The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-16
HARRISON NWANTSHAWAII
HE SENDS A MESSAGE FAVORING
ANNEXATION.

tive Session and Not Made Public.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15-The President
sent a message to the Senate this after noon
recommending the annexation Of the Ha-
waiian Islands to the United States. II is
accompanied by a treaty Of annexation
concluded between Secretary of State
Foster and the Hawaiian commissioners and
a mass of correspondence relating 20 the
question at issue. The treaty is brief, pros
viding merely for the annexation of the
islands under the present provisional gov
ernment and leaving the details OF the per-
manent form Of government, etc., to the
action of congress. The correspondence is
very volumonious. running back many
years. and gives complete history Of the
islands so far as the negotiations with the
United States are concerned.
Contrary to general expectation,
the Senate In executive session de-
clined TO make the treaty public
immediately, but decided to first
have the message and documents printed
for the confidential Information OF the Sem
ators. The papers we're accordingly sent
down to the government printing office to
be put in type for confidential use, with a
probability that the seal OF secrecy would
be released tomorrow.
President Harrison did not wait for the
representatives OF the Queen of Hawaii,
who are on their way here. Apparently he
proceeded on the theory that he knew in
advance all the representatives OF the queen
could say by way of protest, and that it
would not affect his determination, and as
the time was short he could not afford to
observe all the proprieties. President Har-
rison believes that the Hawaiian commis-
sioners have almost all OF the intelligence and
property of the islands behind them and
that there was nothing TO do but accept
their offer, or let the islands 60 TO England
or some other European power. Having
early abandoned his first idea OF a proten-
torete, he has, through Secretary Foster,
made the negotiations very agreeable TO
The Hawaiian commissioners, who were
given almost at once to understand that
their main object annexation, was already
as good as obta ned and In the considera-
tion Of details no and they have worked on
the same lines, which was to include in the
treaty only such features as they thought
would not raise especial objections 20 It's
ratification either by the Senate or the
Hawaii provisional government.
FORM OF THE ANNEXATION.
President Harrison and the Hawaiian COM
mtssioners agreed very readily about the
form which the annexation should take,
both preferring that 1t should be by a treaty
which the friendly Senate alone would have
TO deal with IN this country rather than by
bill which would have 70 run the gauntlet
OF the House as well. Both wanted the
thing done as quickly as possible, the Presi-
dent because he was going QUE so
soon, and the commissioners because
OF the precarious condition Of
the government on the islands So the
negotiations were hurried as rapidly as
npcoihla In fYaN a.. Al.
Sundays, from the day the Hawaiian commits
sloners first appeared at the state depart
ment the treaty was sent to the Senate and
nothing but the lack Of cable communica-
tion with Honolulu prevented its being
sent much sooner. The President and Sec
retary Foster have given the Hawaiian
commissioners to understand that the treaty
will be ratified by the Senate in spite OF
possible protests aud objections The COM
missloners expect to remain here
until the treaty is ratified,
and yet have already arranged
30 leave on March in the next steamer for
Honolulu, when they will take the ratified
treaty home with them for the pro forma
ratification Of the provisional government.
President Harrison, having annexed Ha-
wall, takes whatever OF glory there Is in
that aot for his administration Ia its ex-
piring hours and leaves the responsibility of
settling the vexed questions which will
arise as TO the important details to the in-
coming administration.
PROVISIONS OF THE TREATY.
The treaty itself, besides providing for
annexation, the assumption Of the public
debt by the United States, the conversion
OF the crown lands into public lands belong
ing TO the United States, and transfer OF all
other government property, and for annual
pensions TO the queen and the princess is un-
npFafDnd IN haUa h1f nfhar anN
positive statement, and that is that the
Chinese on the islands shall not be allowed
TO come 20 this country. OF course il Inn
plies that the Chinese exclusion act. the CON
tract labor act, and similar national legisla-
tion shall apply to the annexed islands,
but as to the form Of government the only
provision is that the provisional govern
ment and the present judiciary are TO re-
main as they are until congress acts. The
suffrage question, the sugar bounty ques-
tion and all others are left for the next con-
gress which, like the incoming admiusstra-
tion, will, Of course. have had nothing to
say as to the policy the practical responAi-
bilities OF which are thus thrust upon It.
ADVERSE CRITICISM
Naturally there is good deal OF adverse
criticism among senator's and representa-
tives, especially representatives, upon the
course Of the administration. As far as IL
~ Known tO-uiRnI kulo 10 NOT cOnuneQ TO the
democrats. No democrat Ia either house is
quoted more strongly against the action Of
the administration than that stalwart re-
publican. Senator PetsiRrew of South Da-
kota. Members OF the House who do not
approve the administration's course con-
iemn severely the consummation Of such an
important act involving such new Depart
1re In our foreign policy without the
official knowledRe Of the House, and without
asking its consent or cooperation, although
Il is committed by the very fact SO that 10
would acmost Of necessity have to carry
but the details. IL is believed
that the committee on foreign relations
of the Senate, almost every member OF
which. with the exception of Senator Gray
of Delaware, is understood to be strongly in
favor Of annexation, and largely because OF
their well-known enthusiasm for the Nica-
raRua canal, will not be able TO rush this
treaty through the Senate with
put considerable debate, and there is even
hope in the minds Of some Of its opponents
that it may fail OF ratification at the press
snt session 80 that Mr.. Cleveland may have
an opportunity 70 pass upon it. II Mr..
Cleveland chooses to exert his influence IN
the Senate he can undoubtedly prevent it's
He may be asked TO do so by
some OF the opponents OF the treaty.
Mrs. whitney's Will
III. - -.