New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-13
MIR. DAVIS'S SPEECH ENDED
ESPECIAL. ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF HAWAII.

and completed his speech IN the executive se9-
sion Of the Senate to-day on the Hawaiian
treaty. and was followed by Senator Allen OF
Nebraska who spoke in opposition.
Mr. Davis requested in the beginning that no
questions should be asked during the presenta-
! ton of his argument, as he preferred ne salu'
not to have the continuity OF his thoughts
| broken. The speech to-day was devoted largely
to a presentation OF the strategic features OF
annexation He displayed chart In front or
the presiding officers platform. showing the To-
cation OF Hawaii relative to this country and TO
Asia one OF the points brought out with con-
siderable elaboration was the probable effect on
the Nicaragua Canal Of the occupation or the
islands by some foreign Power He illustrated
by a reference to the map showing that Hawaii
was in a straight line between the western
terminus OF the canal and Japan and China. The
Nation he said which controls Hawaii Will con-
troll that great gateway Of commerce. as the
guns planted upon Hawaii would be pointed d.
rectly at the mouth OF tho canal.
He also devoted careful attention to the i'm
portance OF controlling Pearl Harbor, now
owned by the United States, saying that the
Nation which maintained possession OF this mar
Dor would hold the key to the military situation
in the North Pacific. He read extracts from re-
ports by engineers and others In confirmation Of
which he made as to the character OF the har-
hor which was that II was safe and commodious
and could be easily defended. He also presented
the necessity for controlling Hawaii as base
Of supplies in case OF hostilities saying that II
was almost necessary TO control It for this rea-
son on account OF the impossibility Of war
ship crossing the Pacific without replenlshing
her coal supply
NO VIOLATION OF JAPANESE RIGHTS.
Mr. Davis rdculed the objection made by
.Japan that the addition Of Hawaii as United
States territory would work violation Of Jap
anese treaty rights in the Islands. He said In
renly TO this objection that all rights would
doubtless be protected. and instanced the crea-
ton Of the German Empire as showing the eff
feet OF annexation upon the treaties OF various
countries which enter into a consolidation. He
referred to Japan's protest as an indication OF
a natural tendency TO rapacty. and said that the
Government Of that country should have been
satisfied with the territory wrested from China
instead OF wanting to gorge herself by the add-
ton OF Hawaii.
Mr. Davis called attention to the apparent
cordial relations existing between China and
Japan as manifested by Japans offer TO lend
her fleet to England for operations In Chinese
waters where, he said the greatest naval dem
onstration OF history was about to be made.
He did not indicate a belief that immediate
war would be the result OF tho European COM
petition over Chinese territory. On the
trary, 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 so long as there was
prospect of each Power getting much as the
others taking
The only way in which the United States
coull protect itself against this partition OF
territory would be to control the Hawaiian ISL
ands. In this country should fall to do
this there danger OF losing very important
trade advantages which were rapidly develop
Ing in the far East. He referred to the i'm
provement OF the commercial outlook between
the United States and China, and instanced the
fact that one Minnesota firm had exported half
a million dollars worth Of -four to that
try.
The last haf-hour OF Senator Davs's speech
was devoted to a recapitulaton OF the subject
on which he dwelt at considerable length and
portrayed in strong language the origin and
close of great wars. which intended to IL
lustrate the probable ultimate result of present
operations I'm Chinese waters.
When Senator Davis took his seat he was con-
graduated by almost every Senator present
upon the force Of his argument. the thorough
moss Of his researches and the brllliancy of his
presentation Of the facts. Both Senator'S Hoar
and Mason were heard to remark that * was a
great pity that the rules of executive sessions Of
the Senate prevented the publication Of the en-
tire speech.
SENATOR ALLEN AGAINST ANNEXATION.
Senator Allen. Populist. OF Nebraska. fol-
lowed with speech in opposition to the treaty
which was comparatively brief. He called at
tention to the distance of Hawaii from the
shores Of the United States. referred to the
necessity this country would be under OF defend
ing the islands in case OF war, and asserted that
on this account It would be necessary for the
United States TO establish and maintain a sep
arate fleet for their protection. as well as an
armory on the islands. lie said that coal was
no longer contraband of war. and contended that
the United States was in far greater danger
from the British establishment at Esquimault
than 1t could possibly be because Of the location
OF any foreign Power in Hawaii
He also deprecated the idea Of assimilatng |
such a population as that Of Hawaii, saying that
almost half OF It composed of Chinese and |
japanese He contended that the annexation of |
the islands would open the doors for violations
Of the laws for the exclusion of Chinese. hold |
ing that they could find admission through
Hawaii He said also that 1t would he mpossi- |
bic TO prevent Hawaiis becoming a State Of the |
Union at some future day and declared that !
the people Of that country were not OF n char |
acter to send acceptable Senator'S to Washing |
ton.
There apparent to-day disposition on the |
rart OF some Senator'S who announce themselves |
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 Administration take a more |
decided position in the interest of Cuba as n |
return for their assistance the Hawaiian |
treaty.
NAVAL IMPORTATION WANTED.
THE SENATE ASKS FOR A LIST OF ACTIVE OF
ULCERS IN EACH CORPS