Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-08
SOWING THE WIND.

The Sandwich Islands sugar ring and the
political cxpansionists have proved 100
strong for those who deprecated TINS
governments becoming the promoter of
a miserable piece OF jobbery and ques-
TONED the wisdom of a departure from
the time-honored policy of the nation.
? But the method by which they attained
success is in keeping with the whole his
Tory of the Hawaiian annexation move
ment. The combination, finding that it
could not consummate its scheme by
treaty ratification process, which required
81 two thirds vote in the Senate. resorled
10 a Joint resolution, for which only
majority vote in each House was neces-
sary. What Is known as the Newlands
Hawaiian annexation resolution was in
troduced in Congress; was by the grace OF
Speaker Reed, who had long been counted
in opposition to annexation, finally given
n clear track, and was rushed through
The lower branch, and on Wednesday 1t
passed the Senate. AS President Mckln-
ley has been an ardent champion of the
movement, Hawaiian annexation may
now be said to be practically an accom-
plshed fact. AS soon as certain pre-
llminaries can be arranged between this
government and the rump government
ar Honolulu, which we did so much to
set up, Hawaii will become territory
of the United States. and the advantages
and the virtual bounty of millions of
dollars year Chinese cheap labor gives
10 the Hawaiian sugar kings Will be con-
iirmed to the latter in perpetuity.
From beginning TO end, this Hawaiian
business is discreditable to us. Apart
from all else, it is ruthless act Of land
grabbing. seeing that the natives have
had no voice in the question of anneXa-
ton. Yet we might pass by both this
and the general jobbery that tain;s the
proceeding. and philosophioally resolve
10 make the best of bad bargain, had
we any assurance that our possession of
the islands will close the incident and
satisfy the expansionists. We have, how
ever, no such assurance. On the contrary,
there Is every reason to believe that it
will stimulate the greed for the acquire
,nent of territory beyond our limits, and
that Hawaii will prove but u halfway
station on march to imperialism and into
the vortex of European diplomatic com
plications. There is reason to believe that
SO far as the political phase of the matter
IS concerned, IL has been worked With a
view OF preparing the public mind for a
general policy of land grabbing-a Motley
involving the utter reputation of our
historic doctrine the ignoring Of the
warnings of The fathers of the republic.
the fostering of militarism, the anpoiIt-
ment OF a horde OF officials that will eat
up the substance OF the people of our
conquered territory, and the laying of
masses at home. We may he wrong. We
would fain hope we are We would fain
hope that Hawaiian annexation VIII rrcve
in itself most potent factor IN inducing
sober second thought as TO what It threat
ems to lead 10. But we fear not.
As our readers are we'll aware we have
never held that the time would not come
when We would be justified in annexlng
Hawaii. They are also well aware that
we have contemplated the possibility OF
conditions arising that would compel as
10 hold on 10 spanish territory invaded
in prosecuting our war with Spain. But
no justification for raising our dag over
Hawaii presents itself at this 1uncture,
aud the conditions referred TO touching
conquered territory are not in evidence.
This being the case, we cannot but look
upon Hawaiian annexation as an exam
plc Of deliberately sowing the wind for
HE purpose OF raising a whirlwind. re-
sordiess Of what wreckage the later may
make OF our institutions
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The American people will earnestly re-