Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-07
THE HAWAIIAN jon.

month ago it was generally conceneu
that the Hawaiian annexation treaty was
dead. A careful and reliable analysis
NJ the situation showed that the Demo
crafts In the Senate were almost unit IN
opposition TO the scheme, and that VIVA,
with the Republican senators who sideo
with the Democrats, and the "douotfuis'
tho annexationsts could not afford TO
press the question OF ratification to
vote. II was then proposed by some Oh
the nronotcrs to accomplish their object
nv bin or by resolution, but on sober
second thought that idea was abandoned.
It's prosecution involved acquainting the
public. through open debate, with all the
ms and outs Of the job-invoived an e~-
nose that II was recognized would prove
fatal to the scheme beyond the perad-
venture OF a doubt Therefore the mat
ter was allowed, practically. to fall into
'innocuous desuetude.'
Now. however, according TO Washington
advices. the promoters are again IN h'Sn
feather. 1t is announced that the Repnp-
lican senators have become unit tor
ratification; that, Pettgrew excepted
they count upon the support OF the Sill
ver Republican senator's, and that some
of the Democrats who were IN OPPOSE
lion have experienced change OF heart'
So encouraged are the annexauonists' III
fart that Senator Davis, chairman OF
tho Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. has served notice that he Will can
nm the treaty in executive session on
Monday next. and ask the Senate to con-
slider it from day TO day thereafter until
II shall have been disposed of.
In this connection Wa are told that the
friends of the treaty have been OF late
doing some very active mission work ~
IT'S behalf. and that there is no question
that the situation in China is largely re-
sponsibIe for the improved prospects LOT
IT'S ratification. In other words, the an
rexationists have seized upon the far
Fast complication, in the hope OF using
If TO divert public attention from the
true inwardness of the job. and OF rush.
inc the treaty TO ratification in a burst
of jingoism.
aimsier pretext than the one that
the far East complication Justifes our
annexing Hawaii could hardly have been
invented. There is no phase Of that
complication that endangers in the slight
oct degree the integrity of the Monroe
doctrine as applied to Hawaii. Espe-
cially is this the case since Great Britain
defined her position in regard to the
nartition of China" Until the status
ouo Of Hawaii under the Monroe doctrine
sbau have been threatened by foreign
nation annexation on the ground OF
considerations of public policy and OF
.sa1f-nrotection'' would be resorting to
The barest sort of subterfuge. Annexa-
tion AZ this time on any other ground
would be as great an outrage as the
so,zure nv Germany of Kiao-Chau bay.
The performance of our navy at Homo
lulu. which was so vigorously and justly
denounced by Mr.. Cleveland and wnich
rendered it possible for the Hawaiian
ring TO consummate its revolutionary de-
signs. was not one whit less high-handed
than the recent performance of the Ger
man navy in Chinese waters.
The truth is, that for nearly hfty
wars there has been a job, and a Dig
ioh in our relations with Hawaii For
nearly fifty years we have been steadily
nlaving into the hands of a plUtocratic
combine on the islands, that has been
battening on the necessities of the ma
tives and conspiring to overthrow the
government. Not until after the Scho-
field and other exposures of the annexa-
ton scheme did any appreciate part Oh
the general public come TO understand the
iobberv that was behind the pleas that
the acouirement of Hawaii would be in
the interest of trade extension was ne
cessary TO the preservation of the IN
teerity Of the Monroe doctrine, and was
desirable for the purpose Of establishing
q Pacific coaling and cable station.
These pleas won many advocates Of an
nexation. who have lately changed their
views.
The re-encouraged promoters OF the job
are fortifying their Chinese complication
contention with the old argument that
annexation would conduce to the benefit
of American trade. They propose to
mix jingoism and business in the fight.
But if they shall succeed in proving that
the realization of their scheme Will have
any other business effect than that OF
helping the Hawaiian Sugar Trust and
seriously iniuring the beet-sugar indus
try of the United States, they have re-
serve Of logic no intimation Of which
has been given in any debate on the
Hawaiian issue that has taken place here
tofore.