The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-12-19
A LITTLE HISTORY.
United States Relations with
Hawaii from 1890.

| u. Allct- tue LluEdIldu u Tile Cbdlc
Department upon the relations be-
tween the United States and the
Hawaiian Islands from 1920 to
1898 is an interesting paper just at
this time, as an index of the past
relations between the two countries.
1t was prepared at the instance Of
Secretary Foster in connection with
the treaty of annexation, and &C
companied President Harrison's
message to the Senate on that sub
ject February 18th last. As sum-
married by Secretary Foster. it
shows that from an early day the
policy of the United States has
been consistently and constantly
declared against any foreign ag-
gression in the kingdom of Hawaii
inimical to the necessarily para
mount rights and interests of the
American people there, and the
uniform contemplation of their an
nexation as contingent necessity.
But beyond that it is shown that
annexation has been on more than
one occasion avowed as a policy
and attempted as a fact. Such a
solution was admitted as early as
1850 by so far-sighted a statesman
as Lord Palmerston, when he re-
commended to a visiting Hawaiian
commission the contingency of a
protectorate under the United
States or of becoming an integral
part of this nation in fulfillment of
destiny due to close neighborhood
and commercial dependence upon
the Pacific states.
a CONTINGENT DEED OF cEssIoN.
Early in 1851 a contingent deed
of cession of the kingdom was
drawn and signed by the King and
placed sealed in the hands of the
Commissioner of the United States,
who was to open it and act upon
its provisions at the first hostile
shot fred by France in subversion
of Hawaiian independence.
In 1854 Mr.. Marcy advocated
annexation and draft of treaty
was actually agreed upon with the
Hawaiian Ministry, but its compile
ton was delayed by the successful
exercise of foreign influence upon
the heir to the throne, and finally
defeated by the death of the King,
Kamehameha III.
In 1867 Mr.. Seward, having be-
come advised of a strong annexa-
ton sentiment in the Islands, in
structed our Minister at Honolulu
favorably to receive any native ov-
ertures for annexation. And on
the 18th of September, 1867, he
wrote to Mr.. McCook, "that if the
policy of annexation should con-
fiict with the policy of reciprocity,
annexation is in every case to be
preferred"
President Johnson in his annual
message of December 9, 1868, re-
garded reciprocity with Hawaii as
desirable, until the people of the
Islands shall of themselves, at no
distant day, voluntarily apply for
admission into the Union"
PRESIDENT GRANT on ANNEXATION.
In 1871, on the 9Th of April,
President Grant, in a special mes
sage, significantly solicited some
expression of the views of. the SEN
ate respecting the ACCESSIBILITY of
annexation.
In an instruction of March %,
1873, Mr.. Fish considered the ne
cessity of annexing the islands in
accordance with the wise fore
thought of those "who see a future
that must extend the jurisdiction
and the limits of this nation, and
that will require resting spot in
midocean between the Pacific Cast
and the vast domains of Asia,
which are now opening to COM
merce and Christian civilization"
And he directed our Minister mot
to discourage the feeling which may
exist in favor of annexation to the
United States" but to seek and
even invite information touching
the terms and conditions upon
which that object might be afec-
ted.
Since the conclusion of the Re-
Treaty of 1875 it has
been the obvious policy of the sue
ceeding administrations to assert |
and defend against other powers
the exclusive commercial rights of |
the United States, and to fortify the |
maintenance of the existing Ha-
waiian Government through the
direct support of the United States,
so long as that Government shall |
prove able to protect our paramount
rights and interests.
Mr.. BLAISE's INSTRUCTIONS.