The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-04-30
KNOX HAS
AN INNINGS
His Argument for the
House Bill.
NEEDS OF THESE ISLANDS
The Anticipated Effect of an Educa-
tionaI Ballot Upon Hawaiian
Political Progress.

having under consideration the bill Is.
122) to provide a government for the
Territory of Hawaii, Mr.. Knox said:
Mr.. Chairman: In presenting to the
House this bill creating a government
for the Territory of Hawaii, 1 do not
think it would be profitable or peril
tent to discuss the general question of
/ 6Le desirability and wisdom of the an
nexation of the Hawaiian Islands. 40
subject of public policy has received
| The consideration OF the American peo-
| lie more extensively than this. Ii has
Jeen debated for the larger part OF the
| century now closing, both in Congress
md the popular forum 1t has been
lie subject of numerous executive mes
sages, and two treaties OF annexat on
nave failed. But however great has
! been the difference of opinion in the
! United States upon the annexation of
! he Hawaiian Islands, there has been
| and is today no difference of opinion
| is to the danger and menace should
they fall into the possession Of any
-Oreign nation.
And it has been the uniform position
Of the Government that acquisition of
.nese islands by a foreign nation would
an unfriendly act.
The discussion which has been con-
tinuous for so great a part Of our ma
.ional existence came TO a sadden and
unexpected termination. Its end was
in the events of the Spanish war
vents which form an epoch In the his
DRY of this country and OF the world
That war made generally apparent
| to the people of the United States the
strategic necessity OF those islands. in
view of war and a hostile feet in the
| Pacific ocean. They furnish the only
, base of naval operations i'm the North
/ ern Pacific. In all that vast expanse
/ of water, as is said in the report OF
Z the distinguished gentleman from nli-
/ nois (Mr. HitD, from the equator to
| Alaska, from the shores OF Asia To the
/ shores Of the United states, there is
but one spot where a ton Of coal or n
pound of bread or a gallon OF water
I can be obtained, and that place is In
Hawaii.
Hawaii also contains Pearl Harbor,
lbne OF the best and easiest defended in
the world. an island lagoon practically
surrounded by land. with a narrow arm
extending into the sea, and before that
entrance a coral reef with a passage
way of but FIVE hundred to a thousand
feet in width, where by guns In forti-
fcation the navies of the world may
be stopped.
But there was something else besides
the naval and strategic Importance of
these islands that was DEMONSTRATED by
/, the war. We obtained a great island
:. empire upon the shores OF the Oricn:
/, drawing sharply the attention II tine
4, %. he y.t
> for American produce existing In the
East, especially in China.
The acquisition of that territory came
: at a time when China, both territorial
: ly and politically, was being divided
and changed; when a civilization, tbs
Oldest In the world. extending bach
thousands of years, older than Rome
older than Greece; a civilization tha
d extended far back into the dim half
light of tradition, beyond Egypt anC
Thebes and the Sphinx; "a civilization
that was old in the days OF TIE Per
. sian and the Babylonian empire, wa
2 breaking up. emerging into the lish
:, ard life of the present day. The posi-
bflities of that market for America
q produce-and America now produce
q more than she can consume-and tn
:, disparity will increase as the years =
~ on-can not be overestimated.
- The possibilities OF that great marke
>, have been secured to the people OF tn
* United States by n triumph of diplo
% macy achieved by a Republican Presi
- dent and a Republican Secretary {
state. triumph that challenges Tn
admiration of the world. SO that bot
in a military and naval sense, an
. commercially, the Importance of tn
- acquisition OF the Hawaiian Islands ca
~ not be exaggerated and we may sa
=, today, i'm fact. what was said in argu
- ment for years in the past, that Ha
70 WaIi Is the Gibraltar of the Pacific 4
% war, the key of the Pacific In peace
- lie paradise OF the Pacific ever.
,s But whether the annexation OF tn
Dc Hawaiian Islands may be considered a
% the contamination of a long-settled Iol
Icy upon the part OF the United State!
= or as the commencement OF a new or
|. or territorial expansion and CONNER
cial development, the step that ma
j been taken cannot be retraced HaIa
n IL American territory by the solem
o. and mutual agreement OF two soyereic,
r. Republics. 1t Is American territory All
~ solutely, and, humanity speaking, for
a. ever.
Te But while IL Is American territory
Z. does not possess American government
W \ part of the United States IL has n
IL government of the United States. TIL
'e annexation resolution by which Hawa
70 became pert Of the United States pro
vided only for the continuance Of
I'd government ~ r-ch manner ord 2, Z
I, cTerciscd by such persons as the Pres
' o'nt should appoint
lts provisions were substantially ~
- acceptance % the ccssion. provI~ia
nat the land laws 81 the United s at
SHOULD rot extend 20 Hawaii. Tor 70 *,
.rrrrrrt by TIE President. Tor tho cor
trunncc ~ the customs laws Of TIA
- ttL Tor tlc exclusion - tho -'rinra,
p ----L -. -. ---.-.- - :.