Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-12
Hawaii.

President CLEVELAND has conducted
himself so discreetly in tho matter OF the
proposed recognition and annexation oil
Hawaii to the United States that even his
enemies. IL he has any, cannot censure
him for anything he has done or omitted
10 do IN that behalf. We quoted few days
ago from his annual message OF 1885 q de-
~claration which Mr.. CLEVELAND Their made
not on the proposition tn annex " 10
the United States. but on the genera SUI
ject Of incorporating foreign TERRITORY
into the United States of America ana OF
admitting new States carved out OF that
territory into the American Union. In
that message Mr.. CLEVELAND seemed 10
commit himself to tho doctrine that DO
"entanclinr alliances" with foreign coun-
tries ought 20 be entered into by tho
United States. Here are the words used
by him on that occasion
maintaining, "a / do, tho tenets OF n line OF
nrecedents from Washington's day, which pro-
scribe eniangling alliances with foreign states'
! DO not favor n policy Of acquisition OF new and
distant territory, or the Incorporation Of remote
Interests with our own"
But ~ Hawaii new and distant terri
tory"? 1t is. as we have heretofore
stated, nearer to San Francisco than San
Francisco is 10 tho capital Of the nation.
Are the interests involved in the annexa-
ton project remote interests? These
~interrogatories may be answered mega
lively or afirmatively, as the prejudices or
the sound Judgment of the persons inter-
rogated shall dictate.
But is not the recall of the treaty from
the Senate q clear indication that the
President has made up his mind to oppose
tho annexation of Hawaii TO the United
States? Not necessarily. Prominent Dem
ocratic senators. led by profound constitu-
tiOnal lawyers. have committed them
selves to annexation. and cannot be ex-
pected 20 Withdraw their commi;tal az the
treaty was withdrawn by the President.
lie withdrew q treaty sent to the Senate
by his predecessor. q Republican. But
the Democratic United States senators
would have to recant their own utter
ances IN case they should undertake to
change Their positions relative to The an
nexation scheme. SO that 1t would seem
probable that Mr.. CLEVELAND asked tor the
treaty to he returned, or rather sent. to
him ia order that he might either secure
the striking out of Objectionable features
or cause some new features 10 be added TO
il. His silence on the subject, as we SAID
some days ago, will leave him free TO take
next winter whatever course be may deem
best for the interests of tho people Of the
United States.
We NAV repeat confidently the remark
that the fruit is ripe and Will o drop
into our possession. either now or here
after. A dozen wears is nothing in the
life Of a nation. bat we shall not have to
wait even that long for the incorporation
Of Hawaii into the American Union.
There is no party question involved IN
this matter or if there Is, then we NAV be
sure that Mr.. CLEVELAND has not done the
Democratic senators the injustice OF allow
ing them %wrongfully to act upon the
assumption that he, ne tho head Of Tho
Democratic party. is in favor Of the pro.
posed scheme oS annexation.
We are not sure that 1t would be allowa-
BE for the President 10 ask for the ap-
po.ntment Of q commission by the Senate
T. report on this or any other treaty nex'
winter. That body might consider such q
request discourteous. 1t ia intimated,
however. that It would not be considered
discourteous to the Senate for HIM to sug
gest the proposed commission 10 the soma
tors personally and not TO the Senate.