The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-10-10
M'CLANAHAN AND CUBA

mitteos i'm Congress i'm Hawaiis behalf
against that dangerous measure. Again
we are confronted with a like issue,
but far more portentous, and as the
Democratic nominee for Delegate to
Congress l take the position that what
has been done and accomplished i'm
Congress against free trade with the
Philippines can again be accomplished
against Cuban annexation, if a proper
fight is made untedly by all the in
terests affected. There is much to en-
courage a determined fight against an
neXation; vast agricultural interests i'm
the United States outside of sugar are
directly assailed; the entire South, with
its powerful and able representation
in the House, and particularly in the
Senate, should have, and l believe will
have, but one sentiment on this issue;
the beet sugar interests of the North
and the fruit interests of the Pacific
slope are all in jeopardy. The people
know further that the United States
solemnly pledged herself to preserve
Cuban independence and has solemnly
declared against annexation in any
form. To many this appeal will count
AbA lltAhBlllJ Jul Will many OllltlSi anu
the very best of the land it will have
much weight and power. The undoubt-
ed revulsion of feeling in the United
States against annexation of any more
alien territory is ripe to be used with
great force and effect. The fact that
the great trusts whose interests lie in
the annexation of Cuba have been ut
terly discredited, and many of their
representatives now before the public
under criminal indictment will also
work to our advantage. All these
weapons can be used with telling eff
feet when backed by the tireless and
concentrated energies of those who do
not propose to be despoiled in their
own homes. If the spirit of the people
of this Territory is in accord with a
determined protest and a fight all
along the line, then it remains simply
to decide whether that fight can best
be handled, and with most effect, with
in the Democratic or Republican col
umn. If you believe that the Territory
should still go Republican and ally it.
self with the Republican party, the
election should be awarded to Kuhio,
my respected opponent. On the other
hand, if you believe that a decided
Democratic victory in Hawaii would in
itself constitute protest, the most
vital and significant within our reach
and grasp, and if you believe further
that the fight against Cuban annexa-
ton can be carried on more naturally,
more freely and more effcaciously,
shoulder to shoulder, with the party
that already has committed itself
against the measure and done valiant
service already to avert the threatened
evil, then logically and justly Hawaii
should place itself under the Demo-
cratic banner and fraternize ureserv-
eddy with those whose fortunes are one
with ours. l concede at once that Ku-
hio will know his duty to his people
quite well enough to protest and work
against Cuban annexation in season
and out of season. but I submit that
for him to appear in the Democratic
fold in a Republican uniform, thus adj
vertising that the Territory Of Hawaii
is acting with the Democrats grudg-
ingly and only to save her own skin,
will lack that element of good viii
and unreserVed cooperation that would
surely mark the advent in Congress of
one of their own number.
The Democrats do not claim bad faith
on the part of President Roosevelt in
the matter of Intervention; we simply
take him at his word that if the Cubans
do not improve another and last chance
to be given them their destiny will be
taken out of their hands. Intervention
once accomplished, the rest is likely to
be precipitated whether the admins
tration likes it or not. Whether an
neXation comes swiftly or slowly, we
can't get to work too quickly or too
earnestly. 1 advocate fellowship be-
tween Hawaii and the agricultural
states, whose interests are practically
Identical with those of Hawaii, as the
surest, safest most efficacious and en-
during alliance that we can possibly
make. You are not to choose, as it
seems to me, either to occupy a flag end
position in the Republican program,
that sooner or later unless checked
Will precipitate annexation, or to Join
hands with those who will gladly and
unreservedly welcome you and recog-
nize you as one who is in the same boat
with themselves and to be protected
and defended in common with them
selves and on an equal footing.
In meeting this question of a choice
between Democrat and Republican
to represent Hawaii in Congress, the
argument of the Republicans will prob
ably be that it would be foolhardy for
Hawaii to at this time change her poll
tics in national matters, for the rea-
son that if the Republicans in Congress
are to be the advocates of Cuban an
neXation, then the wise course will be
to send a Republican from Hawaii to
convert them; that is a Republican
can accomplish more with Republican
Congressman on this question than can
a Democrat. My answer to the argu-
ment is this: The work that will tell
against Cuban annexation is not that
which is directed against the men in
Congress who are to vote on tho oues-