Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-26
Annex Hawaii.

The news from Honolulu that the United
States had. or was about to. assume Juris-
diction over Hawaii has not yet been con-
frmed. but it brings to the front an issue
which must be decided one way or the 9TH
er forthwith.
War between Spain and the United States
is now an established fact.
International law requires that all ma
items not a party to the war shall remain
neutral: /. e.. that they shall not furnish
aid comfort to either party or allow the
vessels of belligerents to outfit in the neu-
trail ports. Already the nations of the
earth are issuing their declarations of neu-
trality and warning the belligerent powers
that their national vessels must leave the
neutral ports within forty-eight hours or
remain in port for the balance of the war
The Spanish fleet has heretofore been
Quitting and using as base of operations
the Portuguese possessions at the Cape
Verde Islands. If Portugal does its duty
as a neutral this fleet will now be ordered
TO a failure to SO order or the fur
nishing of supplies to the Spanish fleet af-
ter the expiration of the time named in the
order would give the United States the
right to treat Portugal as an ally of Spain
or give it claim for damages. upon the
cured damages from Great Britain for Civ
ing the southern confederacy material as
sistance during the late civil war.
Hawaii stands in this respect upon the
same footing with Portugal. The United
States IS practically maintaining a naval
station in Honolulu. Two American war
ships the Mohican and the Bennington,
are located there, making it their base of
operations. They have also made it a coal
ing station, having now fifteen thousand
tons Of coal located there. If Hawaii is to
remain neutral this coal and the other ma
val supplies stored in Honolulu must be-
come unavailable to the United States and
the Bennington and the Mohican must
leave for other waters. If the United
States wishes to retain the advantages of
a coaling station at Honolulu and to keep
a naval reserve in that port she can do so
only by making it American territory.
There is no halfway position. 1t must be
either possession or neutrality.
If Hawaii remains neutral the United
States will lose control of the only coaling
station in the North Pacific; and if she
does not remain neutral, she is subject to
be treated as an enemy by Spain. or to a
claim for damages, which she will have
neither the legal nor the physical power to
resist.
This is question which cannot be post
poned- lnaction is positive action in this
case Failure 10 declare and enforce her
neutrality constitutes action on the part
of Hawaii. fixing her status toward and
her liability 10 Spain.
On the other hand. such neutrality ac-
ton on the part of Hawaii will deprive us
OF an advantage which we now have and
which We can retain by saying the word
The United States must either fish or cut
bait 1t can no longer continue the shilly
shaily course toward Hawaii which it has
maintained for the past five years The
evolution of circumstances has forced upon
this country a situation which makes i'm
mediate decision imperative and Hnavod-
aple- "hat snail the answer be? Do we
want Hawaii shall we let it go?