The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-24
HANNA'S VICTORY.

One of the most favorable auguries
for the success of the annexation trea-
ty, received by the last mail, was the
selection of Senator Hanna. Every
body knows the condition of affairs
in Ohio, and every one knows that 1T
was the power of the Executive which
forced those who had other views, to
line up for Hanna. The same force,
used as skillfully and as relentlessly,
will line up every Republican Senator
upon the side of the treaty. 1t is the
knowledge that the Presidentpossessed
such force, and that he was the kind
of man that would use it, which has
made so many people engaged in the
treaty fight feel fairly assured of
success.
In the case of the treaty, President
Mckinley must win for the sake of
prestige. If he loses, his prestige
would be seriously injured, and he
would be hampered during the re-
matter of Hawaii the President is not
and cannot be half-hearted. When
people were talking in the United
States and here about the wave which
was going to overwhelm the annexa-
ton cause, and the disorganization in
the ranks of the anneXationists, the
master hand was away from Washing
ton, but it was not long after his re-
turn that the lines began to draw clos
allegiance.
To say that the annexation cause is
won would be absurd, as much as it
would have been to say that the bat
tie of Pittsburg Landing was when
when the Confederates drove the Nor
thern forces from their tents, or that
Waterloo was won couple of hours
after the fight commenced. The an
nexation fight is not won, but it is now
in splendid shape to be won, and those
who are in command are able and cx-
perienced.
What some people lost sight of it
that upon the annexation of Hawaii
hinge political possibilities in the
United States. 1t is not merely wheth-
er Hawaii should be annexed or not,
it is whether the Executive of the
United States is to retain its power
in politics, and one may go farther;
occupy the White House for a second
term.
Under such circumstances it is very
plain that Senators who do not care
for the Hawaiian question one parti-
Gle, or who are even opposed to it, are
going to line up in its favor when its
success or failure will touch their own
immediate interests. They may not
want to have Hawaii annexed, but they
need power, prestige and patronage,
and they will not lose these for the
sake of defeating annexation. Thus
the ranks of the true anneXationists
will be swelled by those who ut one
time seemed to be prepared to act with
the enemy.
To carry out so delicate and difficult
an operation it needs an able general,
and this President Mckinley has proved
over and over again in his life. One
has only to look upon his career end
see what forcible and forceful man
he is. He has overcome difficulties
which would have daunted men of less
strength of character and less knowl-
edge of men and politics. One of his
most brilliant feats in the latter di-
rection is winning the Ohio fight for
Mark Hanna. The man who could do
that in the teeth of an opposition that
was so violently bitter as that against
Hanna, will be able to manage a SEN
atorial fight which is, after all, by no
means so bitter, though everyone
knows that it is hard. Therefore, as
has been said, the election of Mark
Hanna is good augury for the an
neXatioD cause.