The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-05-26
HAWAIIAN STAR NEWSPAPER COMPANY
ANNEXATION IN AMERICA.


Washington, SO far as we can observe,
which should discourage the friends Of
the annexation movement. The treaty
was withdrawn "for examination" only;
and that such Withdrawal was not in
any sense an unfriendly act appears in
the text of Commissioner Bount's in.
structons. 1t is quite the custom for
one President to withdraw treaties left
by a previous administration, so that he
may know what he is expected to APP
prove in advance of the time when the
bestowal of his signature or his vet,
might become imperative. Thus Mr..
Cleveland withdrew the Russian extra.
dition treaty that he might consider its
terms This was not the act of a man
hostile to Russia or to the general prn-
Ciple of extradition; but that of a
cautious statesman who did not wish
to take leap in the dark or to ratify,
without even the appearance of pre-
liminary thought, one of the acts of an.
other and a rival administration.
AS to what Mr. Cleveland proposes
to do with the treaty remains, of course,
. to be seen; but we submit that there is
not a shadow Of evidence that he wishes
l,E,,t 10 ,C
mediate purpose, one way or the other,
he has given no public sign; but a
great deal may be surmised from the
nature of his former policy towards
Hawaii from that in regard to naval
stations; from the historic presidents Of
the Democracy and from the political
prudence which may be looked for in
party which lost twenty nine years Of
power through being on the wrong side
Of patriotic issue.
During his first term, President
Cleveland was ready as Secretary Bay
ards instructions to Minister Merrill
show, to interfere in behalf of decent
government on these Islands; and all
the acts of Minister Stevens in CON
junction with present affairs were in
line with the orders thus conveyed. 1t
can hardly be supposed, under such
circumstances, that President Cleveland
would now undertake to Illustrate the
inevitable consequences of the Hawaiian
policy his own craftsmanship initiated !;
and do so, moreover, at clear disad-
vantage to the American people, with
whose western lines of defense this
group is so closely connected.
In the matter of naval stations Mr..
Cleveland has shown himself enterpris-
ing and alert. His were the Mole St.
Nicholas and SANTANA bay negotiations ;
and he was anxious, withaI, to secure
Pearl Harbor as a midway station be.
tween San Francisco and the American
coal pile on Samoa Is it likely that he
would draw back from the opportunity
10 get Pearl Harbor and all the rest of
the territory here as a gift-and a gift
that would be self supporting at that
Would such be his probable course in
view of the manifest needs of the new
in, the H,alf,ra o. ,,,ht,l l. l.
shown such patriotic INTEREST,"
Then as to Democratic precedent.
If there IS any one great principle which
has exalted the party to which the
President belongs, it is that of Annexa.
ton. Under Cleveland's Democratic
predecessors the empire known to the
French as Louisiana, the Indian terri
tories from the Mississippi to Puget
Sound as well as California and Texas
have been annexed to the American
republic and have happily aided in
making that country great Even as to
the annexation of islands the Democ-
racy, through the Ostend manifesto,
wherein was begun a campaign for
Cuba, has spoken in no uncertain tones.
Indeed the whole escutcheon Of the
party of Jefferson, Van Buren,, Polk
is studded thick with the jewels of ter
ritorial acquisition; and who is there to
say that Mr. Cleveland is so little i'm
bued with the doctrines of his chosen |
fellowship that he will not add the luster
of the Hawaiian prize, freely offered as
it is, to the glittering achievements Of
Democracy
We say again that the Annexationists
have faith in Mr. Cleveland and faith
in his great party Nothing has hap,
pened to undermine that high reliance
and all will abide with confidence the