Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-02-22
HOW WE GET HAWAII,
Terms on Which the Islands Are to Be
Annexed Given to the Public


tween Secretary of State Foster and the
commissioners of the provisional gov
eminent of Hawaii was trans-
mitted to the Senate yesterday,
but was not made public. The
| message Of the President was brief. It
tated that it was deemed more desir-
Die to fully annex the islands than to
tablish a protectorate. The Presi.
-ent says the overthrow of
he monarchy was not in any way pro-
noted by this government; that the
restoration of Liliuokalani is 51ndesif.
able, if not impossible; and that unless
: actively supported by the United
States would be accompanied by serious
disaster and the disorganization of
all business interests. He says:
1t is essential that none of the other
great powers shall secure these islands.
such a position would not be consistent
with our safety and with the peace of the
world. Prompt action upon
this treaty is very desirable. If it meets
| the approval of the Senate, peace and good
order VIII be secured to the islands
under existing laws until such time as
| Congress can provide by legislation per-
| manent form OF government for the
islands. This legislation should be- and
do not doubt will be- not only just to the
natives and all other residents and citi-
2enS Of the island, but should be character
lied by great hberaIity and high regard
to the rights of all people and OF all the
foreigners dOmiciled there"
In letter to the President laying the
treaty before him, Secretary of State
Foster recapitulates the history of re-
| cent events in the islands leading up to
the revolution, the establishment
of the provisional government, the
appearance of the commissioners
in Washington, the negotiations
that have taken place, resulting in the
preparation of the treaty, and the es.
| Enlistment of the protectorate by
Minister Stevens. Secretary Foster
confirms the Presidents statement that
the revolution was entirely unexpected
so lar as this government was con-
cerned. "At no time," he says,
"had Mr.. Stevens been instructed
with regard to his course on the event
of revolutionary uprising. The
change was in fact abrupt and unlocked
for by the United States minister or the
naval officer commanding"
In regard to the protectorate, Secre-
tary Foster says in his letter: can in
struction has been sent to the minister
commencing his action, insofar as 1t lay
within the purvieW of standing instruc-
tons to the legation, and to the naval
commanders Of the United States in Ha-
waiian waters and tended to cooperate
with the administration of affairs by the
provisional government, but disavowing
any step in excess Of such instructions
whereby the authority and power of
the United States might appear to have
been asserted to the impairment Of the
independent sovereignty of the Ha-
waiian government by the assumption
of formal protectorate."
Secretary Foster says that the pro-
visions of the treaty reserve to Congress,
the determination of all questions
affecting the form Of govern
ment of the annexed territory;
the citizenship and elective franchise
of its Inhabitants and all questions re-
Iating to the economic and political
status of the islands. In conclusion he
says that pending the negotiation
he received assurances from representa-
tives IN this city of the leading powers
of the world, and from our own minis
tiers abroad, convincing him that the in
corporation of the Hawaiian Islands
into the Union will be regarded by
these powers with satisfaction or ready
acQuIescence.
The treaty itself provides for the ces-
sion OF all rights Of sovereignty over
the islands, and all the public buildings
and property, to the United States; rev.
enue from public lands, except such as
are reserved for government purposes,
to be used solely for benefit OF the
people of the islands. Until Congress
provides otherwise, the existing gov
eminent and laws of the Hawaiian
Islands are continued, subject to
the paramount authority of the
United States. A resident commits
sioner is to be appointed, who shall
have power to veto any act of said gov
eminent. Until Congress enacts the
necessary legislation, existing COM
merce relations of the Hawaiian Islands,
both with the United States and foreign
governments, shall continue. Further
immigration of Chinese into the islands
is prohibited, and Chinese now in the
islands shall not be permitted 10 come
into the present territory OF the United
States.
The public debt of the islands is as
sumed by the United States to the ex-
tent of S., 250,00O The United States
agrees to pay Queen Lillionkani
! $4,000 year during her lie,
and to Prince Kaiulani $780,
w..
change of Publications Of the treaty at
Honolulu as soon as possible on the part
of the United States by the resident
commissioner. provided for in the
treaty.
Under the provisions of the treaty
the sugar producers of Hawaii will not
participate in the bounty provided by
the Mckinley law unless Congress
should extend it to the islands.
Accompanying the message and treaty
is the correspondence upon the subject
between the governments, tables
giving full details as to the area
of the territory proposed to be
annexed, the public debt, the public
lands, the annual allowance to and
revenue of the late royal household,
and statistics as to the pOpula-
ton and revenues, commerce and
other economic matters relating to the
islands, altogether a book of several
hundred pages.