The times., 1898-01-12

and was opened by Mr.. DAVIS, cnalr-
man of the committee, in speech most
highly spoken of by his associates. IFe
closest attention was paid to MI.
Davis throughout the hour and half
he was on the floor. He presented
many convincing arguments but was
unable to conclude yesterday He VIII
probably consume all Of this afternoon.
Immediately after the doors were
closed a large map was carried into the
chamber and hung up in front OF the
desk of the Vice-President. This map
presented the Western Hemisphere
and the eastern coast OF Asia. with the
broad expanse of the Pacific between,
in the midst of which lie the Islands
now seeking admission as part of the
United States, and which are so essen
tial to the military and commercial
control of the Pacific. The map was
an object lesson in itself
Mr.. Davis began his speech with the
statement that the dawn of the TWEEN
tieth century was being ushered in
with forebodings of war and presenti-
ments of discomfort among the nations
of the earth He would not be surprised
ii the early part of the century brought
with il one of the greatest military
conflicts modern history has known. In
the event of war between the United
States and any other power, or in the
more peaceful pursuits of commerce
and trade, he held that the possession
of these islands was absolutely neceS-
sary for the safety and prosperity OF
this government When peace smiled
upon the country, then was the time to
prepare for war, and, being prepared
for war a nation was much more likely
ff. ha T. q
not possess itself of this important ter
ritory, now so freely offered, Mr. Da-
Wis said ne believed the time would
come when this country would be COM
PEELED to fight for it,
The exercise OF authority over the
Hawaiian Islands was not d new prop
osition in the United States. This Gov
ernment has held for years that the
interests of all commercial nations re-
quired that the government of Hawaii
should not be interfered with by for
eign powers. Mr.. Webster. as Secre-
tary of State. as far back as 1912, enun-
ciated the doctrine that the United
States was more interested in the fate
of the islands and their government
than any other nation could be, and
declared it to be the sense of the gov
eminent of the United States that no
foreign power should take possession
of the islands bye conquest or for the
purpose of colonization.
That doctrine has been emphasized
by succeeding administrations, and the
Hawaiian government. whatever its
form might be- has always looked upon
the United States as its ally and pro-
tector. Hawaii has been for years
united commercially to the United
States by treaties, and the preference
has always been given to this govern
i-.I
commercial TO political control was but
a step.
Mr. Davis showed that the doctrine Of
annexation was not new one; that in
the time of President Pierce treaty
of annexation had been negotiated, but
was never presented to the Senate for
the reason that il provided for the es-
tabIishment of the islands as a sover-
eign State. and their admission into
the union on an equality with all the
other States This argument did not
apply in the present case. for it was
not the intention to grant statehood,
but to maintain the islands as a SIM
pie territory.
Mr. Gray. Democrat, of Delaware,
asked if it was not the intention in the
future to give the territory statehood
should it be admitted.
Mr. Davis replied that the future
must take care of itself. If that terri
tory ever did become a State it would
be in remote years, and not during the
lifetime of anyone now living He cited
the instance of New Mexico, which for
many years had been knocking at the
door, and had not yet achieved its
fondest hope.
Objection was also made to the mix
ed character of the population of the
islands and the coolie labor now en-
ployed there. 1t was contended by op-
ponents to the treaty that this labor
could not be controlled nor this popu-
Iation assimilated. Mr. Davis admitted
that there was great deal of this i'm
ported labor on the islands, but assert
ed that IL would be regulated in time
when the details of the government OF
the islands had been worked out. The
conditions in Hawaii would be subject
to the treaty relations of the United
States. and not to the treaty rights
now enjoyed by the governments
whence this coolie labor came with
the present Hawaiian government.
A considerable portion of Mr.. Davis's
speech was devoted to a discussion of
the Monroe doctrine, and the possible
effect the abandonment of the islands
would have upon that doctrine. He
did not admit that it would have any
effect, but saw that foreign govern
ments might use ii as preteXt for de-
nying our right to assert that doctrine
in the future. IL the United States did
not now annex the islands it was he
said, apparent from the condition of af-
fairs there that the islands would seek
aid and assistance elsewhere. This
would be necessary to protect itself
from encroachment which had already
made itself manifest. If it sought some
other power, that power would be Great
Britain, and with the islands there
would pass to Great Britain the mag
nificent Pearl barbor,s the coaling sta
ton and all the advantages that this
key to the Pacific offers
In taking the islands under its pro-
lection, Great Britain might advance
the argument that having ourselves
refused it. the United States was
estopped from asserting the Monroe
doctrine. If this stand should be taken
with respect to the Hawaiian Islands
it needed no prophet to shew that ulti-
mately the assertion of that doctrine
in its application to other parts of the
Western Hemisphere might also be dis
puted. and this presented a situation
which the Senate of the United States
ought carefully to consider. If the
Monroe doctrine were once successfully
disputed, the power of the United
States as the leading nation of the
Western Hemisphere might soon di-
minish
Mr.. Davis did not discuss in detail the
Importance of the islands from a STRAIT
egicaI standpoint, but will take up
that subject today. He will also show
the relationship of the islands to the