Speech #570013141

I do not think the Japanese are as desirable as a white population would be. I favored the acquisition of the Hawaiian Islands. although I knew a large portion of the population was undesirable. for I felt that the advantages of the acquisition of that great military outpost of the Pacific. commanding our defensive line. and of the halfway station to the commerce of the Orient. would more than compensate for the disadvantages arising from the acquisition of an undesirable people. The population of Hawaii was small. aggregating not more than 120.000 people. and let me say that since annexation our Chineseexclusion law and our immigration laws have been applied to those islands. and have resulted in a very large increase in the wages paid to labor. and that this change will gradually result in the introduction of white labor into those islands. I will further say that. if the United States will pursue a wise policy regarding the public lands of those islands. and will dedicate them to settlement as homes in small holdings. there will be a gradual change in the population of those islands that will amaze the gentleman. We have not done our full duty to Hawaii since annexation.