The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-13
billy Of a war shin crossinr tha pacific

sibility Of war ship crossing the Pacific
without replenishing her coal supply.
Mr.. Davis ridiculed the objection made
by Japan that the addition of Hawaii as
United States territory would work a vio-
lation of Japan's treaty rights In the islands.
de said, in reply to this objection that
all rights would doubtless be Protested. and
instanced the creation of the German en-
pire as showing the effect of annexation on
the treaties of various countries which enter
into a consolidation. He referred to Japan's
protest as an indication of natural tendency
TO rapacity, and said that the government
of that country should have been satisfied
with the territory wrested from China in
stead OF wanting to gorge herself by the
addition of Hawaii.
Mr.. Davis called attention to the apparent
cordial relations existing between Japan
and emma as manifested by Japan's oner
to lend her fleet to the English in their
operations in Chinese waters, where, he
said, the greatest naval demonstration of
history was about to be made. 1t did not
indicate belief that immediate war would
be the result OF the European competition
over Chinese territory. On the contrary, he
called attention to the fact that the flags
Of Great Britain France, Germany and
Russia were floating side by side in Oriental
waters, neither power being apparently
anxious to disturb the other long as
there was prospect OF each power getting
as much as the others were taking.
The only way in which the United States
could protect itself against this division of
territory would be to control the Hawaiian
islands. In case we should fail to do this
there was danger of losing very important
veloping in the far East. He referred to the
Improvement of the commercial outlook be-
tween the United States and China, and
inStanced the fact that one Minnesota firm
had exported half million dollars worth
of flour to that country. The last half hour
of Senator Davis's speech was devoted to
recaptulation of the subject, Non which he
dwelt at considerable length and portrayed
in strong language the origin ana close OF
great wars, which was intended to Illus
trate the probable ultimate result of present
operations in Chinese waters.
When Senator Davis took his seat he was
congratulated by almost every senator pres
ent on the force of his argument, the
thoroughness of his research and the
brilliancy Of his presentation of the facts.
Both Senators HOar and Mason were heard
to remark that it was a great pity that the
rules of executive sessions of the Senate
prevented the publication of the entire docu-
ment.
Senator Allen followed with a speech in
opposition to the treaty, which was COM
paratvely brief He called attention to the
distance of Hawaii from our own shores,
referred to the necessity we would be under
of defending the islands in case of war; and
claimed that on this account it would be
necessary for the United States to establish
and maintain separate fleet for their pro-
lection as well as an army on the islands.
He said that coal was no longer contra
band of war, and contended that the United
States was in far greater danger from the
British establishment at ESquimalt than 1t
could possibly be because of the location
of any foreign power in Hawaii. He also
deprecated the idea of assimilating such
population as that of Hawaii, calling atten-
ton to the fact that most of it is composed
of Chinese and Japanese. He contended
that the annexation of the islands would
open the doors for a violation of our laws
for the exclusion of Chinese, holding that
they could find admission through Hawaii.
He said also that it would be impossible to
prevent Hawaii's becoming state of the
Union at some future day, and declared
that the people Of that country were not of
a character calculated to send acceptable
senators to Washington.
There was apparent to-day a disposition
on the part of some senators who announce
themselves undecided as to what course to
pursue on the Hawaiian question to mix it
with the Cuban problem. They are friends
of Cuba, and their desire is to have the adj
ministration take a more pronounced posi-
ton in the interest of Cuba as a return for
their assistance on the Hawaiian treaty.