Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-23
rnE HAWAIIAN TREATY

The Hawaiian treaty now In the hands
of the Senate provides for the asSump-
tIon Of the-HawaiiQn debt, the DISPOSE
ton Of the revenues the status IN Qto
OF the Chinese population, the indemni-
Gcation Of the royal family, and other
matters, pending the ratification of the
treaty and the legislation that will be
needed for the appropriations involved.
10 is clearly the administrations pur-
pose TO crowd it through before the
close Of the session, if possible. The
favorable report upon the treaty by the
Senate committee almost simultaneous
ly with the first publication of its pro-
visions shows that an the administra-
ton wants is the achievement and
viii leave to its successor the solution
of all the difficult and serious problems
involved. II there were any need Of
such haste, it would be pardonable, but
To submitting the treaty Secretary Eos
TER very couc,usively proved that there
is no need for such haste He con-
c'uded the letter to the President with
the announcement:
sit is gratifying to be able 10 state that
pending the negotiations leading up 10 the
treaty herewith submitted, the under
signed has received such assurances from
the representatives of the leading powers
I 40 ri1 rt.Hr1H arfH from ours own mini tors
abroad us leads 20 the conviction that the
incorporation Of the-HawaiiaD Islands into
Our union viii be regarded by THESE powers
with satisfaction, or ready acQuiescence.
This removes the only reasonable
ground for haste. Besides, the country
should be fully informed OF IT'S con-
sequences before making so wide a de-
Darture from our traditional policy. So
important a step has never before been
taken in such careless, not to say in
decent haste, and upon such insufficient
information.
As to the treaty itself, even as a mat
ter Of abstract practice, it is impossible
to Justify It's provisions for $4,000 an
nual pension to Queen LuIoUEALANI
and for the payment of $4,000 to her
daughter, the Princess KAIULANI. If
the Senate ratlfes the treaty these in
dividuaIs become subjects Of the United
States, and the propriety-of Congress in
providing for them under such condi-
tions may well be questioned. The act in
itself is a recognition Of the rights of the
ex-Queen with which the treaty with
the provisional government is in direct
contradiction. The administration has
implicitly at least proceeded on the pre-
sumption that LILIoUKALANI was being
deprived Of none Of her rights by an
nexation, but the granting Of a life pen
sion on the express proviSo that "she in
good faith submits 10 the authority of
the government Of the United States,
makes it appear that the presumption
was put forth for the sake Of appear
anceS only"
II WIS Aue4A AAlNAt - AGtlAou llt
United States, without any reason and
with no compensating, benefits what
ever will suddenly find themselves in
possession Of an insular dependency,
populated by a hali-civiized nation,
two thousand miles removed from our
coast line. We shall assume the care
Of a black ex-Queen and royal family
and various other obligations. widely
different from anything this country
has ever before undertaken. In brief,
we shall have embarked on trouble
some and dangerous colonial policy not
unlike that Of Great Britain, for be-
yond doubt the possession Of these
Pacific islands will encourage the
cranky sentiment for the acquisition by