This was insisted
on by our Fathers as the doctrine of International law, to
be acted upon by the infant Republic for itself. In this
I am confirmed by the testimony of Mr. Secretary Long, who
was in President McKinley's most intimate counsels.
The Treaty negotiated by President McKinley with Hawaii was
not acted upon. It was concluded to substitute a joint resolution,
for which there was a precedent in the case of the acquisition
of Texas. I voted for the joint resolution, as did Senator
Hale of Maine, and several Democratic Senators, who were earnestly
opposed to what is known as the policy of Imperialism.
I left the President, after the conversation above related,
without giving him any assurance as to my action. But I
determined on full reflection, to support the acquisition of
Hawaii, in accordance with my long-settled purpose, and at
the same time to make a clear and emphatic statement of my
unalterable opposition to acquiring dependencies in the East,
if we did not expect, when the proper time came, to admit
them to the Union as States. This I did to the best of my
power.
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