The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-15
pETTlGREW SAYS IT'S A PLOT.
SENATOR FINISHES HIS SPEECH
AGAINST ANNEX ALTON.

Claims the Present Government of
the Islands Was Installed by Ma
rlnes From n United states War
ship-Makes the Point That the
Route to the Orient Via the Aleu-
tan Islands Is Far Shorter-Not
Necessary to Defense-IsIand Com
uerce Declining.
washington, Feb. 1.-THE Senate devo-
ted almost four hours in executive session
today TO the consideration of the Ha-
wauan treaty.
The principal speech was made by SEN
ator Pettigrew, this being the third INSTALL
ment of his remarks upon the subject.
Senator Petugrew to-day devoted him
self largely to the administration of Pres
ident Dole. showing how the government
OF queen Liliuokaiani had been over
thrown, and to a presentation of his views
of this governments participation in the
revolution.
He contended that the downfall of the
Queens government was due to a conspir-
acy on the part of Minister Stevens, rep
resenting the United States, and few
citizens of Honolulu, of Whom. President
Dole was one, who were backed by the
marines from United States battleship.
He argued that at their time there was
no armed force on the island opposed to
the Queens government except the United
States marines, and" said the senator
If the islands were as rich as the dream
of avarice and their acquisition as desira-
bic as that of Louisiana, we could not take
title from government set up there by
ourselves, without submitting the question
of annexation to a vote of the Hawaiian
people. To do this" he continued with
emphasis, would be an international
crime which would place us on a level
with Great Britain in her subjugation of
the weaker nations of the earth, which
would be an abandonment of the position
and policy of our government from its ear
lest history"
Summing up, Mr.. Pettigrew said that tba
opponents of annexation claimed to have
estaohshed four points. They had. he
said, shown first that the route to the
Orient via the Aleutian islands was ono
miles shorter than that via Honolulu.
second, that no battleship, coaling on The
Hawaiian islands, could reach the Tinted
States in condition to fight, and that IN
TINS account the possession of the islands
would be an element of weakness rather
than of strength, which was in opposition
to the theory that the islands were aeces-
sary to defense; third, that the commerce
oI the islands, which had been claimed TO
De one important reason for their annaxa-
uoh' was constantly declining, and was
less than that of an ordinary county Of
the United States; fourth, that one of the
Aleutlan islands would afford a more Sc
cure footing and be shorter route Tor
cable to Asia than would be the route via
Honolulu -"
All the close of his three-days' speech.
senator Pettigrew was cordially congrat-
ualed by many of the senators. including
some or the opposition, upon the thorough
ness with which he had gone into the sub
]ect and the ability with which he had
presented the opposition to annexation.
senator Proctor of Vermont followed
WIN brief speech in favor of annexa-
tlon. He devoted himself exclusively to
the military phase of the question. He
cited the fact that England has strongly
ioruned ports all along our Atlanaic sea-
poard, beginning with Halifax and taking
ID the Bermudas and the West Indies.
tie also called attention to the strong
fortress at Esquimault, and said that if
england should possess the Hawaiian Is
lands as she might easily do in case we let
TINS opportunity 10 acquire them pass by.
her drum-beat would be heard almost en-
UIeIy around the United States and that
she would be able to attack US from her
own territory in any direction He also
cohtended that it would be a comparatively
easy matter for the japanese to acquire
tHe islands by populating them, as they
were apparently very strongly inclined 10
no. lie said that the United States, fail
hs to make the islands a part of this
country, could not regard their seizure by
some other power as an offense against
ihls country. We could not play the dog
VI the manager, refusing to accept the ter
illory ourselves or to allow others to take
IT, He thought the islands of essential
Importance to the United States both for
purposes of offense and defense.
During the session an attempt was made
70 ascertain from Senator Davis, in charge
OF the treaty whether there would be any
cary attempt to secure a vote on it. In
reply senator Davis simply stated that he
cou'o not at present say when the debate
"ould cease, or when the Senate would be
prepared to take a vote.