I think I have sufficiently demonstrated my first proposition. I say that among all the flimsy pretexts that have been laid before this House of Representatives to induce members to vote to abandon our old policy of nonintervention and venture into the acquisition of insular territory. not a single one has been so devoid of reason. so false in point of fact. as this declaration that it is necessary we should own Hawaii in order that we may maintain ourselves in the Philippine Islands during the progress of the present war with Spain. Ah. sir. the annexation of this island is not being urged simply because we want to have a base for present operations or in the belief that we intend. when the war is over and we have exacted from Spain an indemnity. to turn the Philippines back to her. or in case she does not pay the indemnity. that we will dispose of them to some other nation at something like their reasonable value. but annexation is being urged upon this floor because it is the purpose of those who urge it that we shall acquire and use Hawaii as a base of supplies for the permanent holding of the Asiatic territory which the heroism of Dewey and his victorious sailors has delivered into our grasp. This is one thing. Mr.