Evening star., 1898-01-20
ADVANTAGES OF ANNEXATION.

Senator Morgan ON the Commercsal
Possibilities of the Hawaiian Islands.
The executive session of the Senate yes
terday afternoon was taken uu by the
speech of Senator Morgan on the Hawaiian
annexation treaty. He announced at the
conclusion of the session that he probably
would require one more day in which to
complete his presentation of the subject
Senator Morgan dealt with the questions
of the agricultural and commercial possi-
bilities of the islands, with the character
Of the present government and with the
position of the residents of the island on
the subject of annexation. He repeated his;
assertion that President Cleveland was
favorable to the acquisition Of the islands,
and again expressed tn. opinion that it
was his intention to restore Queen Liliuo-
kaiani, and to negotiate with her treaty
of annexation. He elaborated his views on
this subject at considerable length, saying
that while he believed it was Mr. Cleve-
lands intention to annex the islands he
naturally changed his intention to do this
through the restorati ton Of the que.n when
she made known her bloodthirsty DISPOSE
tion toward those who had dethroned her
He expressed the opinion that Mr.. Cleve-
land would never have taken sucn positive
position as he did take against the Dole
government, and in opposition to anneXa-
tion, but for the antagonistic and mislead-
ing report Of Commissioner Blount.
MIR. Morgan Questioned.
The senator was interrupted at this point
by two or three senators who were opposed
to the treaty. who wanted to know if it
was not true that Mr.. Cleveland had with
drawn the treaty for annexation made by
the Harrison administration.
He admitted that this was the case, say
Ing that 1t was matter of record, but ne
still contended that under conditions en-
frl1v fn Mr nd
have supported annexation.
He was then asked if Mr. Cleveland had
ever put himself on record in any way as
favorable to the acquisition of the Islands.
Replying to this inquiry, Mr.. Morgan said
that, so far as he knew, Mr.. Cleveland had
not so committed himself in a public ca
pacity, but that he (Mr Morgan) had been
convinced from private interviews with the
ex-Prestdent that he not only believed in
the wisdom of annexing Hawaii, but that
he would also have recommended the an
nexation Of Cuba under right conditions.
Mr.. Morgan took up the criticisms upon
the present government of Hawaii. defend
ing it in strong terms and eulogizing Mr.
Dole one of the most competent rulers
Of the time He reviewed Mr.. Dole's his
tory. and said that that gentleman's record
showed that he would be a creditable head
Of any nation. He controverted the Idea
that the present government was, as had
been charged, a missionary government
claiming that it was in every way stanch
He said that the people naturally sought a
closs alliance with the United States be-
cause they had always had the friendship
and support of the people of this country.
Speaking OF the resources of the islands
Mr.. Morgan said that they were manifold,
and that the time would come when they
would produce enough coffee to supply the
demands Of all the people of the United
States. while, he said. the sugar production
had already reached its limit. He esti-
mated that there were at least 176.OOO acres
of land in the islands adapted to the
dustry was rapidly developing. He thought
at least 1880 tons Of coffse would be ex-
ported from the islands during the present
year. He concluded that the resources of
the country were such as to insure a yerv
prosperous future. and predicted that Hon
olulu would some time in the not distant
future attain to great commercial import-
ance, equal. IN all probability. to that of
Hong Kong or other cities Of equal ma8ni-
tude,