The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-22
LITTLE INTEREST IN THE DISCUSSION
hr' white Leader of the Opposition
Spoke -Four Hours.
IMPORTANT MEASURE PASSED.
feh"ittcs Provided for the
malicious Injury of Submarine
Mines ana Torpcdocs.

| "tioh' "hlcn proceeded in the senate,
already has begun to flag. Early Ia the
present session the senate debated the
question behind closed doors for SIN weeks.
| During THAT time Il majority OF the srelk-
ers were accorded close attention. 1t Is
evident from the proceedings today that
the senators Will nc; become enthusiasts
over arguments which are not new to
| them.
Today Mr.. White (Cal). leader OF the OPP
position spoke for four hours. His argu-
ment was skillful and was presented with
oratorical ability, but It failed to command
attention from the senators 1t really de-
served. Mr.. White had not concluded his
arguments when the resolutions were laid
aside for the day. He will resume his
speech tomorrow and probably occupy the
entire day.
Mr.. Mitchell (Wis) opened the discussion
| today with a brief speech in opposition 10
the resolutions.
Among the bills passed was one providing
| severe penalties for the malicious injury
| or destruction OF submarine mines, torpe-
does, Notifications or otner coast defenses.
Almost Immediately after the senate
| convened the resolution tor the annexation
|
Pending its consideration MIR. Roach "a.
| D., who had been quoted in Washington
| papers as favorable TO the annexation of
| Hawaii. rose to a question OF personal
privilege. He said he had not made the
statement attributed to HIM. and as mat
| ter of fact has opposed the annexation OF
| Hawaii.
| MIR. Mitchell (Wis) delivered a speech III
| opposition to annexation, in the course Of
| his address he declared that the question
| just now was shorn OF its judgment; tue
| effort to establish our government in the
adoption OF policy OF imperialism was
! evidence Of that"
H. thought the seizure Of Hawaii would
remove all doubt as to our land grabbing
| intention. He declared the annexation
| project was a clumsy cover for the sugar
msgnates, from around tht& edges OF which
the saccharlne juice dripped to the advan-
! tage OF all who cared TO avail themselves
| CT it.
| At the conclusion OF Mr.. Mitchel's
speech Mr. White (Cal.). the leader Of tie
| opponents of annexation, took the floor. a
/ call for a quorum by Mr.. Jones tArk.) de-
| veloped the presence OF sixty -one senators,
Mr. White in beginning maintained that
the question pending was not only OF vital
! inheritance but the issues presented with VI
deserved and ought to have the careful
consideration OF all. Some, he thought. hal
been carried away by the excitement that
had been swept along by the existing con-
| ditions.
"Bvt," said he. "if This body is impotent
enough not to carefully consider the ques
| uon 81 has failed Of its purpose; 1t haj
responded not to the ideas OF the trainers
| Of the constitution
| Hc ventured the opinion IL would not
! hasten consideration OF The Hawaiian aueS-
ton. He declared that territory had peeh
acquired by treaty, but in no case hah TER
ri DRY been acquired by such monstrons
| niece Of folly and contradiction as was
The nending resolution, The resolution he
declared had been n cession which con-
! press was about to accept. ratlfy and con-
firm.
He demanded to know what cession
had been made and what lawyer in the SEN
ate would consider that there had been
cession. He maintained there had been
| M ression as there could not have been
| without the concurrence of both parties.
81 would be ashamed OF this senate
declared Mr.. White. III it should pass the
pending resolution containing contradic-
,ion of terms: would be ashamed OF the
senate II II should adopt declaration of
a cession that had never exis'eo as iacl
He then entered upon an extended dis
cussion of the annexation Of Texas quot
ing from authorities on constitutional la"
and from the speeches delivered on that
question in congress-
In referring to the possibility OF an
nexation of the Hawaiian Isiahus ny eA
4 o,ttive action Mr.. White contended that
the executive would be justified in taking
nossession Of foreign territory only as an
act of war and only from the enemy
He gave some attention to the posi-
bllity of the Hawaiian islands becoming
state OF the Union in case OF their acqui-
s,iion and congratulated the country on
Inc fact that no one had been .onnd 10
contend for this right. He characterized
the conditions on the island as 'hetero-
eenous combination OF manifest inetn-
cheney"
Ne commended that there were other
questions than the annexation OF hawai-
involved in the present discussion. He
raferred 10 the assertion that the American
Gag when once unfurlsd in country
could not be taken down and SAID that
whether this was true must depend on the
circumstances under which It was raised
1t must depend upon whether II Is justly
or uniustly raised, II planned rs p result
=, uncaued for invasion and in spirit
NJ conquest and Of rspine and murder, u
| could not he maintained. but II planted on
foreign soil under proper and patriotic
| circumstances IL must be maintained mere
II 10 do so cost the country It's greatest
| strength. its most powerful eHort anu '"e
hest blood Of the Nation
Mr.. White read among other things an
, elucidation OF the Monroe doctrine ana
hen said: I'm this mad race for powell
in this mad race for conquest 81 TERRITORY
lot ne consider most carefully the doc-
trine OF Monroe II is not for senators 70
saw we must extend our dominion all over
the world.
'.Ip enunciating the Monroe doctrine We
declare we desire no interference OF Eh~
ropean powers with affairs In their mem
isphcre hut by those who framed that
> doctrina Il was in contemplation that "e'
, ourselves. had no intention TO interfere
wi,h the territorial possessions outside OF
the hemispherH
"Tre ACQUISITION OF the Hawaiian Islands
would be the entering wedge Of tnat I'M
, nerialistio policy which is as foreign TO
nc nurpose in view when this government
vas organized as are the purposes OF the
most despotlr government on ear'h 70 our
, | system - a., v,r.,.o
In the course OF his speech, Mr. Wh,te
Mad read by the clerk protest OF the
Jsnanese minister to this country against
: ~ .,reur,rnts and conclusions ~ the fo--
! eirn relations committee as related IN It's
! rerort en- The Hawaiian treaty
nj