem
bers. We can be their friend without taking
them into the family.
The Hawaiian annexation scheme hardly
belongs to the present administration, nor TO
the humanitarian war, and the time may
come when even its present boldeSt advocates
may not be unwilling to have Ii more justly
known as an untimely sevem-monthS offspring
OF some previous administration. My firm
conviction however, is that annexation OF
distant islands Is not in harmony with the
policy of the United States, but is consplcu-
ously repugnant thereto; nor Is II IN harmony
with the history or even with any OF the re-
corded opinions of our earliest and rpeSt
statesmen.
The Hawaiian Islands. if annexed. would
prove as barren of military importance as OF
commercial, which is wholly based on onr nn-
fortunate grant of Il free market for their
sugar. and their action would be IL source ct
weakness. and no more desirable for the de-
Tense of the Pacific coast than the back side
Of the moon. If annexation Is to be our late.
at least two or three of our vessels of war, IN
Guiding one of our best battle ships should be
sent forthwith to Honolulu. until we intend to
leave the islands as an easy prize to some idle
Spanish gunboat.
The formal annexation of Hawaii. under
IL one man power, under republic IN name
or whatever form of governmental experiment
we may choose or be compelled TO prescribe.
will advertise the final wreckage OF the Mon
roe doctrine so long held dear by the Ameri-
! can people SellreSpect will compel us 10
discard and seek divorce from the glory OF
Il connection with Il historic measure to which
the public opinion of mankind will at once
| pronounce US unworthy. We cannot afford
! to dcnouncc and forbid all acquisitions Of
| territory in the Western Hemisphere by Euro
| pcau governments. even at the peril OF war;
| and forthwith embark in a thus bedamned
| enterprise ourselves. If we would have our
| vet ut>tancd doctrine respected by others, we
| must scrupuIously practice what we preach.
/ "The historic policy OF the republic OF the
| United States for the hundred years Just
passed. based as it has been upon the sound
! doctrine promulgated by Washington IN his
| farewell address. with words of perennial
wisdom against foreign cntangIing alliance
! has taken root in the hearts Of the American
people. where it is treasured up as their polIt-
cal Bible. and cannot now be Knocked at as
merely AN ancient tradition.
Its acceptance has made the nation great,
made il respected If our fideliryto the we'll
ripcned craftsmanship of the Father of his
Country shall be perpetuatcd for the next
hundred years. as in the past the honor. pros
perity and power Of our republic, 1t may he
safely predicted. will light and lead all the
nations.
At the conclusion of Mr.. MorriI,s speech,
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia. entered upon dis
crlssion Of the constitutional objections 10 AN
nexaton as he viewed them.
''No more important question than tins,
said he, in beginning, ''haS been brought re-
Gently to the attention of Congress. Ii is not
simply the question Of tie annexation of a
very small territory, but it is one which IN
Nol>e' d" "'''' " LII iI;t; tI
our governments anu 81 'i'o
l,t,,t;o T., tb c,
~ D:j%. t+L,+ =; . m,,tto,.' IF Mi.
trE' VII. IreS'Ie"' ma" n i" .ii",'t' " '',.9
SfaE.! l"e ""'oS"IcH vi -.
nolh'ilS 10 say o''ilI'lS W. n,.,t T."
nom '''I 'I,'" 'I'l ,,l fn,r;
,'''''I VI ', iV''S"', w. -, T l,,,,,;ttoo
non from 'le ch'Ii ''''l y! ''' '"''''ii' ''e
but III til'S case we nave 'G!'n9l i" iepol' to
Il PreSth oi Iac'9. " nav I's ti,n
~ ~ Us re- Who bid
il"TSe ~ g '''''' Nv
TO the 'iir'na'iVe "' '''oSe reHo'"''''H 'HN '''e
0enatF u att -. ,,;...,..,
me PtopoSito,' which i i"'@'0 -, " '''O''1'
is that measure that PROVIDES Tor 'he '''i!iEH
"''"'' % - ,I,
'"' '"'J'N II W ~ 49, C,,, III
a"'hp"o" .! !"e iiou'o qua. :i0 "i''
naS' ,'P"" II II. "''' way - "''''"' '''''''''"
uonal GROUND.
At this point there was Il suggestion Oh II"
quorum, ana roll call ana some croSS-ifiiS
ny Senators foiIo"eo'
HeSumlhg; Nf. bacon a4"reSSeu hi'ilSeli 10
the legal ana c"hsiltniiohal questions o' !he
issue; lie cohteh"ea 'ha' lie lol'lI r'S"l'''," '
now before 'he senate was " oltecl o.p" IL il
prerogailye OF the Senate IN 'hat the ohLS
proper method OF anheN'hS lore'@" TERRITORY
was p} means OF treaty .....;.,.
lie urged the importance Of MAINTAINING
the constitutional method IN so important Il"
"nqettaNl"$' ,-......ol ,,o..,,,.
IN inns coi'lecuTil ne uel'eI .I5 t.,o ~
$ESllo. '''tI' me iGS'"I'I Nou'u
ila";'Ilah iN'4,t"S "i'ho"' t'ie 'o"o'i ~, ~
the Senate. lie had, ne Saiu' peen gf fi 10
hear Senators suggest me ProPrletE pl S'cn
proceeding: anu ne !,Io Psen more li'"'l l",,,
neu at 'ne 'aIl"'e % 'e re ~ az,
La r,oId b,vn IN seize Jamaica. Still, such