The San Francisco call., 1898-01-13
OPEN THE SENATE DOORS.

HE annexation debate has opened. In defer
 ence to the customs of the Senate all business
 transacted by that body in pursuance of its joint functions with the President is in secret. In the confirmation of Presidential appointments and the consideration of treaties the Senate becomes part of the executive branch of the Government. Hence these secret sessions are called executive"
 There IS no constitutional provision requiring that they be secret. While the propriety of confidential and consideration of much of the business be- fore the Senate part of the executive may well be conceded, it must also be admitted that in matter such the annexation of far country like Hawaii open session would be more satisfactory to the people. It reverses our national policy by most violent wrench and changes relations to the rest of the world At the time it gravely affects our domestic policy. Annexatonists frankly admit that the peculiar physical conditions of Hawaii will make necessary up special statutes for that country which shall not apply the of the republic The sober mind of the country has not been convinced of the necessity nor of the proprety of annexation by any of the public arguments made in its favor neither in the treaty itself the communication of Sec retary Sherman nor the message of the President Indeed, to piece out this lack of that will convince the best public opinion of the country it has been given out that other weighty and dominating will be revealed to the Senate in executive session. Therefore these can never reach the people the records of the session secret en- tirely.
 Such treatment of such an issue is in itself evidence of element in the proposed that is full of dan ger the future of the country The secret acquisi- ton of distant territory that cannot become State in the Union, that would be undesirable if it were State, that cannot be clothed with government in form resembling that heretofore provided for our ter ritores during their novtate for statehood is pro- ceeding innlical to free government. It is accom- panied by public admission that it makes necessary the destruction of the equality of laws. It is against the protest of vast majority of the people be governed by system that no annexationist ven further forecast than by the admission that it will resemble any form provided by the consti- tution Moreover, whether constitutional or not it will be without the of o5 per cent of the peo pie to be governed and will therefore contravene the declaration that all governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, which is the moral marrow in national bones, the very blood of national life, which has secured for us the respect of mankind That kind of respect is of higher moral and material value to us than the sort of respect that is forced by drowning exhibition of power.
 Yet the foremost plea made for annexation is that must throw away the respect born of confidence and esteem that may gain that which is born of fear and terror When do this abandon position which we occupy alone among the nations We descend from eminence of which we are the sole tenant and join the countries which get the in spiration of their policy from the maxim that might makes right Following this inspiration the history of their dealings with the weak is written in blood and tears Ours, inspired by the maxim that right makes might, is written in letters of light which the oppressed and the weak have seen and rejoiced.
 II we are to eclipse the bright legend which has made the weak feel that in all the hard world they had one friend in the great republic, the reasons