The San Francisco call., 1898-01-12
ant figure in controlling that trade for

ant figure in controlling that trade for the future.
 AS for their military importance" said the Senator, it has already be- come evident that the opening of the new century which is now so near must mark the opening of a new con- dition of affairs in the far East"
 He referred then briefly to the opera tions of the European powers in China, predicting that the time was not far distant when the great nations would. if they were not checked. control the entire Asiatic seaboard.
 Taking up the question of the rela- tionship between Hawaii and the Unit ed States, Senator Davis presented a very thorough review of the efforts which had been made in the past to annex the islands and presented quota tions from many eminent statesmen of former times to show, as he said, that the best American thought had always favored this policy.
 He referred at some length to the Marcy treaty, showing why it had not been perfected. as he did also to the treaty which was made during MT. Harrison's administration. He also QuOl6u DldHN Ol ltlt ulltldlCcS Ol otN- retary Marcy and also of Daniel Web ster, and in ending, took occasion to compliment both in high terms. Tn deed" said the Senator. with the sin gle exception of the administration of MT. Cleveland it has been the avOwed and consistent purpose of all parties in all administrations in this country up to the present time, to make the Ha- waiian Islands a part of the United States" He contended that their his tory, so far as they have civilized history, is the result of American en- terprise and energy and said the is lands belonged to this country by virtue both of sentiment and geographical cation.
 Tn view of all the aspects which the case presents, the United States can not afford, either in its own interests, or the interests of the Hawaiian peo- pie. to allow this opportunity to gain control of them to pass. Suppose we should not ratify the present treaty could we consistently continue to eX- ercise the right to prevent other na- tions from assuming the control which we decline to take?"
 He said that up to the present time we have assumed to exercise a sort of s11pervision over the islands, under the guise of asserting the application of the Monroe doctrine, but under these circumstances it would be a bold man indeed who would consider that doc trine applicable in the future. in view of our failure to take advantage of this opportunity to make the islands our own.
 Tn case" asked Senator Gray, also a member of the Committee on For eign Relations, the islands should be annexed, is it the policy to have them admitted as a State of the Union, with their present mixed population?"
 Such I do not believe to be the pur- pose of any one" replied Senator Da- wis. T, myself, freely admit that the population of Hawaii is not such at the present time as would be desirable in an American State, and for myself I say that I consider the character of the population to be one of the Objec- tions to annexation. But the advan- tages so far outweigh this one element as to render it of comparative insig- nificance"
 He added that while he did not be- lieve it to be the purpose of any one that the islands should constitute a State of the Union, he would not attempt to say anything that would bind future administrations in this matter. One point which MT. Davis dwelt on at some length was the desira- bility of the islands. not only to this country, but to all the leading powers of the world.
 We" he said, should take the isl ands while we have the opportunity, and if we do not want them, it will be a very easy matter for us to get rid of them on our own terms"
 He showed that they would be very important territorial acquisition to either Japan, England or Russia, and expressed the opinion that either of these powers would take the islands of our hands at any time we might make known our desire to be rid of them. Ii will be easy enough. he said, to turn 1 them over to some other country if we l find them to be an undesirable acqusi- tion but who will say that it will be SC easy for us to take them at some future | time in case we voluntarily deprive | ourselves of the present opportunity He therefore urged that the experiment | should be made at this time.