The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-11-14
PRESIDENT JOHNSON AND
HA WAH.
Foreseeine Annexation and Com
mendine 1t.

- ~Na
To THE EDITOR OF THE New
YORK SUN-SIR: Almost a quarter
of a century ago another democratic
president was dealing with the Ha-
waiian situation, which even then
involved the direct attention and
earnes. consideration of the United
States. The words of President An
drew johnson, in his annual mes
sage to the fortieth congress on
December 8, 1868, are indeed pro-
phetic, wherein he said until the
people of the islands shall of them
selves, at no distant day, yolun-
tarily apply for admission into the
Union" 1t seems like the direct
disposition of Providence that ano-
ther democratic president, Mr..
Grover Cleveland. should complete
the work that was outlined by his
predecessor twenty-five years ago.
1t is seldom that so broad, import
ant and statesmanlike a national
policy can be executed, after so
long an interval, by a president Of
the same political tenents. Presi-
dent Cleveland may well feel a
touch of pride when he sends to
congress his message recommend
ing the annexation of Hawaii,
which was so delicately yet so
forcibly touched upon by President
Andrew Johnson in the following
words:
81 am aware that upon the ques-
ton of further extending our pos
sessions it is apprehended by some
that our political system cannot
successfully be applied to an area
more extended than our continent
but the conviction is rapidly gain
ing ground in the American mind
that, with the increased facilities
Tor intercommunication between all
portions of the earth, the principles
of free government, as embraced in
our constitution, if faithfully main
tanned and carried out, would prove
of sufficient strength and breadth
to comprehend within their sphere
and influence the civilized nations
of the world.
"The attention of the Senate and
of Congress is again respectfully in
vited to the treaty for the establish
ment of commercial reciprocity |
with the Hawaiian kingdom, en-
tered into last year, and already
ratified by that government. It is
known and felt by the Hawaiian
government and people that their
and institutions are
feeble and precarious; that the
United States being so near a neigh
Dor, would be unwilling to see the
pass under foreign control.
Their prosperity is continually dis
turbed by expectations and alarms
of unfriendly political proceedings,
as we'll from the United States as
from other foreign powers. A re-
treaty, while it could not
materially diminish the revenues
Of the United States, would be a
guarantee of the good will and for
bearance of all nations until the
people of the islands shall of them
selves, at no distant day, voluntar-
ly apply for admission into the
lnion."
When President johnson so feel
ngly referred to "unfriendly poll
,ical proceedings, as well from the
United States" he must have been
gifted with foresight in anticipating
he acts of Mr.. Claus Spreckels,
Ir. Charles Nordhoff, and their
,rgan. But President Cleveland,
n the interests of our great repub-
ic, will lay out their ''unfriendly
political proceedings" by compile
ing the democratic policy outlined
quarter of a century ago and an
lexing these islands.
4 TRUE DEMOCRAT.
i New York Sun.