The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-23

gives color to the accusation then made and
which then SO earnestly denounced"
WHY HE OPPOSES ANNEXATI
Mr. Johnson, continuing, gave some of the
reasons which impelled him to opposition
to annexaton--one was the ignorance of the
population of Hawaii How long had it
been, he asked, since we had passed bill
to keep out the ignorance of the old world
that we now proposed to annex territory in
which ignorance was the rule, not the ex-
ception. We had passed a Chinese exclu-
sion act. Now it was proposed to annex
territory which contained large Chinese
population. He did not favor the holding
of territory under the shadow of the Amer
ican flag. colonial policy might be
adapted to the nations of antiquity but it
would not do for free country which de-
rived its power from the consent of the
governed. 1t would be unwise and short
sighted, he said, if we should cut loose
from all the traditions of the past and
rashy embark on the unknown sea of ter
rtorial aggrandizement. We had confined
our expansion to continuous territory in the
acquisition of Florida, Louisiana and Texas
In 1853, under Flllmore's presidency we had
been wise enough and sensible enough to re-
iect these very islands We had also re-
JCItGu the pIOllSl VI tilS ltlOD VI Ot IIlOIldS
and under the administration of General
Grant Congress had voted down a PROPOSE
ton to purchase San Domingo Only once
had we departed from our rule-n the pur-
chase of Alaska from Russia-and only the
future could determine whether that had
been wise move.
Possession Of extraneous territory meant
d constant source of irritation, said Mr.
Johnson. The history of the world proves
this 1t was urged that the Sandwich ISL
ands were the key to the Pacific It's
strategic Importance was emphasized as if
guns mounted there could command the
Nicaragua canal and the Pacific coast thou
sands of miles away. The annexation of
Hawaii would establish bad precedent
which we would be urged to follow at an
early day. The appetite grew by what it
fed upon. To-day the cry was: Give us
Hawaii tomorrow it would be Give us
Cuba,' and the next day Give us Samoa"
These appeals would all be justified by the
pleasant sophistries which appealed to our
vanity and cupidity until at last we would
find ourselves irretrievabIy committed to a
policy unnecessary to the material happi-
ness of our people, hurrying along a path
which was strewn with the wrecks of en-
pires and of nations. (Applause.)
He did not deny, he said, that the acquisi-
ton of foreign territory had added to the
prosperity of nations. But history showed
it to have been ultimately source of weak
ness. Cupidty bred oppression, it piled up
taxes, it stirred up strife, it shed human
blood, it was the first step toward dis
memberment. Let the nations of the old
world pursue this policy of aggrandzement
to their hearts content; let them saddle
their people with debt, equip armies and
navies and shed oceans of blood Let Eng
land boast, if she please, that the sun never
sets upon her territory. But let us remem-
Der that it never goes down upon the misery
her policy has created. Her people starve
in India. Let wars and rumors of war
bring anxiety to the faces of her coIonists.
but let the flower of her colonies, which
broke away from her domination one hun
dred years ago, and which by pursuing the
opposite policy, has outstripped her, con-
tinue to stand as an example to the civilized
world
SHOULD SEEK ENDURING PEACE.
While others seek war and its horrors
let us sooth our people with enduring
peace. Peace hath her victories no less
than war" We are in the infancy of our
resources the morning of our material de-
velopment. We will be wise to develop our
matchless country. The internal reforms
which our country demand present field
broad enough to enlist our best efforts the
publication of the ballot, the crushing of
the rings and trusts which plumber our
people without stint, the restriction of i'm
migration, the establishment of a fixed and
stable standard of value and the reform
of our banking laws afford work for us to
do.
Let us not be known and execrated, said
Mr.. johnson, the "bostering bullies of
the western hemisphere" Our country is
all powerful. The world comedies our
strength. while l am proud of our navy
continued Mr.. Johnson, impressively, II
sometimes think that the powerful battle
ships we have built has bred feeling of in
tolerance and insolence. 1t is not more true
that a plethoric treasury breeds public
plunder than that a well-equipped army
and navy rashly leads to friction and war.
Let our equipment insure peace rather than
provoke war. (Applause.) While it may
seem that these remarks are premature and
that | have taken too firm a grip on the
forelock Of time it is my purpose to sound
the alarm that the House and the coun-
try may understand the character of the
proposition pending in the Senate. My in
formation is that the treaty will fail in
the Senate, but it will be supplanted by
joint resolution providing for the annexa-
ton of the islands. 1 do not doubt it's pas
sage by the Senate and that it will come
here If the Senate fails to do it's duty, let
us, fresh from the people. exercise our high
prerogative and send it to it's doom. CAP
plause.) ] trust God it will not be made
party measure. With exalted patriotism
and deliberate counsels reach a conclusion
worthy of this House and the country and
erect a safeguard for the future. If we
turn from this temptation now and adhere
to the right twenty-five years of peace and
prosperity will vindicate our patriotism and
posterity will bless our memories. Let us
have the moral courage to say mo- to Il
policy which will lead, God alone knows
where
The demonstration which greeted the con-
clusion of Mr. Johnson's speech was one
of the greatest and most spontaneous wit
messed in this Congress. Many Of the Re-
pubicans joined in it and the galleries.
which were crowded, gave evidences of APP
proval. Members thronged about the IN
diana member when he took his seat and
warmly congratulated him.
POLITICAL SPEECHES.
The remainder of the day was almost en-
tirely consumed with political speeches. Mr..
Miers (Dem.. Ind made vigorous ar
raignment Of gold and monometallism and