The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-06-17

we take 1t we must understand that we
establish precedent, the leading oI
which it will be impossible to foresee
What we can see clearly is that it will be
precedent to Justify the acquiring oil
outside colonies hereafter in any part oil
the world We must further understand
that IL what is proposed can be done un.
der the treaty-making power, then pecu.
liar provisions can be inserted in treaties
of annexation, the nature of which and
the extent to which they will modify our
existing institutions, will depend upon
the prudence and wisdom of those who
act for us in making the treaties In the
case OF annexation of Independent coun-
tries, the differences between them are
likely to require assent to terms that to
some extent at least, will be in the nature
of compromise. Each country must yield
something: and any yielding is likely to
have some bearing on established institu-
tions,-a bearing perhaps seeming to be
immaterial at the time, but which never
theless may stand as a justification for
something more important ut some other
time.
In the proposed treaty in this instance,
1t Is understood, was sp ecial provision
in regard to the large Chinese colony,
which was to preclude its members pass.
ing from the islands into other parts of
the United States. Assuming this pr6-
vision to be valid and effectual would
not the treaty, as to any persons of Chin
csc descent who are born in the islands
and who might therefore he citizens, be
laying down rule repugnant to the pro-
vision of the constitution which under
takes to make the rights of citizens the
same everywhere? And if 80 would the
f,An {.yl Il Il
particular?
Should an offer by and by be made of
the annexation of Spain to the United
States by soms provisional governm ,nt
set up there for the sole and only pur-
pose of such annexation, perhaps we
might be required to assent by way of
compromise to som, provision which
would save to the Spaniards some IF
their existing institutions rcpugnant t.
our own as condition to the union.
and the treaty being the supreme law of
the land, our country would be expected
to observe that condition permanently.
! This may seem an absurd suggestion. but
when we enter upon the business of an
nexation. we have no right to expect that
independent nations are to come and
offer themselves to us with tho free
abandonm mt at the same Tina of all the
special p aculiaritnS in their institutions,
some of them perhaps the inheritance of
ages.
This proposed treaty is not only one
that will constitut, precsd ent for unit
ing ourselves to any country on the
globe, but it is one that will justify
our annexing other countries regardless
of the differences of race and of the dis
cordant elem tents that might be brought
into the union by the act The people to
be brought in in this case are for the
most part people of colored races with
habits and idaas very different from our
own, and very considerable portion of
them belong to race which we are en-
deavoring 1T this time. with but little
regard to justice or to treaty obligations.
to exclude az far as possible from our
country. Tie commissioners who come
here understand very we'll our repug-
nance to have them among us and it is
for this reason that they are ready to
make special provision for combining
them to the islands, though the very act
of doing so will raise a serious question
of constitutional right.
1t is perfectly manifest that unless we
are to treat the American and English
settlers upon the islands as persons emit
tied to establish for themselves institu-
tons at will, regardless of the wishes of
the remainder of the people. we cannot
for moment sanction what is proposad
but if we make the recognition and give
effect to their will by receiving the pro-
posed gift, we are bringing homogeneous
elements into a Union never framed to
receive them, and we are justifying an
extension of the constitution form I'd for
the govarnm mt of Union of harmon
| n IF l,a nrtb
American continent, so "a to bring und,r
its rule as part Of that Union countries
inhabited by races radically different in
physical and also in rental Characteristics
to those by and for whom the Union was
established, in whatever quarter of the
globa we may find them. The President
ana the Senate may pass upon tho quas-
ton of such extension finally and bind
the country for all time, though the mo-
tives to this action mry be OF temporary
nature. and possibly even partisan.
It is no light thing to propose an
action of the governm,n t which can
stand as precad INT for such an applcl-
ton of the treaty-making power. and to
und its justification under the
Constitution on the ground that it
antagonizes no express provision of that
instrument. The Constitution was made
for the governma of the United States
of Am erica, and not of countries in
different parts of the world. 1t was not
made and shaped for the establishment
of any colonial system. 1t was expected
by its found ers that there would be ex-
tension of the United States: that terri.
tory would be held by tn an which would
require government under tho authority
OF Congress, but only while in that CON
dition of imnaturity which would
naturally preceds state of fitness for
admission with complete powers into the
family of states then composing the
Union; and that family of states was ex-
pected always to be one American
country, held by one people, with institu-
tons harmonious throughout, and as free
as possible from all alliances with nations
abroad except such as should be in the
nature of friendly intercourse between
Independent countries
The authority to enter into treaties
with foreign nations is conferred by tho
Constitution of the United States in a
very few and entirely general words.
There Is little more than a specification
of those who are to exercise it, 1.-THE
President with the advice and consent Of
the Senate, two-thirds OF whom must
concur: and then there is in an
| other clause a provision that "this
Constitution and the laws of the
United States which shall be made in
tharanf md oil