Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-02-01
THE HAWAIIAN QUESTION
What Will England Do If We
Annex the Islands?
ACTION TAKEN BY THE CABINET,

President Harrison Will Not Send a Mes
sage to Congress on the Subject Until
After the Comm issioners of the Provi-
sional Government Are Heard-Con-
gresham Harter, for One, Does Not
Favor Annexation.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The Hawaiian
question is gradually growing into an in =
ternational complication.
At the State Department there is no Of
fetal record of England's protest again st
annexation on the part of the United
States, but the British Minister is ex-
pected to call upon Secretary Foster at an
early moment and explain England's at
titude
1t is admitted that England objects to
the annexation proposition, but it is not
known what steps she proposes to take in
the event of such an act on the part of
the United States
Senator Chandler called upon the Sec
rotary of State to get some information
bearing on the Hawaiian question, to
assist him in defending the resolution
providing for annexation which he intro
Guced in the Senate Monday. That reso-
luton was expected to come up for debate
yesterday, but when called it went over
for another day.
1t calls upon the President to transmit
to the Senate any convention he may
make with the provisional government Of
Hawaii. Mr. Dolph Qep. Ore.) made II
long statement on the subject, giving de-
tails as to population, commerce, etc, of
the islands and favoring annexation.
The discussion of the question at the
Cabinet meeting was informal, and there
being nothing before the body for its
consideration no action was taken.
The matter of the reception of the COM
missioners of the provisional government
of Hawaii concerns directly only the
President and Secretary of State, with
whom their business mnst be transacted.
There was practically unanimous express
sion of opinion in favor of annexation,
but rs this will require action by Con
gress, as we'll as by the Executive, there
was no decision that could be reached at
this time.
The commissioners, of course, will be
received courteously and their proposition
listened to with sympathy, but their
It communications that may be made
thereon will be determined by its terms.
W hat these may be cannot be told until
the arrival of the commissioners and the
statement Of their case to the Secretary
of State.
1t may be said that there will be nc
predicate action in the matter; it can
not be disposed of in a day, nor in II week.
There will probably be no message to
Congress from the President until after
the commissioners have been heard, and
then, it is surmised, only in case a favor
able recommendation upon their PROPOSE
ton shall have been decided upon.
Lord Roseberrys statement to the
Hawaiian Charge at London that Eng
Inv 80
against the annexation of Hawaii by the
United States is believed to have good
foundation only so far as England is con-
cerned.
The interests of France and Germany
in that country are not of sufficient i'm
portance to warrant either of them in
proceeding even as far as a protest against
the political absorption of the islands by
the United States, in case it was deemed
best by this country to take that action
DR.. Mott Smith, the Hawaiian repre-
sentative here, expects England to protest
and to protest vigorously. He thinks
that there will be a concentration al
Honolulu, as rapidly as possible Of the
laval forces of England, now in the Pa
cific for the purpose of making a demon
stration.
But it is not probable in the opinion
of DR.. Smith that this will affect the SEN
timent of the people in any way. The
commercial interests of Hawaii are
practically all with the United States and
the sympathies of the native population,
under the influence of the members OF
the royal family, are undoubtedly with
the English, still the property interest
of the island will eventually control its
destiny. That interest is i'll favor of
political incorporation with the United
States.
Representative N ID. Harter of Ohio is
one of the Congressman who have decided
opinions upon the question of the annex
alton of Hawaii which are antagonistic
to tle expressions of Il largo number OF
his associates.
1--WE don't want the islands, said Mr..
Harter, "under any conditions, and L am
decidedly opposed to making them part
of our territory. The whole scheme is a
job intended to benefit the few sugar
planters who are anxious to secure the
two per cent. bounty paid by the United
States on the native product.
Their crop amounts to ,OOO 600 or 3,
300, 600 pounds year as l rccollect, and
If they should get that bounty there will
be nice bounty of from $40, OOJ to $50,
900 to divide among these sugar planters.
"But we will knock that out shortly
and then you'll hnve hear no more about
annexation"