The record-union., 1898-02-15

PROCTOR or vermont speaks IN a
vcr of Annexation, DevotiEg
His Remarks Entirely to the
Military Phase Of the Question,
Contending That if the United
States Let the Present Oppor-
tunity Pass Great Britain or
Japan Might Acquire the Is
lands.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Senate
devoted almost four hours in executive
session to-day to the consideration Of the
Hawaiian treaty. The principal speech
was made by Senator Pettigrew, this
being the third instalIment of his re-
marks upon this question.
Senator Pettigrew devoted himself to-
day largely to the administration of
President Dole, showing how the Gov
eminent of Queen Liliuokalani had been
overthrow, and TO a presentation of his
views of this Governments participation
in the revolution. He contended that
the downfall of the Queens Govern
ment was due to a conspiracy on the
part of Minister Stevens, representing
the United States and few citizens of
Honolulu, of whom President Dole was
one, who We're backed by the marines
from a United States battleship.
Pettigrew also contended that the
passage of the Mckinley tariff law had
been the direct cause of the revolution
by which the Queens Government was
overthrow, the motive being to secure
the bounty of cents per pound on do
mastic sugar, which that law provided.
He quoted letter from Minister
Stevens saying that the provision for
this sugar bounty had ruined the sugar
be annexed to the United States, and
cited other authorities to maintain
their contention.
Summing up, Pettigrew said that the
opponents of annexation claimed to have
established four points. They had, he
said shown, first, that the route TO the
Orient via the Aleuten Islands was
900 miles shorter than that via Hon
Olulu; second, that no battleship coaling
on the Hawaiian Islands could reach
the United States in condition to fight,
and that on this 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 necessary to de-
fend; third, that the commerce of the
islands, which had been claimed to be an
important reason for their annexation.
was constantly declining, and was less
than that of an ordinary county of the
United States; fourth, that one Of the
Aleutian Islands would afford a more
secure footing and a shorter route for
q cable to Asia than would the route via
Honolulu.
Teller made a brief statement, calling
Pettigrew's attention TO the fact that
the United States Minister was not the
only representative of a foreign Govern
ment who had recognized the Dole Gov
eminent.
Pettigrew replied that this was true,
but that the recognition of the other
Governments had not come until the day
following the Queens abdication, where
as, Minister Stevens recognition had
been before that time.
Senator Proctor of Vermont followed
with a brief speech in favor of annex
alton. He devoted himself exclusive
~ to the military phase of the question.
He cited the fact that England has
strongly fortified posts all along our
Atlantic seaboard, beginning with Hal
flax. and taking in the Bermudas and
the West Indies. He also called at
tention to the strong fortress at Esqui-
malt, and said that if England should
possess the Hawaiian Islands, as she
might easily do in case we let this
opportunity to acquire them pass by.
her drum beat would be heard almost
entirely around the United States. and
from her own territory in any direction
He also contended that it would be a
comparatively easy matter for the Jap
anese to acquire the islands by popu-
lating them. as they We're apparently
very strongly inclined to do. He said
that the United States, falling to make
the islands a part Of this country.
could not regard their seizure by some
other Power as an offense against this
country. We could not play the dog
in the manager, refusing to accept the
territory ourselves, or to allow others
to take it.
He attempted to controvert the state
ment of Senator Pettigrew that war
ships could not carry sufficient fuel
from Hawaii to make them effective
either for or against the United States
in case of hostilities, and quoted stat
istics to show the contrary view He
said that if it were even true that a
cessel could not carry sufficient coal
itself, coaling vessels could be taken
along for that purpose He thought
the islands of essential Importance to
the United States, both for the purposes
Of offense and defense.
During the session Senator White of
California attempted to ascertain from
Senator Davis, in charge of the treaty.
whether there would be any early at
tempt TO secure vote upon it. The
California Senator stated his opinion
that there ought to be at least three
weeks notice of a time for q vote for
the arrangement of pairs. He stated
that. he would be compelled to be alb
sent from the Senate for the next three
weeks. and expressed a desire to know
something of the plans as to bringing
the discussion to an end In reply, Sem
ator Davis simply stated that he could
not at present say when the debate
would cease or when the Senate would
be prepared to take a vote.
REV. C. O. BROWN.