The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-10
Tho Annexation OF Hawaii Assured

Tho Annexation OF Hawaii Assured.
Senator FRYE Is quoted by the Tribune as
having said within a few days that In his
opinion the annexation OF Hawaii will be
! effected during the present Administra-
ton. and within year from this time"
The annexation OF Hawaii either during
the present Administration or soon after
the Inauguration OF another President than
Mr.. CLEVELAND. was made certain by the
exposure and consequent failure OF the Poll
cy Of Infamy. The probability that it will
come OF necessity even during Mr.. CLEvE-
LANDS term has been made apparent by
the attitude OF Congress toward the
Hawaiian question. 1t has declared sub
stantially In favor Of at least protector
ate over the islands. thus warning off all
other nations. and assuming that Hawaii Is
| naturally under no guardianship but ours
Obviously such q protectorate cannot be
established and maintained effectually save
with actual annexation. Otherwise. 1t would
be costly. embarrassing. and opposed to
American precedent and policy. IfHawaii is
to receive the protection OF tho United States
1t must be as part Of the territory OF this
republic. A protectorate implies RESPONSE
bility. and the United States cannot assume
such responsibility without vexatious and
dangerous complications inconsistent with
our system Of government unless 1t be the
protection Of absolute sovereignty acquired
by formal annexation.
When the treaty Of annexation negotiated
by President HARRISON was sent to the Sem
alta the proposition came before the country
suddenly and Unexpectedly. The people were
not prepared for it by previous discussion
or were Indifferent to the matter. not un-
Outstanding the advantages Of such an ac-
QUESTION. and even the necessity for II.
Neither was the Senate itself ready to au-
thorize the step. The question required
longer and deeper consideration and wider
discussion. before the public sentiment
with regard TO 1t could be formed and
discovered. Hence. when Mr.. CLEVELAND
came into office the treaty was still in
allegiance. ard annexation remained an
open question as to which neither the Sen
ate nor the people had reached any positive
opinion. Therefore. when he withdrew the
treaty his proceeding attracted little pub
lie attention. The public interest in the
subject was languid. and his course raised
no large issue. partisan or popular.
1t Is true that the annexation OF those
islands had been the Democratic policy
since the days OF MARCY. but the subject
had long been removed from both Demo-
cratic and popular thought. Most people
and many Senators OF both parties looked
on the treaty negotiated by Minister
STEVENS with the Provisional Govern
ment OF Hawaii as a matter OF SO small
concern that Its withdrawal by Mr..
CLEVELAND and his purposes In re-
calling 1t from the Senate at the
very beginning of his Administration. ex-
cited neither opposition nor curiosity. The
public interest was absorbed by questions
OF purely domestic policy when the Demo-
cratic party came into full control OF the
Federal Government after 1t had been ex-
cluded from 1t for a generation. and after
complete and unexpected and momentous
political revolution. The project for the
annexation OF Hawaii was buried out OF
sight until the miscarriage OF the Policy OF
Infamy caused the exposure Of Mr.. CLEVE-
LANDS conspiracy.
1t was obviously Mr.. CLEvELAND's inten-
ton. formed even before his Inauguration.
to overthrow the Provisional Government
of Hawaii. and secretly and summarily to
restore the deposed and debauched ILL
UoKALASI. while Congress was not in ses-
sion. He expected 70 complete the Job
speedily and easily. so that when the Dem
oerstie Congress assembled 1t would find
the barbarous monarchy again In control OF
the islands and recognized by the
United States and all other powers. He
had declared his opposition TO annexation
without provoking Democratic criticism In
any large measure and without exciting
popular disDleasure; and he expected that
his arbitrary and unjustihsble interference
for the overthrow OF the Government he
found established and recognized by the
United States when he entered the White
House would receive the Democratic and
popular approval. to which he deems all
his acts entitled simply because they are his.
To bis great surprise. undoubtedly. Score
tary GREsHAN's forced and astounding ex-