Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-10

If Cuba is 'the Pearl of the Antilles"
Hawaii is "the Paradise of the Pacific"
This little archipelago, hut little over
1000 miles from San Francisco and about
$500 miles from Yokohama, has long
been a conspicuous locality, and has been
an important nation on account of it's
genial climate, it's productivity of soil
and it's commercial and military value.
On account of the Importance that coal
obtains in modern naval warfare, II we
have possession of these islands, it gives
us a distinct advantage in any possible
foreign war. whether we consider melr
offensive or their defensive Importance.
What is more, the fact THAT Hawaii IS
ours, is a help to the preserVatlon Oh
peace, inasmuch as any foreign nation
will carefully consider the chances Oh
successful warfare before breaking OIL all
dip 1omatic relations with the United
States.
In times. of peace the Hawaiian Islands
are even more valuable than in war, for
they are an essential coaling station ana
supply station for steamers engaged IN
trans-Pacific trade. BY reason OF it's pc
culiarly advantageous location, Homo
lulu is destined to become one of the
great commercial cities.
Few. indeed, have been the citizens of
the United states who have not felt that
the islands would be benefited, n con-
fer a reciprocal advantage on our coun-
try, could they be united with US under
a common flag. This feeling has peen
/, common to both democratic and repup-
%11k
.lican statesmen, with this adherence that
the republicans have been willing to wait
till the inhabitants requested annexation,
while the democrats have eagerly reaeh-
I ed out for them. Yet despite their recog-
! milton of the desirability Of the possession
b of the islands, it was reserved for a DEM
|, ocratic administration to giev a gratu-
Il itous insult to the flag, by hauling 1t
down from one of the choicest localities
+ of the earth in a mean attempt TO gam
a paltry partisan advantage. But as US
ual thew mistook the temper of the Am
erican people. Tha islands had come to
us by the voluntary act of the govern
ment of the people, and have come to
stay.
Yet on account of democratic mfsrep-
reservations and the way they deliberate
ly ignore their past record, it is desirable
to outline the history of annexation.
The first recorded effort was by a
democratic president, Franklin Pierce,
who in 1853 and 1854 instructed his min
lister to Hawaii, Mr.. Gregg, through his
secretary of state, Mr.. Marcy, to fonmu-
late a treaty for the annexation of the
Hawaiian islands to the United States
Minister Gregg was authorized to make
compensation to the rulers and chiefs Cd
the islands for the surrender of their po-
litical position, and Secretary Marcy, In
his instructions, said: ''This provision
should not be, as I conceive, any othel
than a pecuniary allowance; in this re.
spect the United States would NANTES
toward them a liberal spirit; a%nnuitie!
Il to. he mount of 100000, to be distributed
Y in such manner as they would prefer
might be secured to them in the treaty"-
a proposition by a democratic offcia
which puts in strange light the demo
cratic criticism of to-day Of the actor
Of the present administration in making
a treaty with the sultan of the Sulu Is
lands by which the annuities amount t,
1920, as shown by a copy of the treaty
published on page 351. Secretary Marc,
further said of the treaty itseM when re
ceived: '"rhe president directs me to ga,
that he cannot approve of some of tn
articles. There are in his mind stron,
! objections to the immediate %incorpora
ton of the LANDS in their present con
: dition into the union as an Independent
: state. 1t was expected that the Hawaiia
: government would be willing to offe
z the islands to h United States as q tel
: ritory and to leave the question In reIa
' ton to their becoming a state to the de
= termination of this government, unem
: barrassed by stipulations on that poin
This government win receive tn
: transfer of the sovereignty Of the San6
witch islands with all proper provision re
> alive to the existing rights and interes,
Y Of the people thereof such as oe usu:
: and proper to territorial sovereignty.
will be the object of the United States,